April 14, 2010 Vancouver, BC - Amarc Resources Ltd.
("Amarc", "the Company") (TSX Venture: AHR; OTCBB: AXREF)
is pleased to provide an update on its activities to advance the Newton bulk
tonnage gold discovery and the adjacent, highly prospective Plateau Gold-Copper
Belt located near the Prosperity gold-copper mine development in south-central,
British Columbia (BC) which is in the permitting stage.
"Amarc has planned comprehensive field programs for 2010 with the goal
of determining the full extent of the Newton bulk tonnage gold discovery made
in late-2009 and exploring the extensive new claim holdings which cover the
adjacent Plateau Gold-Copper Belt," said Amarc Executive Chairman Bob
Dickinson. "The Company is funded to undertake a range of exploration
activities to start shortly and expects to generate positive results from
throughout the region over the ensuing months."
Amarc initiated its 2010 field activities by undertaking a 7,000 line-kilometre
ZTEM (Z-Axis Tipper Electromagnetic system) survey and a high-sensitivity
magnetometer airborne geophysical survey over the Newton property, other regional
anomalies and the Plateau Gold-Copper Belt (see Amarc press release January
19, 2010). This survey has been completed and is now being compiled and analyzed.
The survey is considered to be one of the largest airborne geophysical surveys
ever undertaken by an exploration company in BC.
The geophysical signatures of Newton and other known mineral occurrences in
the region have been established and are now being used, in conjunction with
public domain data and in-house knowledge, to define previously unrecognized
targets within the Newton and Plateau Gold-Copper Belt properties. In addition,
Amarc has retained a world-class structural geologist to assist in the prioritization
of compelling deposit targets.
"We are extremely encouraged by the high-quality targets that have already
been identified over the approximately 2,800 square kilometres of mineral
claims, 100% owned by Amarc, within the Plateau Gold-Copper Belt," Dickinson
said. "Our geologists believe these targets have high potential to host
significant gold-copper porphyry deposits, as well as potential epithermal
styles of precious metals mineralization. An experienced regional technical
team has been assembled and will be deployed to the field in June to commence
on-the-ground target delineation, to be followed by drill testing of select
targets. Our targets lend themselves to discovery of Prosperity-type copper-gold
porphyry deposits and Round Mountain-type, bulk tonnage gold-silver deposits."
Late in 2009, Amarc discovered the Newton bulk tonnage-style gold system,
which may represent a new gold deposit type for BC within a previously unrecognized
district (see Amarc press release January 19, 2010). The best intercept from
Amarc's 14-hole diamond drill program intercepted 189 metres at 1.56 g/t
gold. Amarc has the right to acquire an 80% interest in the Newton property
from High Ridge Resources Inc. by incurring $5 million in project expenditures
within seven years.
The goal of the 2010 exploration activities planned for Newton - including
mapping, Induced Polarization (IP) geophysical surveys and drilling -
is to substantially advance the delineation of a bulk tonnage gold resource.
Permit applications related to both the IP geophysical survey and a 25-hole
diamond drill program were submitted to the provincial government in mid-December
2009 and permits are expected to be received shortly. Amarc has assembled
a strong technical team to advance the Newton project.
Gold mineralization at Newton is associated with disseminated sulphides that
are localized within pervasively altered volcaniclastic and epiclastic rock
units. These host rocks are characterized by both a high primary permeability
and likely a wide geographical distribution, features that are representative
of a permissive environment for the development of a bulk tonnage-style mineralized
system. Additional potential may also be present in the form of structurally
controlled high-grade gold zones.
The Newton property and Plateau Gold-Copper Belt are located approximately
140 kilometres southwest of the City of Williams Lake in a region characterized
by subdued topography. The district is well served by existing transportation
and power infrastructure, which supports a number of operating mines and late-stage
development projects.
The Prosperity copper-gold project, located 40 kilometres to the south of
Newton property, hosts Proven and Probable Reserves of 830 million tonnes
grading 0.41 g/t Au and 0.23 % copper at a C$5.50 NSR/t cut-off (Taseko Mines
Limited). On January 14, 2010, the Prosperity project received environment
approval from the BC government, and is currently the focus of a federal environmental
review panel.
Amarc Resources Ltd. is a Vancouver-based exploration and development company
affiliated with the Hunter Dickinson group, a private company with a series
of successful mineral development projects in BC - including Golden Bear,
Mt. Milligan, Kemess, Gibraltar and Prosperity.
Mark Rebagliati, P.Eng., a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument
43-101, is supervising the exploration and quality assurance and quality control
programs on behalf of Amarc and has reviewed the content of this release.
For further details on Amarc Resources Ltd., please visit the Company's
website at www.amarcresources.com or contact Investor Services at (604) 684-6365
or within North America at 1-800-667-2114.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Ronald W. Thiessen
President & CEO
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor any other regulatory authority accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward Looking and
other Cautionary Information
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking
statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of
historical facts that address exploration drilling, exploitation activities
and other related events or developments are forward-looking statements. Although
the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements
are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of
future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially
from those in the forward looking statements. Factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements
include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity
of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary
permits, licenses and title and delays due to third party opposition, changes
in government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration
and exploitation, environmental issues and liabilities associated with mineral
exploration and development activities, continued availability of capital
and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors
are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance
and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected
in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Amarc Resources
Ltd., investors should review the Company's annual Form 20-F filing
with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov
and its home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com.