TORONTO, April 4, 2016 /CNW/ - Wallbridge Mining Company Limited (TSX: WM, FWB: WC7) ("Wallbridge") announces positive results from the ongoing 12,000 metre drilling program on its flagship Parkin exploration project in Sudbury, Ontario. Notably, drill hole WMP-170 intersected a wide zone consisting of 24.25 metres of 1.22 % nickel, 1.50 % copper, 0.81 g/t platinum, 0.96 g/t palladium, and 0.38 g/t gold at very shallow depths from 35.60 to 59.85 metres down hole.

"Wallbridge's partner funded drilling in Sudbury continues to yield positive results," stated Marz Kord, President and CEO of Wallbridge, "In addition, following our recent success mining the Broken Hammer deposit we are aggressively driving forward to identify our next mining opportunities. We see potential with continued drilling at Parkin for a near-term bulk sample pit and we continue to evaluate additional advanced stage projects in Ontario and Quebec with the objective of becoming an established and profitable producer".

"Surface stripping and channel sampling in 2015 exposed significant nickel-copper-PGM sulphides above the near surface historic resource at Parkin.  We are currently focused on drilling in and around this resource to evaluate the potential for a near term bulk sample starter pit," stated Joshua Bailey, Vice President Exploration for Wallbridge, "Drill hole WMP-170 intersected significantly thicker mineralization than was previously modelled. This expands higher grade portions of the historic resource and demonstrates the potential for significant near surface tonnage".

The Parkin Properties are being explored for high-grade polymetallic nickel, copper, and platinum group metals (PGMs) over a 9.4 km strike length of the Parkin Offset dyke. Parkin includes the past-producing Milnet Mine, the high-grade Milnet 1500 Zone, and a historic near surface resource in the area of the current drilling.

The current Parkin exploration program began in October, 2015, and includes a budget of CAD $2.126 million funded by Lonmin Plc for about 12,000 metres drilling. Previous drilling results from the current program significantly expanded the extents of high grade near surface mineralization (see Wallbridge press release dated March 1, 2016). Currently, approximately 8600 metres of drilling has been completed and results are pending for eight drill holes.

Drilling is ongoing with the objective of determining the viability of a bulk sample starter pit within the top 100 metres from surface as well as an exploration target¹ of 1.5 - 5.0 million tonnes with typical Sudbury grades from surface to 600 metres depth. Longer term the project has significant additional potential at depth and along the strike length of the Property.

Illustrations showing the recent drilling, along with photographs of the recent drill core, are available on Wallbridge's website at: http://www.wallbridgemining.com/s/parkin-offset.asp.

This is the first year program of a recent option agreement with Lonmin Plc, who, as previously announced, may earn up to a 50% interest in the Parkin Properties by funding aggregate payments and exploration expenditures of CAD $11.083 million over four years (see Wallbridge press release dated September 16, 2015). Lonmin may then earn up to an additional 15% in each Parkin Property by funding them through to a feasibility study.

Wallbridge attracted this new joint venture funding from Lonmin in the fall of 2015, following the successful results of four drill holes completed last winter and mechanical stripping and channel sampling completed last summer and fall (see Wallbridge press releases dated April 9, June 25, and October 20, 2015).

In February 2015, Wallbridge secured an option to re-purchase Impala Platinum Holdings Limited's ("Implats") 49.6% interest in the Parkin Properties from an earlier joint venture at a substantial discount to Implats $7.2 million prior expenditure (see Wallbridge press release dated February 11, 2015).

Between 2008 and 2012 Wallbridge completed drilling on the Parkin Properties through the earlier joint venture funded largely by Implats. That work included drilling in 2008 and 2009 in the current target area which yielded significant mineralization. Drilling from 2010 to 2012 was directed further north with much deeper drilling beneath the Milnet mine after the discovery in 2009 of the very high grade Milnet 1500 Zone, which remains open.

Nickel, copper and platinum group metal mineralization on Wallbridge's Parkin Properties is typical of that hosted by quartz diorite offset dykes in the Sudbury mining camp.  Examples include the prolific deposits at Vale's North and South Mines hosted by the Copper Cliff Offset dyke; Vale's recently commissioned Totten Mine in the Worthington Offset Dyke and KGHM International Ltd.'s recent discovery on its Victoria project, also hosted in the Worthington Offset dyke. 

¹This exploration target is conceptual in nature, is based on the size of the untested area, the nature of nearby mineralization in the historic near-surface resource, the drilling intersections beneath the historic resource, the off-hole conductors, and examples of similar Offset dyke deposits elsewhere in Sudbury. The target is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Property and there has been insufficient work to date to determine whether deposits of this size exist. Further drilling and borehole geophysics are necessary to test this potential.

Samples were prepared at ALS Chemex Ltd. laboratories in Sudbury and then shipped to their analytical facilities in Vancouver. Samples were analyzed for Au, Pt, and Pd by standard lead oxide collection fire assay fusion with an atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) finish. Samples were analyzed for base metals, silver and trace elements using a four acid (HCIO4-HNO3-HF and HCI) near total digestion and a combination of ICP-MS and ICP-AES finish. Cu and Ni over-limits or samples submitted as ore grade were analyzed using HNO3-HClO4-HF-HCl acid digestion, HCl leach and ICP-AES (some conditions require an AA finish). Sulphur over-limits were analyzed using Total Sulphur by LECO.

The Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this press release is Joshua Bailey, P.Geo., M.Sc., Vice President Exploration For Wallbridge Mining Company Limited. Mr. Bailey has prepared, supervised and approved the scientific and technical disclosures in this press release.

About Wallbridge Mining

Wallbridge creates value through the acquisition, discovery, development, and production of metals. Wallbridge is working to establish a portfolio of projects that will support sustainable production and revenue as well as organic growth through exploration and scalability.

Wallbridge is currently in discussions regarding several advanced stage projects which could become the Company's next production platforms. These discussions benefit from the operating capabilities Wallbridge demonstrated by safely and efficiently mining the Broken Hammer deposit, which was completed in October 2015.

Wallbridge is continuing active partner-funded exploration on its large portfolio of nickel, copper, and PGM projects in Sudbury, Ontario.  Most of this work is funded by joint venture partners and has led to the discovery of numerous mineral occurrences including the Broken Hammer deposit.

Wallbridge has further exposure to active exploration for copper and gold in Jamaica and British Columbia through its 16.8% ownership of Carube Copper Corp. ("Carube Copper") (CUC:TSX-V, formerly Miocene Resources Limited).  Carube Copper's activities in Jamaica benefit from the funding by OZ Minerals Limited ("OZ Minerals"), with whom Carube Copper has two joint ventures.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements (including "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) relating to, among other things, the operations of Wallbridge and the environment in which it operates. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Wallbridge has relied on a number of assumptions and estimates in making such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the costs associated with the development and operation of its properties. Such assumptions and estimates are made in light of the trends and conditions that are considered to be relevant and reasonable based on information available and the circumstances existing at this time. A number of risk factors may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or outcomes of such exploration and/or mine development to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements including, without limitation, whether such discoveries will result in commercially viable quantities of such mineralized materials, the possibility of changes to project parameters as plans continue to be refined, the ability to execute planned exploration and future drilling programs, the need for additional funding to continue exploration and development efforts, changes in general economic, market and business conditions, and those other risks set forth in Wallbridge's most recent annual information form under the heading "Risk Factors" and in its other public filings. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and such information is inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and may be beyond the control of Wallbridge. Although Wallbridge has attempted to identify important risks and factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors and risks that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Consequently, undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements. In addition, all forward-looking statements in this press release are given as of the date hereof.

Wallbridge disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, save and except as may be required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this disclaimer.

SOURCE Wallbridge Mining Company Limited

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