VANCOUVER, B.C., June 19, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Bright Star Ventures Ltd. (the "Company") (TSX Venture Exchange:BSV) has now mobilized field staff and personnel to its camp in the Tulameen River area to commence its exploration program on the southern portion of the largest known Alaskan type ultramafic complexes in North America.
The Tulameen Alaskan type ultramafic complex in South Central B.C. represents excellent potential for hosting multiple economic deposits with significant platinum group metals. Bright Star Ventures controls 85% of the 64 square kilometer complex.
Similar Alaskan-type ultramafic complexes in the Ural Mountains in Russia have produced multi-million ounces of Platinum Group Metals along with large quantities of copper, nickel and gold production. The Tulameen River and its tributary creeks on Bright Star' properties were the site of a gold rush in the 1880's and along with bonanza grade gold, miners discovered over 20,000 oz. of platinum nuggets.
Bright Star has started its 2003 exploration program with three teams and will be collecting 1,800 geo-chemical samples in the next 30 days. During the fall and winter of 2002, Bright Star acquired an interest in an additional 6,600 acres covering the southern half of the ultramafic complex as well as 200 acres covering six Crown Grants situated along the northwestern strike extent of the previously described DP Zone, a Cu-PGE mineralized system.
A helicopter airborne magnetic and electromagnetic survey flown over these claims have identified five high priority exploration targets on the Western portion of the complex that have sulphide zone signatures (each 1 kilometer or more in length) in similar geological settings as the DP Zone. These new targets have not been previously explored or drilled. The 2003 exploration work will systematically evaluate these high priority targets with soil and stream sediment geochemistry surveys, detailed mapping and prospecting, ground geophysics surveys and diamond drilling programs. It is anticipated that these and other high quality drill exploration targets will be developed as the 2003 field season progresses.
For information on the company call 1-800-884-3864, or visit our website at www.brightstar-ventures.com
On behalf of the Board "Reg Handford" President & Director
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.