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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire – Sept. 21, 2011) – Empire Mining Corporation (TSX VENTURE:EPC) (“Empire“) is pleased to announce that an IP/resistivity survey has commenced at the Karapinar copper project to seek extensions to the chalcocite enrichment blanket identified in recent drilling, and to target higher grade primary porphyry and skarn mineralization to the north of the previously drilled area. A total of eight line kilometres are planned in four north-south profiles, each two kilometres long. Dipole-dipole surveying will be used with a six dipole array, with spacing of 200 metres. Empire plans to drill test any targets generated.
Recent drilling at Karapinar (see announcement of August 23, 2011) has intersected a 60 metre zone of chalcocite enrichment in hole KDH-018 grading 0.93% copper, 0.11 gpt gold and 0.017% molybdenum from a hole depth of 79.6 to 139.6 metres. KDH-018 is one of the easternmost holes drilled at Karapinar so far and has revealed significant expansion potential.
The secondary enrichment lies beneath a 48 metre zone of oxide mineralization grading 0.25% copper from a hole depth of 31.6 metres. The combined oxide and chalcocite mineralization grades 0.63% copper, 0.11 gpt gold and 0.01% molybdenum over 108 metres. Hole KDH-018 lies 90 metres northeast of hole KDH-008 and 100 metres southwest of KDH-007, both of which intercepted secondary copper mineralization in Empire’s 2008 drilling campaign.
The presence of a chalcocite blanket at Karapinar is unusual in Turkey, due to relatively rapid uplift and erosion, although a transition from oxide to sulphide has been noted in previous drill holes and characterised by a varied amounts of chalcopyrite, chalcocite, bornite, native copper and copper oxides which enhance the copper grade in the shallower sections of drill hole.
On a larger scale, the intrusive porphyry deposit possibly extends 1 km to the north, based on copper and molybdenum anomalies to the north and lead zinc in the dolomites north of the drilled porphyry. This carbonate mass is interpreted as a large roof pendant and one hole drilled by Rio Tinto in 2003 (KDH-005) penetrated through the marble and contact skarns and into porphyry.
Empire is also planning additional mapping and sampling at Karapinar, before the next phase of drilling.
Various Karapinar maps can be viewed at the following link:
http://www.empireminingcorp.com/i/nr/2011-09-21-maps.pdf
Empire’s Qualified Person, David C. Cliff, BSc (Hons), MIMMM, C Eng, FGS, also Empire’s President & CEO, has reviewed and approved the content of this news release.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,
David Cliff, President & CEO
This release contains forward-looking information and statements, as defined by law including without limitation Canadian securities laws and the “safe harbor” provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“forward-looking statements”), respecting Empire’s exploration plans. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including without limitation the ability to acquire necessary permits and other authorizations; environmental compliance; cost increases; availability of qualified workers; competition for mining properties; risks associated with exploration projects, mineral reserve and resource estimates (including the risk of assumption and methodology errors); dependence on third parties for services; non-performance by contractual counterparties; title risks; and general business and economic conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, including without limitation assumptions about: general business and economic conditions; the timing and receipt of required approvals; availability of financing; power prices; ability to procure equipment and supplies; and ongoing relations with employees, partners and joint venturers. The foregoing list is not exhaustive and Empire undertakes no obligation to update any of the foregoing except as required by law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
