Foundations being prepared for Blackthorn’s Perkoa plant

Sydney, Australia --- MININGREVIEW.COM --- 21 December 2009 - Blackthorn Resources Limited ‒ an Australian-based resources company with a diverse portfolio of African assets including zinc, gold, copper, nickel and platinum group metals ‒ has announced that it has been granted renewal of its 100%-owned exploration permits covering the Bonzan and Naboue permits in Burkina Faso.

The announcement here revealed that the Bonzan and Naboue exploration permits ‒ which covered 151 sq km and 141 sq km respectively ‒ had been granted for a period of 3 years each, expiring in December 2012. Under the current prospecting legislation, exploration permits may be granted for three consecutive, 3-year terms totaling 9 years. The Bonzan and Naboue exploration permits have now been renewed for their second term, and are eligible for renewal for a further 3 year period.

Blackthorn Resources has commenced an active exploration programme over 7 exploration permits held by the company and covering approximately 1 134 sq km. The exploration work programme is primarily exploring for gold and base metals, and has included typical exploration methods using geological mapping, geophysics, geo-chemistry and drilling.

The company has a strong presence in Burkina Faso with an established office in Ouagadougou, the country’s capita, together with the site infrastructure which is being built at the company’s Perkoa zinc project.