VMS Ventures Inc. is a well financed, publicly traded mineral exploration company listed on the Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX.V) under the symbol VMS.

 

VMS Ventures Inc. is focused primarily on acquiring, exploring and developing copper-zinc-gold-silver massive sulphide deposits in the Flin Flon-Snow Lake VMS Belt of Manitoba. The Company's VMS project property portfolio consists of the Reed Copper Project, McClarty Lake Project, Sails Lake Project, Puella Bay Project and Morton Lake Project. Outside of the Snow Lake camp, the Company holds massive sulphide prospective properties near the past producing Fox Lake and Ruttan copper-zinc mines, near the communities of Lynn Lake and Leaf Rapids in northern Manitoba. These properties are located in the mining friendly province of Manitoba, Canada. The Company also has optioned three properties in the Sudbury mining camp. They are Terra Incognita, Golden Pine and Black Creek.

 

In October, 2007 VMS announced its Reed Lake Discovery Hole intercept of 43.05 metres of 4.38% copper, 1.56% zinc, 0.85 grams per tonne gold and 13.09 grams per tonne silver, including 10 metres of 11.19% copper. 73 holes were drilled through September, 2008 including hole #RD-08-41 which included 33.46 meters of 10.36% Copper, including 18.08 meters of 13.80% copper.

 

On July 6, 2010, VMS announced a joint venture agreement with Hudbay Minerals (TSX: HBM) to develop the Reed Lake property and the two claims immediately to the south. VMS has a 30% carried interest and HudBay has a 70% interest and will act as the operator of the joint venture. HudBay began drilling at Reed Lake in late August, 2010 and plans a 43-101 resource estimate before the end of Q1 2011 - NI 43-101 MINERAL RESOURCE FOR THE REED LAKE DEPOSIT AT 2.55 MILLION TONNES @ 4.52% COPPER IN THE INDICATED CATEGORY

 

The Manitoba government has approved the Reed Copper Advanced Exploration Permit ("AEP") closure plan and issued the lease of park land property for the operation of the mine development activities. The AEP allows the extraction of a 10,000 tonne bulk sample and will provide confirmation of the mineralized widths, metal grades and the conditions of the ground. Testing of the extracted bulk sample will be done in the Flin Flon metallurgical complex. Site preparation will begin in Q1 and the decline will commence in the second half of 2012.

 

VMS Ventures owns approximately 45% of North American Nickel Inc. (TSX VENTURE:NAN)

 

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA VMS Ventures Inc. (TSX VENTURE:VMS) ("VMS Ventures" or the "Company") is updating shareholders on the progress being made at the Reed Copper Project, near Flin Flon Manitoba.

 

Wednesday the Company's joint venture partner on the Reed Copper Project, HudBay Minerals Inc. (TSX:HBM)(NYSE:HBM), reported the following update on progress being made towards construction of the mine:

 

"During the first quarter, Hudbay's focus for its 70% owned Reed copper project near Flin Flon, Manitoba was advancing the underground ramp and sinking the escape and ventilation raises from surface. Of Hudbay's $72 million capital construction budget, the company has invested approximately $37 million on the project to March 31, 2013 and has entered into an additional $13 million in commitments. Capital expenditures at Reed are expected to total approximately $44 million in 2013.

 

After completing the first portal development round in October 2012, the underground ramp had advanced approximately 363 metres as of March 31, 2013. In March 2013, Hudbay was able to start hauling waste from underground via haul trucks, which is expected to reduce cycle times and improve the rate of ramp development."

 

Neil Richardson , VMS Ventures' COO states: "We are very pleased with the progress being made at Reed and in particular the efforts being made to keep the project within budget. The project team is doing an excellent job in overcoming the challenges that accompany a project like this and in particular at the early phases of the development."

 

About VMS Ventures Inc:

 

VMS Ventures Inc. is focused primarily on acquiring, exploring and developing copper-zinc-gold-silver massive sulphide deposits in the Flin Flon-Snow Lake VMS Belt of Manitoba. The Company's VMS project property portfolio consists of the Reed Copper Project, which is subject to a 70-30 JV with HudBay Minerals and is scheduled for production in Q4-2013, Copper Project, McClarty Lake Project, Sails Lake Project, Puella Bay Project and Morton Lake Project. Outside of the Snow Lake camp, the Company holds massive sulphide prospective properties near the past producing Fox Lake and Ruttan copper-zinc mines, near the communities of Lynn Lake and Leaf Rapids in northern Manitoba. These properties are located in the mining friendly province of Manitoba, Canada. The Company also has optioned two properties in the Sudbury mining camp. They are Terra Incognita and Black Creek.

 

VMS Ventures owns approximately 27.5% of North American Nickel Inc. (TSX VENTURE:NAN). For more information on North American Nickel Inc., please visit www.northamericannickel.com.