STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 19, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Boliden (Other OTC:BDNNF) (TSE:BLS) today reports further success in exploration at its Kristineberg Mine in Vasterbotten, Sweden.
In November Boliden announced the discovery of a zinc-silver rich mineralization at 900 - 1000 m depth in the mine. SEK 60 million has now been approved for the development and preparation for production of the so-called K-zinc.
Continued exploration in the same area has revealed a new copper-gold-zinc mineralization (J-zone). The first assay data indicated promising grades.
The new copper-gold-zinc zone is located underneath the Einarsson ores and the K-zinc. The J-zone lies within the existing Exploitation Concessions at Kristineberg. Boliden intends to continue drilling into the J-zone in order to obtain information on geology and the possible extension and continuity of the zone.
Exploration and development of deposits containing copper is strategically important to Boliden and to the supply of concentrate to the smelter at Ronnskar.
(Read more about technical and assay data on Boliden's Website www.boliden.se).
Bolidens laboratory at Ronnskar has performed the assays. Randomly selected samples are sent to Chemex in Vancouver for check assay.
The exploration program is conducted by Boliden geologists and is supervised by Mati Sallert, Bolidens Manager of Ore Reserves and Project Evaluation. Mr. Sallert is registered as a "Qualified Person" by the Swedish Mining Association.
The Kristineberg Mine has been in production since 1940 and currently has around 150 employees. The ore mined there contains copper, lead, zinc, gold and silver.
For further information, please contact: Jan Johansson, President and CEO, telephone +46 8 610 16 02 or +46 70 555 02 02 This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/12/19/20021219BIT00200/wkr0001.doc www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/12/19/20021219BIT00200/wkr0002.pdf