VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA — (Marketwire) — 04/18/12 — Avrupa Minerals Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: AVU) is pleased to announce that drilling on the Alvalade JV Project in the Pyrite Belt of southern Portugal started this past week. Avrupa and joint venture partner Antofagasta Minerals SA („AMSA“) plan a 6-hole Phase 1 core drilling program. The initial drilling is expected to total approximately 3000 meters, with a further Phase 2 program of up to another 3000 meters expected to begin in early August 2012.
Phase 1 drilling will test six separate massive sulfide and stockwork mineralization targets in three general areas on the Alvalade and Canal Caveira licenses within the JV area. Phase 2 drilling will test other targets, as they are upgraded in the upcoming months, and follow-up potentially encouraging results from the first phase of drilling.
Exploration work within the 1000-km2 JV area continues with new target generation in at least three belts of potential mineralization. The work program includes re-logging and sampling of core from previous exploration drilling projects of the past thirty years, re-interpretation of historical geophysical data, geological mapping where possible, and comprehensive compilation into a proprietary GIS-based data system. With this regenerated information, Avrupa and AMSA are applying a new, innovative geological model to assist in the mineral targeting process. In addition to identifying near-surface targets, the partners intend to use this process to also identify targets lying under relatively thick sedimentary cover.
Antofagasta Minerals SA („AMSA“) is the mining division of Antofagasta plc. Antofagasta plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE-100 Index, with interests also in transport and water distribution. Currently, AMSA activities are primarily concentrated in Chile where it owns and operates four copper mines: Los Pelambres, Esperanza, El Tesoro and Michilla. Total production in 2012 is expected to be approximately 700,000 tonnes of copper, 11,000 tonnes of molybdenum and 280,000 ounces of gold. AMSA also has exploration, evaluation and/or feasibility programs in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa.
Avrupa Minerals Ltd. is a growth-oriented junior exploration and development company focused on aggressive exploration, using a prospect generator model, for valuable mineral deposits in politically stable and prospective regions of Europe, including Portugal, Kosovo, and Germany.
The Company has an exciting portfolio of exploration projects consisting of:
On behalf of the Board,
Paul W. Kuhn, President & Director
This news release was prepared by Company management, who take full responsibility for its content. Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, a Licensed Professional Geologist and a Registered Member of the Society of Mining Engineers, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. He has reviewed the technical disclosure in this release.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts: Avrupa Minerals Ltd. Paul W. Kuhn President & Director 1-604-687-3520 1-604-688-3392 (FAX)
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