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Message: LAST WEEK OF AUG IS EC's BIG WEEK!

LAST WEEK OF AUG IS EC's BIG WEEK!

posted on Aug 23, 2009 05:58PM

Ecometals Announces Progress on Permits and Planning for

Drilling Rio Zarza Gold Project Ecuador

Toronto, Ontario – 12 August 2009 – Ecometals Limited (TSX-V:EC)

Ecometals Limited is pleased to announce positive progress in obtaining

necessary permits for diamond drill testing on the Rio Zarza Gold Project of

anomalous geophysical and geochemistry results and structural scenario

analogous to Kinross’ neighbouring Fruta del Norte Gold Deposit.

Rio Zarza Gold Project

The Rio Zarza Gold Project is located north of Zamora, the district capital of

Zamora Chinchipe province, southeastern Ecuador. The project adjoins the

Kinross (formerly Aurelian) exploration license which covers the Fruta del

Norte epithermal deposit with a reported 13.7Moz Au (Micon, 2007).

Permits

The stages and permits necessary prior to continued exploration and drilling

according to the new Mines Act and Government directives are as follows:

Permit Authority Status

Terms of Reference for

EIA

Ministerio de Ambiente Approved (before

Moratorium)

Suspension of

Exploration Activities

Lifted

Ministerio de Minas y

Petróleo

approved

Water Management

Study (Plan de Agua)

Secretaria Nacional del

Agua

approved

Water Use Permit Secretaria Nacional del

Agua

approved

Environmental Impact

Assessment Study (EIA)

Ministeria del Ambiente approved

Environmental

Management Plan (Plan

de Manejo)

Ministeria del Ambiente submitted for approval

Environmental License Dirección Nacional de

Minas (DINAMI)

submitted for approval

Environmental Bond

Renewal

Ministeria del Ambiente pending issue of

Environmental License

The final remaining Environmental Management Plan and Environmental

License approvals are expected to be received this month. The renewal of the

environmental bond is a routine process and immediately follows the

Environmental License issuance.

Preparation for Drilling

In anticipation of the imminent approval of these permits, Ecometals is taking

the following actions preparing for the start of 1200m of diamond drill testing

of combined geological, structural, geochemical and geophysical anomalies:

Requests for proposals from and negotiations with international and

local Ecuador-based drilling contractors

Camp refurbishment, including expansion for labour accommodation,

core storage and logging shed

Direct impact local community meetings to inform about drilling

programme and environmental protection measures

Local hiring in direct impact communities of labour and technical

personnel

Refinement of drilling targets, combining geophysics, soil and rock

geochemistry, mapped geology and structure

Established sampling, QA/QC and analytical protocols (fire assay Au,

multi-element ICP)

Drilling will utilize a man-portable rig to minimize the environmental impact of

access road construction. Drill holes will be inclined to determine the

orientation of structures and mineralized veins. Holes will start using HQ

(nominal 63.5mm) and reduce to NQ (47.6mm) with depth.

Core will be transported from the drill site to the Rio Zarza camp, where

logging and sampling will be conducted. Samples will be despatched using full

chain of custody documentation to the ALS Chemex sample preparation

laboratory in Quito and analysed at the Als Chemex laboratory in Lima, Peru.

ALS Chemex is an ISO certified laboratory.

QC will include standard insertion of control samples (blanks, Certified

Reference Material, and duplicates) at 10% frequency, and the in-house

Qualified Person will supervise drilling and sampling.

Au

Hg

Sb

As

Cu

FdN

RZDDH09-01

RZDDH09-02

RZDDH09-03

RZDDH09-05

2.5

120.25.0

1278..502.5 7.0

2.5

7.0

15.0

2.5

2.5

Ö

Rio Zarza Camp

Geology map of the Rio Zarza project area showing geology, geophysical and

geochemical anomalies and planned drill targets

Further details and maps of the planned drilling program can be obtained from

the Ecometals Web site (www.ecometalslimited.com).

Chief Executive Officer Fran Scola said, “

The regularization of the mining

industry and increased environmental protection measures in Ecuador have

created a more equitable and competitive industry more in line with Canadian

norms. This will add considerably to sustainable economic diversification and

development, and Ecometals is pleased to be a contributor to this

”.

Qualified Person

SR McMullan, P.Geo, Vice President of Exploration for Ecometals Limited, is

a qualified person according to National Instrument 43-101 definition and has

supervised the preparation of the technical information included in this press

release.

About Ecometals

Ecometals Limited is a Canadian-listed mineral exploration and development

company focused on mineral resources in Latin America. Ecometals also has

significant manganese and iron projects in Brazil at grass roots and

development planning stages.

Contact Information

Investors:

Fran Scola

Chief Executive Officer

e-mail:

[email protected]

Daniel Major

Chief Operating Officer

e-mail:

[email protected]

Information:

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