VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westhaven Ventures Inc. (TSX-V:WHN) has staked an additional 6,167 hectares (ha), located within the prospective Spences Bridge Gold Belt (SBGB), approximately 5 kilometres (km) northwest of Spences Bridge, British Columbia.

Westhaven now owns a 100% interest in 35,363 ha within the prospective SBGB, which is close to existing transportation and infrastructure allowing for cost-effective exploration. The SBGB is a 110 km northwest-trending belt of intermediate to felsic volcanic rocks dominated by the Cretaceous-aged Spences Bridge group. Westhaven has been working on the SBGB since 2011 and believes these relatively underexplored volcanic rocks are highly prospective for economic, epithermal gold deposits. The best drill intercepts from the Company’s three SBGB properties to date:

• Skoonka: 12.8 metres (m) of 20.2 grams per ton (g/t) gold (Au), including 2.9 m of 51.1 g/t Au
   
• Shovelnose: 17.7 m of 3.9 g/t Au, including 2.9 m of 9.7 g/t Au
   
• Prospect Valley: 45.7 m of 1.44 g/t Au, including 4.6 m of 4.4 g/t Au

Skoonka North Claims

The Skoonka North claims are located northwest of Spences Bridge in south-central British Columbia, less than 3 km from the Trans-Canada Highway and the CN and CP Railway line, and an approximate 3 ½ hour drive from Vancouver in southern British Columbia. They are approximately 10 km north of the Company’s Skoonka property, where past drilling encountered 12.8 m of 20.2 g/t Au. The Skoonka North claims have the highest gold silt samples on the SBGB, including 594 parts per billion (ppb) Au, 383.7 ppb Au, and 131.3 ppb Au. The claims have seen limited exploration work and have yet to be drill tested.

The first target is a prominent, very linear topographic feature that extends from the northeast corner of the property to the center of the claim group, extending north-northeast for 6 km. The southernmost 2.5 km occurs along the east flank of a north-northeast trending magnetic low. The target is marked by anomalous stream silts of 383.7 and 131.3 ppb Au at its south end and 53.7 ppb Au at its north end.  This corridor has seen limited prospecting to the east of its central portion and immediately west of its southern third, where a soil grid was laid out. 

The main anomaly that has received the most work, including trenching, has returned rock and soil assays of up to 2.0 g/t Au and 701 ppb Au, respectively. The anomaly has been traced northeast for 260 m. Trenching has exposed a 55 m-long, east-trending zone of carbonate-zeolite veining assaying up to 1.44 g/t Au. A third target comprises a northeast trending corridor containing geochemistry anomalies (soils up to 41.9 ppb Au) and an anomalous silt sample assaying 89.6 ppb Au. This occurs along the west flank of a north-northeast trending magnetic low and on the west flank of a north trending potassium radiometric high anomaly.

On behalf of the Board of Directors
WESTHAVEN VENTURES INC.

"Gareth Thomas"

Gareth Thomas, Director

About Westhaven Ventures Inc.

Westhaven Ventures Inc. is a Canadian based exploration company focused on the acquisition and exploration of prospective resource properties. Westhaven is focused on advancing its Shovelnose, Prospect Valley, Skoonka and Skoonka North gold projects in British Columbia. Westhaven trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol WHN. For further information, please call 604-681-5558 or visit Westhaven’s website at www.westhavenventures.com

Qualified Person Statement

Peter Fischl, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person within the context of National Instrument 43-101, has read and takes responsibility for this release.

Neither the 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.