HZM.L Regulatory News (HZM)

3 Apr 2008 09:01

Horizonte Minerals PLC03 April 2008 Horizonte Minerals plc / Index: AIM / Epic: HZM / Sector: Mining 3 April 2008 Horizonte Minerals plc ("Horizonte" or "the Company") New CFO and Expansion of Management Team Horizonte Minerals plc, the AIM-traded exploration and development company, ispleased to announce it has strengthened its management team by appointing GaryTownsend as its new Chief Financial Officer (non-Board) and Gonzalo Lemuz asExploration Manager in Peru. In addition, the Company has employed Dr RichardJemielita who will be an active member of the technical advisory board, formedto enhance exploration operations on the ground. Mr. Townsend has over 24 years of experience in finance, specialising in thenatural resource sector. Recent positions include Chief Financial Officer atGuinor Gold Corporation, where he was involved in raising US$150 million andGroup Financial Controller at Ashanti Goldfields, where he played a key role inthe financial re-structuring of the Group. In line with strengthening the operational team in South America, Mr. Lemuz willbe running exploration activities in Peru. He is a highly experienced economicgeologist with over 18 years of mineral exploration experience in South America.During this period he has worked for Anglogold Ashanti plc, Newmont Mining Corp.and BHP Minerals Ltd in Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Ecuador. His experienceranges from early stage targets through to resource definition. Additionally Dr. Richard Jemielita joins Horizonte's technical advisory board.He is an independent geologist with twenty-five years professional experience ofconsulting and exploration management, predominantly in Latin America. Richardhas held positions with multinational mining companies and governmentorganisations to advise on exploration. He specialised in identifying high,intermediate and low sulphidation epithermal gold-silver deposits, porphyrycopper-gold-molybdenum and related polymetallic skarn and vein deposits, as wellas carbonate-hosted zinc-lead silver, volcanic-hosted massive sulphides inCordilleran terrains and shear zone-hosted lode gold deposits in Precambrianshields. Horizonte Minerals CEO Jeremy Martin said, "We are delighted to welcome Gary tothe Company. His knowledge in finance and accountancy, fused with his wealth ofexperience gained from working within the mining industry, will help with thecorporate development of the Company. "On the geological side, the appointment of a high level Exploration Managerwill enable us to expand our project portfolio and access new opportunities inPeru. In addition, Dr. Jemielita's valuable experience will enhance thetechnical exploration focus across the Group." **ENDS** For further information visit www.horizonteminerals.com or contact: Jeremy Martin/David Hall Horizonte Minerals plc Tel: 020 7495 5446 Jeremy Porter/Laura Littley Fairfax I.S. PLC Tel: 020 7598 5368 Hugo de Salis/ Felicity Edwards St Brides Media & Finance Ltd Tel: 020 7242 4477 Notes to Editors: Horizonte Minerals plc is an AIM listed exploration and development company witha portfolio of gold, nickel, silver, lead and zinc projects in producing mineraldistricts in Brazil and Peru. It has three primary projects working towards aresource definition including the 22,556 hectare Lontra nickel project situatedin the Araguaia mobile belt, which flanks the eastern margin of the CarajasMineral Province of northern Brazil, the silver-zinc-lead project El Aguilia inPeru, located in the historic mining district of Cerro de Pasco and the 300 sqkm Falcao gold project located near the Lontra project. In addition it has agenerative pipeline of early stage projects in development. The Company is focused on generating and rapidly advancing exploration projectsbefore joint venturing them with a major mining company to further develop theprojects and provide mid-term cash flow, which can be fed back into the businessand its other projects. This model was proven in December 2007 when Horizontesigned an option agreement with Troy Resources (ASX:TRY), to operate and developits Brazilian Tangara gold project by expending a total US$2.8 million onexploration and development as well as a royalty payment on production. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange