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Alturas Minerals Corp.: Alturas Defines Large Geophysical Targets Beneath Copper-Gold Anomalies at Its Sombrero Project, Peru

^{Published on 2008-12-18 08:09:59 - Market Wire}
 

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 18, 2008) - Alturas Minerals Corp. (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:ALT)(BVLAC:ALT) is pleased to report that a recently completed ground geophysical survey has defined large, deeply rooted geophysical anomalies beneath strong copper-gold anomalies at its Sombrero project in southern Peru. The induced polarization anomalies form two circular centers beneath strong copper-gold anomalies and oxidized skarns that were reported previously in a press release dated September 4, 2008.

Miguel Cardozo, President & CEO, commented "The newly defined induced polarization anomalies, interpreted as zones of disseminated sulfides within skarns, greatly expand the size potential of this strongly mineralized copper-gold mineralized system. The project is now drill ready and we will be actively seeking funding to advance the drilling program."

Two anomaly complexes centered approximately 3.0 kilometers apart have been defined by the geophysical survey:

- A northern broadly ring-shaped structure, approximately 1.5 kilometers in diameter, consisting of chains of individual +25 mV/V chargeability anomalies between 200 and 400 meters in diameter;

- A southern oval-shaped structure, approximately 1.8 kilometers in diameter, formed by several individual +25 mV/V chargeability anomalies in the order of 100 to 400 meters in diameter.

The individual chargeability anomalies are distributed either close to the mapped contacts between limestone of the Ferrobamba Formation and a multiphase diorite/granodiorite complex, or within the intrusive complex itself. Most of the chargeability anomalies flank or overlap magnetic anomalies defined in the previously reported ground magnetic survey. The combined magnetic/chargeability anomaly complexes are interpreted as zones of disseminated sulfides formed within contact skarns and endoskarns. As previously outlined in Alturas press releases from December 13, 2007 and September 4, 2008, a limited outcrop sampling program (96 samples) in the same areas identified strong copper-gold-molybdenum values from oxidized magnetite skarn bodies. Several samples attained values in excess of 1% copper and 1 grams per tonne gold (maximum values 9.09% copper, 5.88 grams/tonne gold). The company is continuing with the compilation of all exploration data generated by the 2008 program and drilling targets are being defined.

The 3,800 hectare Sombrero project in the department of Ayacucho in southern Peru hosts a large copper-gold-molybdenum skarn system hosted by Cretaceous limestones cut by dioritic to monzonitic stocks. The limestones of the Ferrobamba Formation form part of the same unit that hosts large skarn deposits in the Apurimac-Cusco porphyry-skarn belt, of which Sombrero appears to be a western extension.

The Sombrero project is owned 100% by Alturas, except for some small claims covering 320 hectares in the central part of the project, which are owned by a third party. Alturas is negotiating the acquisition of those claims.

For maps and an extended summary of exploration results, refer to the Company's website [ http://www.alturasminerals.com/map-room.html ].

About Alturas Minerals Corp.

Alturas is a Canadian corporation, and is the parent of Alturas Minerals S.A. ("Alturas Peru"). Alturas Peru has been actively exploring various mineral projects in Peru since January 2004. The principal assets of Alturas are four mineral exploration projects located in southern Peru, being the Huilacollo Gold Project, the Banos del Indio Gold Project, the Utupara Copper-Gold Project and the Huajoto Gold-Silver-Zinc Project. In addition, Alturas Peru has interests in eight other exploration projects in Peru. Alturas' exploration strategy is focused on the discovery of large epithermal gold mineralized deposits and copper-gold porphyry/skarn deposits. For further information, please visit the Company's website at [ www.alturasminerals.com ].

As required by the National Instrument 43-101, Alturas's designated Qualified Person for the supervision of exploration of the projects is Dr. Paul Pearson, F. AUSIMM, Vice President-Exploration of the Company, who has verified the technical information reported in this News Release.

Should you wish to receive Company news via email, please email [ contact@alturasminerals.com ] and specify "Alturas News" in the subject line.

Cautionary Language and Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements", which are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Investors are cautioned that such statements are not guarantees of future performance and results. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the Company's disclosure documents filed from time to time with the Canadian securities authorities.

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.