03/08/04
SPOKANE, Wash.–Timberline Resources Corporation (OTC:TBLC) is pleased to announce that it has acquired the Minton Pass Copper-Silver Project located near Trout Creek, Montana.
Minton Pass is located within the Montana Copper Sulfide Belt. This geologic region hosts world-class copper-silver deposits, including Troy, Rock Creek, and Montanore. Timberline Resources acquired Minton Pass through the location of 20 unpatented lode mining claims, and thus controls 100of the mineral interest with no underlying royalties.
The target and geologic model at Minton Pass is a sediment-hosted copper-silver deposit within the Proterozoic Revett Formation. These deposits are characterized by their laterally extensive size and continuity. Geology at Minton Pass is similar to that of the Troy Mine, which produced 390 million pounds of copper and 44 million ounces of silver from 1981 to 1993. The undeveloped Rock Creek deposit has reported resources of 136 million tons of ore grading 0.74copper and 1.67 ounces of silver per ton, within a section of Revett quartzite that averages 20 feet thick. Contained metal at the Rock Creek deposit is approximately 2.0 billion pounds of copper and 227 million ounces of silver.
Minton Pass has been explored intermittently since 1966, and there is evidence of several drill holes within Timberline’s claim group. A geologic report from the early 1970’s describes sampling from a short adit on the property. Rock chip sampling over a reported 17 foot stratigraphic thickness averaged 0.70copper and 1.78 ounces of silver per ton. The thickness and grade of mineralization at Minton Pass is consistent with the geologic model and exhibits similarities to the Troy and Rock Creek deposits.
Timberline Resources is in the process of acquiring additional data on Minton Pass from prior operators. An exploration plan for the 2004 field season will be developed once this information is compiled.
The Minton Pass Project furthers Timberline’s strategy of cost-effective acquisition and exploration of promising mineral properties in the western United States.
Timberline Resources stock trades on the OTC Market under the symbol “TBLC.”
Certain statements contained in this press release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on beliefs of management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results.
CONTACT: Timberline Resources Corporation
Bill Hoyt, Investor Relations
(785) 383-9246
www.timberline-resources.com