Joint venture partners Japan, Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp.,or JOGMEC, and have approveda follow-up US$1.9 million drill program to drill 46 holes for 9,000 meters at thePampa Union block at the Atacamacopper project in Chile, according to an April 4 release.

Earlier drilling identifiedprospective porphyry systems.

Initial drilling will increase the density of the grid from 1.5kilometers to 3 kilometers, which will require 32 RC drill holes. Drilling willthen focus on the PU-RC-39 discovery area where an additional 14 RC holes are planned.The space around the PU-RC-39 drill site has been increased to 750 meters and 1,000meters to reflect the size of the expected deposit.

The drill program is subject to approval of the previously submittedDeclaration of Environmental Impacts, or DIA, which currently allows for a total281 drill holes to be completed. No complications are expected.