Ecometals Announces Significant Intersection of Porphyry-Epithermal Style Mineralization, Rio Zarza Gold Project, Ecuador
9:30 am ET 02/22/2010 - Market Wire

TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 02/22/10 -- Ecometals Limited (TSX VENTURE: EC)(FRANKFURT: GDQ)(BERLIN: GDQ) -

Ecometals is pleased to announce that RZDDH10-02 has intercepted a significant intersection of porphyry-epithermal style mineralisation at the Company's Rio Zarza Gold Project. The preliminary results of Diamond Drill Hole RZDDH10-02 are;
-- Diamond drill hole has intersected a structural zone of brecciation and faulting, with associated alteration and veining overprinting the volcano-sedimentary stratigraphy of the pull-apart basin-- The hole has encountered in excess of 50m intersection of a strong zone of mineralization with epithermal characteristics starting at 330m depth-- Sulphide mineralization is dominated by pyrite-marcasite with minor chalcopyrite which occurs as veinlets, blebs, and breccia matrix filling and comprises an estimated 2 to 5% of rock the volume over parts of the intersection.-- Alteration is characterized by moderate to intense silicic, sulphidic and argillic facies associated with the mineralizing phase.-- Based on this very encouraging result, the original 1200m drilling programme will be extended to 2000m.

Preliminary Results of Drill Hole RZDDH10-02

Drill hole RZDDH10-02 (sited on Target # 02) is located at coordinates UTM776772E/9582992N and at an elevation of 1421m. The hole is oriented at 135 degrees azimuth and inclined -60 degrees East and the planned depth is 450m. The geology intersected in the hole is structurally complex, as it is located near the western edge of the pull-apart basin which is the host to the Fruta del Norte deposit.

The entire hole shows evidence of structural complexity. The structural zone is thought to form part of a regional fault zone, which controls the western margin of the pull-apart basin. This zone of weakness has served as the conduit for the emplacement of intrusive bodies and a focus for hydrothermal fluids and associated alteration. The fault zone is dominated by volcanic breccia with clasts of all types of host rocks (intrusive, volcanics and sediments) with a variable matrix of Fruta andesite and alteration minerals.

The mineralized section was intersected starting at 330m and continues to the current drilling depth of 400m. The sulphide mineralization is dominated primarily by pyrite and marcasite which occurs as veinlets, disseminations, and replacement of the matrix and clasts. Chalcopyrite and manganese are common, whilst sphalerite and galena are rare, and there is increasing magnetite with depth. The mineral paragenesis and structural history are currently being studied.

The original lithology is often obscured by overprinting alteration. Silicification and argillic alteration is pervasive in sections accompanied by carbonate, quartz, epidote and chlorite veinlets. Several episodes of alteration are evident, the latest being pervasive propyllitic (chlorite-epidote-carbonate) related to the Fruta Andesite porphyry. The main mineralizing event is accompanied by silicification, sulphidation and argillic facies.

Drilling in hole RZDDH10-02 is in progress as of the date of this press release, and is planned to 450m depth but may be extended if the mineralized structural zone continues. Based on encouraging results of this hole, the Company has increased the drilling programme initially to 2000m. Further geological information and core photographs will be available on the Company Web site at www.ecometalslimited.com.

Geological logging and sampling of the hole has kept apace with drilling. Samples will be dispatched to the laboratory one shipment as a QC measure. Analytical results are expected within three weeks on receipt of the samples at the ALS Chemex South America regional laboratory in Lima, Peru.