Medusa Mining Limited: Quarterly Activities Report Period Ended 30 June 2010

COMO, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, Jul 29 (MARKET WIRE) —
Medusa Mining Limited (TSX: MLL)(ASX: MML)(AIM: MML) –

OVERVIEW:

Co-O MINE PRODUCTION

– Quarterly production of 25,012 ounces at an average grade of 13.65 g/t
at cash cost of US$182 per ounce and record annual production of 89,679
ounces

Co-O RESOURCES & RESOURCE DRILLING

– Indicated Resources increased by 4% to 603,000 ounces and Inferred
Resources increased by 36% to 898,000 ounces
– Drill gold results announced 30 June include 1.00 metre at 26.83 g/t,
2.00 metres at 23.35 g/t, 1.00 metre at 22.13 g/t, 1.20 metres at 28.74
g/t, 1.70 metres at 54.41 g/t, 1.95 metres at 36.39 g/t, 1.25 metres at
23.76 g/t and 4.00 metres at 64.54 g/t
– Reserve estimate scheduled for August 2010

BANANGHILIG DEPOSIT

– Granting of the Tambis MPSA covering the Bananghilig Deposit is well
advanced
– Drilling has commenced with one rig, with four more rigs expected to
follow by the end September

LINGIG COPPER

– Mineralisation located in two settings, basalt-hosted and diorite-hosted
– Recent results include 154.60 metres at 0.45% copper ending in
mineralisation and 86.00 metres at 0.12% copper
– Assessment of results to be undertaken before further drilling

SAUGON PROJECT

– Drilling currently underway with two rigs

FINANCIALS & CORPORATE

– Total cash and bullion at end of quarter of approximately US$62.0
million (unaudited)
– Appointment of Mr Peter R. Jones as Non-executive Chairman and Mr Peter
Hepburn-Brown as Executive Director Operations

(ii) The potential target size and grade is conceptual in nature, and
there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource, and
it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being
defined as a mineral resource. Refer to Stock Exchange announcement dated
18 January 2010.

SNAPSHOT OF MEDUSA:

– Expanding gold producer operating solely in the Philippines
– Debt free and un-hedged
– Forecast production FY 2010/11 of 100,000 ozs.
– Long term cash costs at Co-O Mine circa US$190 per oz
– Co-O Mine conceptual target size 3 to 7 million ozs(ii)
– Mineral Resources comprise
— Co-O Mine: Indicated 603k ozs at 13.2 g/t gold; Inferred 898k ozs
at 9.6 g/t gold
— Bananghilig: Inferred 650k ozs at 1.3 g/t gold
– Probable Reserves : Co-O Mine 500k ozs @ 14.9 g/t gold
– Organic growth policy to potentially produce 300,000 to 400,000 ozs per
year
– Excellent exploration upside: high grade vein and disseminated bulk gold
targets, plus seven porphyry copper targets

Board of Directors
Peter R. Jones (Non-executive Chairman)
Geoffrey Davis (CEO)
Peter Hepburn-Brown (Director Operations)
Roy Daniel (CFO)
Robert Weinberg (Non-executive Director)
Andrew Teo (Non-executive Director)

Capital Structure:
Ordinary shares: 187,584,911
Unlisted options: 1,240,000

Listings:
ASX and AIM (Code: MML), TSX (Code: MLL)

Address and Contact Details:
PO Box 860
Canning Bridge WA 6153
Telephone: +618 9367 0601
Facsimile: +618 9367 0602
Email: admin@medusamining.com.au
Website: www.medusamining.com.au

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The locations of the Company’s projects are shown on Figures 1 and 2.

To view Figure 1, please visit the following link:

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/mll0728fig1.pdf.

To view Figure 2, please visit the following link:

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/mll0728fig2.pdf.

Co-O MINE

GOLD PRODUCTION

The production statistics for the June 2010 quarter with comparatives for
the March 2010, December 2009 and September 2009 quarters and Year to
Date are summarised in Table I.

Table I. Gold production statistics

—————————————————————————-

Qtr ended Qtr ended Qtr ended Qtr ended YTD 30 Jun
Period Unit 30 Jun 10 31 Mar 10 31 Dec 09 30 Sep 09 10
—————————————————————————-
Tonnes mined WMT 53,872 51,512 54,222 43,287 202,893
—————————————————————————-
Ore milled DMT 60,611 40,943 37,588 40,467 179,609
—————————————————————————-
Head grade gpt 13.65 20.61 18.68 14.78 16.52
—————————————————————————-
Recovery % 94% 94% 94% 94% 94%
—————————————————————————-
Gold produced
(1) ozs 25,012 25,505 21,108 18,054 89,679
—————————————————————————-
Cash costs (2) US$ $182 $180 $184 $193 $184
—————————————————————————-
Gold sold ozs 24,858 – 21,108 18,054 64,020
—————————————————————————-
Average gold
price received US$ $1,182 – $1,111 $975 $1,100
—————————————————————————-

Note:

(1) Gold production, is actual gold poured during the period and does not
reflect changes in the balance of gold in circuit
(2) Cash costs refers to the cost of gold mined (net of development costs),
produced but not necessarily sold and includes royalties and local taxes
of US$46 per ounce for the Jun 2010 qtr (Mar 10 qtr: US$48 per oz, Dec
09 qtr: US$48 per oz, Sep 2009 qtr: US$34 per ounce, YTD: US$46 per
ounce)

Gold production for the quarter was 25,012 ounces at an average grade
of 13.65 g/t gold and cash costs of US$182 per ounce. Annual production
for the year ended June 2010 was 89,679 ounces at an average grade of
16.52 g/t gold and cash costs of US$184 per ounce, inclusive of taxes,
royalties and production taxes of US$46 per ounce.

Medusa an unhedged gold producer, sold 24,858 ounces of gold at an
average price of US$1,182 during the quarter.

The increased tonnage processed reflects increased throughput capacity of
the mill. The reduction in grade compared to the previous quarter
reflects less development in areas with black leader (which are being set
up for longhole stoping) and the use of some of the stockpiled material.
The grade is within the anticipated long term grade range of 12 to 15 g/t
gold.

The forecast for the forthcoming fiscal year is production of 100,000
ounces at anticipated cash costs of US$190 per ounce.

To view Graph 1, please visit the following link:

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/mll0728graph1.pdf.

Co-O MINE

Mineral Resource Estimate

A new mineral resource estimate was completed by Cube Consulting Pty Ltd
of Perth, Western Australia (see announcement of 22 July 2010) resulting
in the Indicated Resources increasing by 4% and the Inferred Resources
increasing by 36% as summarised in Table II.

Table II. Co-O Mine mineral resource estimate to 21 June 2010

—————————————————————————-

greater than 0 g/t gold
Category ——————————————
tonnes g/t gold ounces
—————————————————————————-
Indicated 1,418,000 13.2 603,000
—————————————————————————-
Inferred 2,905,000 9.6 898,000
—————————————————————————-

Notes:

– A lower cut-off of 0 g/t gold has been applied
– Variable upper cuts up to 200 g/t gold has been applied to different
veins
– Rounding to the nearest 1,000 may result in some slight discrepancies in
totals.

Mine Development

The new 60 metre inclined shaft (6W) to the Level 6 has reached final
depth and development on Level 6 will commence during the next quarter
(Fig. 4).

A vertical siter or shaft location drill hole to 500 metres depth has
been completed to the north of the adit entrances (Fig. 4) in preparation
for sinking a vertical ventilation shaft, the Mid Royal Shaft, initially
to Level 2. This shaft will also allow rationalisation of services into
the mine (power, water, compressed air). Preparations for shaft sinking
is expected to commence during the next quarter.

The Level 3 drive from the Baguio Shaft to below the Tinago Shaft has
been completed and preparations are under way to commence an Alimak rise
to link Level 3 to the Tinago Shaft. This will then act as the main
ventilation exhaust for the western end of the mine. It is intended that
a power line will be installed to the Tinago Shaft.

Mine Production

Production has continued uninterrupted at the mine. Surface stockpiles
are approximately 20,000 tonnes which were drawn down by around 7,000
tonnes.

The fitting of the skip and headframe to the vertical Ventilation Shaft
near the Baguio Shaft to haul mineralised material from above Level 1 has
been completed with haulage commenced.

Mill Expansion

The mill expansion comprised a new primary, secondary and tertiary
crushing circuit with a washing and screening section. The fine ore is
stored in two 800 tonne capacity fine ore bins.

Mill operation during the period was in line with management
expectations. Increased efficiencies were achieved after smaller diameter
grinding balls were loaded into the ball mill in line with the finer feed
size now available. The milling averaged 666 tonnes per day compared to
454 tonnes per day in the previous quarter, an increase of 46%.

A thickener unit is nearing completion. Construction of a new water
storage tank is expected to commence during the next quarter followed by
two new leach tanks.

Tailings Dam

Construction of a new eight year life tailings dam has been completed.

Power

Construction has commenced on the dedicated power line from the San
Francisco sub-station to the mill. It is anticipated that this will be
completed in the December quarter 2010.

RESOURCE DRILLING

Discussion

Figure 4 (attached) shows all the new MD series diamond drill holes from
MD 241 to MD 260 totalling 13,993 metres which have been completed around
the Co-O Mine since 29 March 2010. Results are awaited for MDs 258 and
259. Figure 5 (attached) shows the underground drilling totalling 4,865
metres from all levels in the mine.

A possible new vein(s) discovery is indicated by intersections to the
north of the Royal Vein which have been returned from MED 244 (0.40
metres at 17.20 g/t gold and 1.00 metre at 3.14 g/t gold), MED 252 (0.25
metres at 16.87 g/t gold and 0.20 metres at 16.11 g/t gold), and EXP 028
(0.35 metres at 10.59 g/t gold, 1.00 metre at 1.37 g/t gold and 0.20
metres at 2.39 g/t gold) in conjunction with a deep intersection in MD 68
which intersected 3.10 metres at 15.37 g/t gold at approximately 500
metres below Level 1 (announced 4 June 2008).

An increasing amount of resource drilling will be undertaken from
underground allowing some of the surface rigs to be re-allocated to the
Bananghilig Project.

Drill results

Table III lists the surface diamond drilling results greater than 3 g/t
gold over greater than 0.5 metres from the Co-O Mine for new drill holes
from MD 241 to MD 260 as well as results not previously reported for one
earlier hole as announced on 30 June 2010. Other reports containing
intersections for holes numbered MD 217 to 240 were announced on 29 March
2010 and for holes below MD 217 were announced on 18 January 2010, 1 July
2009, 1 December 2008 and 12 August 2008. In 2007 the announcements are
dated 9 July, 15 May and 28 February. The announcement of 30 June 2010
also contains information regarding drill hole surveying techniques and
comments on vein interpretation, resource conversion methodologies and
sampling and assaying procedures.

Table IV lists the underground drill holes from Levels 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The announcement of 30 June 2010 contains more detailed results for
surface and underground drill holes down to 0.2 metres wide as
underground development shows that in many cases as the veins approach
cross-cutting faults, they narrow down on both sides of the fault over 5
to 10 metres before widening out, and hence the narrower intersections
are important in defining vein continuity. There is also some pinching
and swelling of veins along strike and some cross-faulting. Most drilling
is sub-parallel to the fault directions and rarely intersects the faults,
which are subsequently identified by underground on-vein development.

Table III. Co-O surface drill hole results greater than 3 g/t gold and
greater than 0.5 metres downhole for new holes MD 241 to MD 260 and
complete assays for previously partly reported hole designated (i)

—————————————————————————-

Grade
Hole Dip Azimuth From Width (uncut)
number East North (degrees) (degrees) (metres) (metres) (g/t gold)
—————————————————————————-
MD 237(i) 613812 913203 -49 176 299.50 1.15 14.10 (i)
——————————
331.20 1.00 26.83 (i)
—————————————————————————-
MD 241 614136 912992 -45 193 278.10 2.00 23.35
——————————
308.90 0.60 35.45
——————————
404.80 0.65 7.16
—————————————————————————-
MD 244 614130 913231 -60 180 77.75 1.00 3.14
——————————
205.20 0.50 4.52
——————————
256.40 0.75 17.95
——————————
276.80 1.00 7.60
——————————
356.50 0.80 15.52
——————————
380.10 1.00 22.13
—————————————————————————-
MD 245 613721 913204 -47 180 298.60 0.95 8.82 (i)
——————————
MD 247 613640 913131 -45 191 376.00 1.15 5.50 (i)
—————————————————————————-
MD 252 614292 913157 -45 200 220.90 1.50 5.86 (i)
——————————
441.70 0.60 4.23 (i)
——————————
495.30 1.20 28.74 (i)
——————————
531.30 1.40 4.54 (i)
——————————
MD 260 613450 913207 -67 148 413.50 1.00 6.57 (i)
—————————————————————————-

Notes:

(i) Intersection widths are downhole drill widths not true widths
(ii) Assays denoted by (i) are by Philsaga Mining Corporation’s laboratory,
all other assays are by McPhar Geoservices Inc. in Manila
(iii) Grid coordinates based on the Philippine Reference System 92.

Table IV. Co-O underground drill hole results greater than 3 g/t gold
and greater than 0.5 metres downhole

—————————————————————————-

Grade
Hole Dip Azimuth From Width (uncut)
number East North (degrees) (degrees) (metres) (metres) (g/t gold)
—————————————————————————-
LEVEL 2
—————————————————————————-
L2-014 613350 912801 3 0 86.00 0.70 38.16 (i)
——————————
152.05 0.65 18.33 (i)
—————————————————————————-
L2-015 613368 912785 3 10 86.00 0.70 29.00 (i)
——————————
89.65 0.30 13.10 (i)
——————————
159.70 0.35 7.80 (i)
—————————————————————————-
LEVEL 3
—————————————————————————-
L3-003 613258 912846 3 59 3.20 1.55 4.31 (i)
——————————
L3-004 613376 912985 3 327 21.20 0.90 3.09 (i)
—————————————————————————-
L3-005 613477 912930 3 42 87.25 1.35 7.20 (i)
—————————————————————————-
L3-008 613913 913028 3 23 103.10 4.20 4.98 (i)
—————————————————————————-
LEVEL 4
—————————————————————————-
L4-002 613923 912905 3 157 56.25 0.75 5.03 (i)
—————————————————————————-
L4-004 613923 912905 3 157 Wait
—————————————————————————-
L4-005 613758 912749 3 32 22.30 1.70 54.41 (i)
——————————
27.70 0.90 10.07 (i)
—————————————————————————-
L4-006 613760 912748 3 47 31.50 1.10 11.53 (i)
——————————
137.20 1.20 5.41 (i)
—————————————————————————-
L4-007 613757 912749 3 352 12.60 1.00 10.22 (i)
—————————————————————————-
LEVEL 5
—————————————————————————-
L5-001 613880 912749 -60 346 29.95 1.95 35.39 (i)
——————————
39.45 1.25 23.76 (i)
——————————
44.80 4.00 64.53 (i)
——————————
51.45 1.25 5.36 (i)
—————————————————————————-
L5-003 613888 912794 3 0 57.40 2.30 12.40 (i)
——————————
99.00 2.00 3.70 (i)
—————————————————————————-
L5-004 613885 912794 3 342 90.50 3.10 14.61 (i)
—————————————————————————-
L5-005 613883 912793 3 330 55.80 2.05 6.43 (i)
——————————
58.50 0.60 14.37 (i)
——————————
258.90 1.40 3.20 (i)
—————————————————————————-
L5-006 613885 912789 -70 168 48.20 0.70 56.87 (i)
——————————
50.45 2.80 18.11 (i)
—————————————————————————-
L5-007 613885 912789 -56 168 37.75 6.50 12.24 (i)
—————————————————————————-

Notes:

(i) Intersection widths are downhole drill widths not true widths
(ii) Assays denoted by (i) are by Philsaga Mining Corporation’s laboratory,
all other assays are by McPhar Geoservices Inc. in Manila
(iii) Grid coordinates based on the Philippine Reference System 92.

Co-O CONCEPTUAL TARGET SIZE

As announced on 18 January 2010, a conceptual target size(ii) for the
Co-O Mine was estimated at between 3 and 7 million ounces. Further
details are provided in the above announcements.

Figure 6 (attached) was included in the announcement of 22 July 2010 and
shows a composite longitudinal projection of all the drill hole
intersection grades below Level 6 (250 metres below Level 1). These
intersections strongly support the concept that mineralisation extends to
a depth of 500 metres below Level 1, and also show that the
mineralisation occurs below the 500 metre level.

It should be noted that the conceptual target size(ii) includes the
current resource estimate. The mine has produced approximately 290,000
ounces to 30 June 2010.

(ii) The potential target size and grade is conceptual in nature, and
there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource, and
it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being
defined as a mineral resource.

Co-O REGIONAL DRILLING

Using the Co-O Mine as a model, drill testing commenced in the September
quarter of 2009 on veins in the vicinity of the Co-O Mine.

The Co-O vein system outcrops at surface on the western side of the
Oriental Fault, where it was first discovered. The veins at surface
rarely exceed 0.5 metres width and generally assay around 1 to 5 g/t gold
(with possibly some supergene enrichment). Gold values start to increase
significantly approximately 80 metres below surface.

Figure 7 (attached) shows the positions of the 28 holes completed to
date. Results for EXP 001 to 012 were announced on 10 December 2009 and
an update to EXP 022 was provided on 29 March 2010. A total of 5,189.6
metres have been completed in the seven holes EXP 022 to 028.

Table V shows the results greater than 1 g/t gold for holes EXP 022 to
028.

Table V. Co-O regional drill hole results greater than 1 g/t gold and
greater than 0.2 metres downhole for holes EXP 022-028

—————————————————————————-

Grade
Hole Dip Azimuth From Width (uncut)
number East North (degrees) (degrees) (metres) (metres) (g/t gold)
—————————————————————————-
EXP 024 613551 914075 -47 270 547.40 1.00 2.48 (i)
—————————————————————————-
EXP 027 613941 913554 -55 155 683.00 0.25 2.12 (i)
—————————————————————————-
EXP 028 614180 913559 -56 157 704.70 0.35 10.59 (i)
—————————————————————————-
707.80 1.00 1.37 (i)
——————————
724.90 0.20 2.39 (i)
—————————————————————————-

Notes:

(i) Intersection widths are downhole drill widths not true widths
(ii) Assays denoted by (i) are by Philsaga Mining Corporation’s laboratory,
all other assays are by McPhar Geoservices Inc. in Manila
(iii) Grid coordinates based on the Philippine Reference System 92.

To view Figure 3, please visit the following link:

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/mll0728fig3.pdf.

To view Figure 4, please visit the following link:

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/mll0728fig4.pdf.

To view Figure 5, please visit the following link:

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/mll0728fig5.pdf.

To view Figure 6, please visit the following link:

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/mll0728fig6.pdf.

To view Figure 7, please visit the following link:

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/mll0728fig7.pdf.

LINGIG COPPER PROJECT

The Lingig prospect is covered by a Mines Operating Agreement (“MOA”)
over Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (“MPSA”) application number
APSA 024-XIII comprising two parcels situated to the north and to the
east (the Lingig porphyry copper prospect) of the Co-O Mine and millsite
as shown on Figure 2.

Drilling has intersected copper mineralisation in two settings and
results to date are shown on Figure 8. Additional information is
contained in the announcement dated 7 May 2010.

Basalt-hosted mineralisation (now called the Basalt Prospect) is hosted
within the basaltic and doleritic rocks around the 1974 discovery area.
This mineralisation appears to form a large north plunging body presumed
to be still open to the north down-plunge. The most recent and most
northerly drill hole returned 154.60 metres at 0.45% copper but was
abandoned in strong mineralisation. It is interpreted that the bottom of
this mineralisation may be faulted-off by the underlying thrust fault and
the rest of the mineralised zone is yet to be located. Further drilling
is required.

Breccia-hosted mineralisation (now called the Breccia Prospect) has
continued to be located associated with intense biotitic alteration in
dioritic, polylithic hydrothermal breccias.

The breccia body is tabular and open to the south with copper
mineralisation in intensely altered hydrothermal breccias with the most
recent intersections of 154.7 metres at 0.19% copper in hole LIN 37 and
86.0 metres of 0.12% copper in hole LIN 40. Further drilling is required.

TAMBIS-BAROBO REGION

The Tambis project, currently comprising the Bananghilig Gold Deposit and
the Kamarangan copper porphyry prospect (Fig. 2), is operated under a
Mining Agreement with Philex Gold Philippines Inc. over MPSA application
APSA-000022-XIII which covers 6,262 hectares (includes the Bananghilig
Gold Project and the Kamarangan copper-molybdenum prospect). Processing
of the application is well advanced.

Banaghilig Gold Project

Figure 2 shows the location of the Bananghilig Deposit. Drilling has
commenced at site and by the end of September it is intended that there
will be five rigs operating with the aim to increase the resources to a
level which could provide a 5 year minimum mining life at a production
rate of approximately 200,000 ounces per year.

Usa Porphyry Copper-Gold Prospect

Background

The Usa prospect located within Mineral Production Sharing Agreement
application (“APSA”) XIII-00077. The Company has a Memorandum of
Agreement with Corplex Resources Inc (“Corplex”) whereby:

– Corplex will receive a 4% gross royalty on all production, or
– in the event of a major discovery and completion of a Scoping Study
which demonstrates at least a five year mine life, Corplex can elect to,

(a) buy back a 30% interest by re-imbursing to the Company a sum equal to
four times the expenditure on the tenement; and
(b) contribute to 30% of all on-going expenditure from the point of buy-back
forwards.
(c) should Corplex elect not to contribute to all on-going expenditure, then
Corplex can elect once only to dilute to a 15% non-contributing free
carried interest to commencement of production, at which point the
Company shall provide a loan to Corplex to fund its 15% interest; or
(d) in the event that Corplex does not exercise the buy-back, then Corplex
will maintain its 4% gross royalty on production.

There are indications that the prospect extends eastwards into APSA
XIII-00098 which is owned by Mindanao Philcord Mining Corporation which
will receive a 1% Net Profits Interest from any production.

Regional Setting

Detailed information on the Usa prospect is contained in the announcement
dated 5 May 2010 and Figure 2 shows the Usa prospect location. Figure 9
shows the detailed geology and geochemistry contours of rock chip
samples.

The Usa prospect is located adjacent to the west side of the Barobo Fault
corridor. This fault is parallel to the Philippine Rift Fault located
approximately 30 kilometres to the west of the Usa prospect. The Barobo
Fault corridor has numerous gold prospects already located along or
adjacent to it, including Guinhalinan, Umbon, Matanog and Alikway.

Local Geology and Mineralisation

The geology consists of a mineralised and altered diorite complex which
is intruding andesitic volcanics, older limestone and calcareous
sediments. The setting and style of mineralisation are very similar to
that at the Kamarangan copper-molybdenum porphyry prospect to the north
where chalcopyrite and magnetite bearing diorite was intersected over
several hundred metres in two holes during a scout diamond drilling
completed in late 2008 to early 2009 (see announcement dated 29 May
2009).

The fine- to medium-grained diorite is variably but strongly phyllic
altered (white clay, sericite and pyrite) with variably dispersed
hairline veinlets of fine-grained magnetite. Mineralisation is
predominantly pyrite occurring as fracture filling grains disseminated
grains and vein infill. The pyrite is accompanied with bornite, and with
occasional chalcopyrite. Malachite stained limestone and calcareous
sediments with sphalerite, pyrite and bornite veins, and weakly
mineralised pyrite and chalcopyrite magnetite have been noted in drainage
float samples to the north of the diorite.

Contouring of the rock chip copper results (greater than 700 ppm Cu) and
gold results (greater than 0.1 g/t Au) are shown on Figure 9 which are in
close spatial proximity. The relationship of the diorite body to the
surrounding rocks suggests that it has been recently uncovered and is not
deeply eroded.

Artisanal mining activity with small but consistent recoveries is common
in the drainages overlying and downstream of the mineralised altered
diorite. Less active artisanal mining activity is noted to the north
where chlorite and clay altered, sulphide veined andesitic units occur.

A large grid based soil sampling program designed to delineate the extent
of the gold and copper mineralisation should be completed during the
September quarter.

ANOLING

The Mines Operating Agreement with Alcorn Gold Resources Inc. covers MPSA
application number 039-XIII situated approximately 8 kilometres north
from the millsite as shown on Figure 2. Processing of the MPSA is
progressing.

Mapping and sampling is continuing. Drilling will recommence when the
MPSA is granted.

SAUGON PROJECT

Drilling commenced at Saugon during the quarter with two drilling rigs. A
detailed summary of previous exploration conducted in 2004 was published
on 20 April 2010.

FIRST HIT VEIN

Discussion

Figure 10 shows the regional geology, location of the First Hit Vein, and
the Paradise and Mabas Prospects.

Work in 2004 involved drilling of the First Hit Vein in conjunction with
underground development via a 30 metre deep 60 degrees inclined winze
down the vein-breccia to assist in understanding the mineralisation. By
chance, the winze was sunk at a contact between well banded and high
grade vein on the north wall and polylithic hydrothermal quartz breccias
on the south wall containing fragments of various different vein and
silica types, and with lower grade gold values.

The 2004 drilling indicated three zones of mineralisation as being partly
developed footwall and hanging wall zones and a well developed central
zone (First Hit Vein) which has the highest grades and a more prominent
silver-polymetallic association.

Regional Setting

Subsequent to the drilling in 2004, an aeromagnetic survey was completed
which showed the First Hit Vein set are on the northern edge of a large,
northeast-trending demagnetised zone over 2,000 metres wide and
approximately 8,000 metres long, part of which is shown on Figure 10. A
number of features within this zone were interpreted to be suggestive of
intrusive bodies, possibly porphyry copper-related. Field work has
established that outcropping areas of the northern side of this zone show
intense clay-pyrite alteration, which is presumed to extend across the
bulk of the zone under cover to the south.

Sections of the demagnetised zone are covered by younger sediments, some
grits and shales at the base and capped by white, semi-massive to massive
limestone. This appears to be a remnant of the same younger sequence that
occurs elsewhere to the north in the Company’s tenements.

Drilling

Drilling has re-commenced at the First Hit Vein with two rigs, and will
test additional targets that have been outlined by recent field work. As
the 2004 drill holes were not down hole surveyed in the early drilling,
some holes will be repeated to establish the geometry of the mineralised
system before step-out drilling is undertaken. Two rigs will be involved
in the programme which will be results-driven over the next 4 to 6 months.

Table I. First Hit Vein drill hole results greater than 3 g/t gold and
greater than 0.2 metres downhole

—————————————————————————-

Grade
(uncut)
(g/t gold,
g/t Ag, %
Hole Dip Azimuth From Width Cu, %Pb,
number East North (degrees) (degrees) (metres) (metres) %Zn)
—————————————————————————-
35.75, 544,
0.38, 1.88,
SDDH 2B 616944 899267 -55 316 108.50 1.00 1.62
—————————————————————————-
9.76, 142,
0.30, 1.18,
SDDH 4 616912 899318 -59 290 89.50 0.20 0.40
—————————————————————————-
3.26, 32,
0.20, 0.20,
SDDH 5 616964 899344 -54 345 71.80 0.95 0.61
—————————————————————————-
4.97, 78,
0.74, 1.51,
SDDH 9 616979 899250 -67 319 176.20 0.20 1.54
—————————————————————————-
16.30, 244,
1.32, 2.65,
SDDH 27 616921 899334 -73 300 60.80 1.00 4.97
——————————
9.63, not
71.05 5.95 assayed
—————————————————————————-
20.54, not
SDDH 28 616922 899307 -70 300 89.95 2.05 assayed
—————————————————————————-
15.32, not
SDDH 29 616961 899315 -72 300 112.25 0.90 assayed
—————————————————————————-
3.94, not
SDDH 31 616922 899254 -75 315 174.25 0.75 assayed
—————————————————————————-
6.87, not
SDDH 34 617033 899279 -65 310 173.80 0.40 assayed
—————————————————————————-
5.05, not
SDDH 35 617000 899305 -65 310 128.20 0.85 assayed
—————————————————————————-

Notes:

(i) Intersection widths are downhole drill widths not true widths;
(ii) All assays are by McPhar Geoservices Inc laboratory in Manila;
(iii) Grid coordinates based on the Philippine Reference System 92;
(iv) The drill holes have not been downhole surveyed.

OTHER PROSPECTS

Paradise Prospect

Holes SDDH 19 and 22 were drilled at the Paradise Prospect which consists
of an outcropping silica-barite cap with anomalous gold values. Drilling
encountered a 1.60 metre wide barite vein containing 0.89 g/t gold.
Extensive clay-pyrite alteration of volcanics was uncovered in road
cuttings to the south and northeast of the silica outcrops.

Mabas Prospect

Holes SDDH 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23 and 24 were drilled at the Mabas
Prospect where there were some existing workings. The best drill-hole
intersection below the workings was 1 metre at 5.64 g/t gold in SDDH 24.
The workings were re-opened and developed. The mineralisation consisted
of generally black chalcedonic silica with some lead-zinc mineralisation
and gold values in the 6 to 8 g/t range. The silica appeared to be
confined to a lens or boudin within the Mabas Shear zone.

Mabas South Prospect

The Mabas South Prospect has been discovered by recent field work, and
whilst a narrow vein at less than 0.5 metres wide, has consistently
returned gold values around 10 g/t gold in most samples. This vein will
be drilled to test for grade and thickness at depth.

To view Figure 8, please visit the following link:

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/mll0728fig8.pdf.

To view Figure 9, please visit the following link:

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/mll0728fig9.pdf.

To view Figure 10, please visit the following link:

http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/mll0728fig10.pdf.

FINANCIALS (unaudited)

As at 30 June 2010, the Company which is debt free, had total cash and
bullion of approximately US$62.0 million (31 Mar 2010: US$48.1 million);

During the quarter,

– the Company sold 24,858 ounces of gold at an average price of US$1,182
(No gold was sold during the Mar 2010 qtr). Year to date gold proceeds
totalled US$70.4 million from the sale of 64,020 ounces of gold at an
average price of US$1,100 per ounce);
– incurred exploration expenditure of US$5.4 million (Mar 2010 qtr: US$4.3
million; YTD:US$18.9 million);
– spent US$1.8 million on capital works associated with the mine/mill
expansion and sustaining capital (Mar 2010 qtr: US$1.8 million); YTD
US$7.7 million); and
– incurred US$2.0 million in capitalised mine development (inclusive of
shaft sinking) costs (Mar 2010 qtr: US$1.8 million; YTD: US$7.9
million).

CORPORATE

Mr Peter R. Jones was appointed Non-executive Chairman of
the Company on 8 July 2010 and Mr Peter Hepburn-Brown was appointed as
Executive Director – Operations.

Managing Director, Geoff Davis commented:

“I am pleased with this quarter’s production of 25,012 ounces and the
record production for the year of 89,679 ounces. Surface stockpiles and
broken ore underground augur well for achieving our production targets.

Following recent completion of the Co-O Mine two phase expansion program
to the production level of 100,000 annualised ounces, we will focus on
stabilising the operations for the next two quarters at production levels
around 25,000 ounces per quarter for the first half and then assess the
possibility of incremental production increases for the second half.

The Company is pleased with the new resource estimate at Co-O and intends
to maintain the annual total resources estimate at current levels, but
will actively continue drilling to seek exensional mineralisation outside
the current mine limits.

An exploration budget of US$20 million for the forthcoming year will
ensure a very active programme. Drilling has commenced on schedule at the
extensive Bananghilig Deposit and is underway at Saugon, highlighting
both the short and long term potential of the Company.”

Information in this report relating to Exploration Results has been
reviewed and is based on information compiled by Mr Geoff Davis, who is a
member of The Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Davis is the
Managing Director of Medusa Mining Limited and has sufficient experience
which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposits
under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to
qualify as a “Competent Person” as defined in the 2004 Edition of the
“Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral
Resources and Ore Reserves” and is a “Qualified Person” as defined in
“National Instrument 43-101″ of the Canadian Securities Administrators.
Mr Davis consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on
his information in the form and context in which it appears.

Information in this report relating to Mineral Resources has been
estimated and compiled by Mark Zammit of Cube Consulting Pty Ltd of
Perth, Western Australia. Mr Zammit is a member of The Australasian
Institute of Mining & Metallurgy and has sufficient experience that is
relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under
consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a
Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the “Australasian Code
for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves”
and is a “Qualified Person” as defined in “National Instrument 43-101″ of
the Canadian Securities Administrators. Mr Zammit consents to the
inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the
form and context in which it appears.

Information in this report relating to Ore Reserves is based on
information compiled by Declan Franzmann, B Eng (Mining), MAusIMM. Mr
Franzmann is a full-time employee of Crosscut Consulting. Mr Franzman has
sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation
and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which they
are undertaking to qualify as Competent Persons as defined in the 2004
Edition of the “Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results,
Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves” and is a “Qualified Person” as
defined in “National Instrument 43-101″ of the Canadian Securities
Administrators. Mr Franzmann consents to the inclusion in the report of
the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it
appears.

Refer to the revised Technical Report which was filed on www.sedar.com in
March 2010 for further discussion of the Co-O Deposit’s geology,
structural controls, drilling, sampling and assaying information, and any
known material environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation,
socio-political, marketing or other relevant issue.

DISCLAIMER

This announcement may contain certain forward-looking statements. The
words ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘expect’, ‘project’, ‘forecast’,
‘estimate’, ‘likely’, ‘intend’, ‘should’, ‘could’, ‘may’, ‘target’,
‘plan’ and other similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. Indications of, and guidance on, future
earnings and financial position and performance are also forward-looking
statements.

Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance
and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors,
many of which are beyond the control of Medusa, and its officers,
employees, agents and associates, that may cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in such statements.

Actual results, performance or outcomes may differ materially from any
projections and forward-looking statements and the assumptions on which
those assumptions are based.

You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and
neither Medusa nor any of its directors, employees, servants or agents
assume any obligation to update such information.

Contacts:
Australia
Medusa Mining Limited
Geoffrey Davis
Managing Director
+61 8 9367 0601

Australia
Medusa Mining Limited
Roy Daniel
Finance Director
+61 8 9367 0601
www.medusamining.com.au

United Kingdom
Fairfax I.S. PLC
Nominated Adviser and Broker
Ewan Leggat/Laura Littley
+44 (0)20 7598 5368

United Kingdom
Lothbury Financial Services Limited
Michael Padley/Libby Moss
+44 (0)20 7868 2010

Canada
Nicholas Sayce
Investor Relations
+1 416 822 4404

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

Factbox: BP’s next steps on killing Gulf leak

(Reuters) – BP Plc was working to ready the first of two relief wells to bore into its blown-out Gulf of Mexico well about 13,000 feet under the seabed and permanently plug and seal the leak.

Along the way, the company aims to begin the kill process with a “static kill,” which involves pumping heavy drilling mud and cement in the well from the top.

The well remains capped, having shut in all oil flow since July 15.

Here is an explanation of BP’s next steps, according to retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, the top official overseeing the spill response, and Kent Wells, BP’s senior vice president of exploration and production:

THE RELIEF WELLS

* On July 25 a rig that had been drilling the first of two relief wells was reconnecting its riser and drillpipe after shutting down operations to move out of the path of bad weather.

* Once reconnected, a plug that had been placed in the well to keep it stable will be removed, and the well will be cleaned.

* BP will then insert and cement in place the last piece of pipe, called casing, at the bottom of the relief well prior to boring into the Macondo well.

* After the casing is in place but before drilling resumes, BP aims to begin a static kill.

* The relief well has drilled 12,864 feet beneath the seabed and remains on target to intercept and kill the leak in August. The weather-related shutdown has likely pushed the finish date to the second half of August from the middle of the month.

* The finish date depends on how well the static kill works, how deep the relief well must bore into the stricken well, and how many times BP must pump in heavy drilling fluid and cement.

* The second relief well, a backup to the first, bored 10,961 feet beneath the seabed by July 12, when drilling was suspended to avoid disturbing the first relief well’s use of sensors to find its right intercept target.

THE STATIC KILL:

* The static kill resembles BP’s failed “top kill” in May, except that the well is capped and sealed.

* The top kill failed because heavy mud shot out the top of the leak along with crude and couldn’t smother the leak.

* As with the top kill, heavy mud will be pumped into the well from surface vessels through pipes and hoses connected to a failed blowout preventer at the seabed.

* Because oil no longer has an escape route, the mud is expected to push it back down to the reservoir.

* Cement can then be pumped into the well to plug and kill the leak at the bottom.

* The first relief well will then drill into the space between the well’s pipe and the strata, called the annulus. If oil is flowing there, more mud and cement will be pumped in through the relief well.

* Once that cement dries, the relief well will bore into the well pipe to ensure that the static kill plugged it. If not, more mud and cement will be pumped in at the bottom to finish the job.

* The static kill could accelerate the entire kill process if it works as intended.

WELL PRESSURE

* BP has monitored pressure in the well since it was sealed shut on July 15 for signs of leaks or problems.

* Pressure has slowly risen from 6,700 pounds per square inch on July 16 to 6,904 psi on July 25.

* Rising pressure indicates the pipe and cement in the well remain intact after the April 20 blowout. Lower or falling pressure would be a sign the well is damaged, allowing oil to leak out the sides and possibly breach the seafloor.

* Pressure above 7,500 psi would show the well is intact, while pressure that falls or fails to rise above 6,000 psi would indicate a problem. The slowly rising pressure could be a sign that the reservoir is largely depleted from the leak.

BACKUP OIL-CAPTURE VESSELS

* BP still aims to assemble a surface oil-capture system of four vessels that can siphon up to 80,000 barrels a day from the wellhead.

* That system will include a rig, the Helix Producer; a well-testing ship, the Toisa Pisces; and two Transocean Ltd. drillships, the Discoverer Enterprise and the Discoverer Clear Leader.

* Each would be connected to wellhead equipment via hoses and pipes that allow for a quick disconnect if a hurricane approaches.

* The system remains on tap as a backup if any problems arise with the static kill and the first relief well.

(Reporting by Kristen Hays in Houston; Editing by Paul Simao)

BP says relief well rig back at Gulf spill site

(Reuters) – A rig that had been drilling a relief well to plug BP Plc’s Gulf of Mexico oil leak was reconnecting equipment to resume work at the spill site on Sunday, the top official overseeing the spill response said.

Once the last bit of pipe, or casing, is cemented in place near the bottom of the relief well this week, BP will begin a “static kill” the first week of August, retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen told reporters at a briefing.

“Generally the next week will be preps, making sure everything is ready to go,” he said.

The leak remains capped after what was Tropical Storm Bonnie disintegrated over the Gulf on Saturday.

Allen had said the static kill, which involves pumping heavy drilling mud and cement into the well from the top, could start three to five days after the casing is cemented in the relief well.

He said on Sunday that the timeline was “refined and revised” after consultations with BP.

The entire operation was interrupted last week when the storm was bearing down on the Gulf.

While most rigs and ships left the spill site out of caution, ships running underwater robots that provide live feeds of the wellhead stayed and continued to operate, BP spokeswoman Jessie Baker said.

Those feeds showed no problems with the cap, which has shut in all flow from the leak since July 15, BP said.

A pair of Transocean Ltd rigs had been drilling two relief wells, the second well a backup for the first. BP suspended drilling on the second relief well July 13 so it wouldn’t interfere with the first one.

BP stopped work on the first well July 20 in advance of the storm and put a plug inside to keep it stable until the last round of casing could be installed.

Allen said on Sunday that the casing work will start “sometime in the next week” once the rig reconnects to the well, removes the plug and cleans out the hole.

While the static kill can start once the casing is in place, the relief well will still bore into the blown-out Macondo well near its bottom 13,000 feet beneath the seabed, Allen said.

Kent Wells, BP’s senior vice president of exploration and production, said in an update on BP’s website that the static kill might plug the leak on its own. The relief well will confirm that or finish the job, Wells said.

“Those two work in tandem,” Wells said.

And Allen said on Sunday that BP will still move ahead with assembling a four-vessel oil-capture system that can handle up to 80,000 barrels a day if needed.

(Reporting by Kristen Hays; Editing by Eric Beech)

BP says relief well rig back at Gulf spill site

HOUSTON, July 25 (Reuters) – A rig that had been drilling a relief well to plug BP Plc’s (BP.L) (BP.N) Gulf of Mexico oil leak was reconnecting equipment to resume work at the spill site on Sunday, the top official overseeing the spill response said.

Once the last bit of pipe, or casing, is cemented in place near the bottom of the relief well this week, BP will begin a “static kill” the first week of August, retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen told reporters at a briefing.

“Generally the next week will be preps, making sure everything is ready to go,” he said.

The leak remains capped after what was Tropical Storm Bonnie disintegrated over the Gulf on Saturday.

Allen had said the static kill, which involves pumping heavy drilling mud and cement into the well from the top, could start three to five days after the casing is cemented in the relief well.

He said on Sunday that the timeline was “refined and revised” after consultations with BP.

The entire operation was interrupted last week when the storm was bearing down on the Gulf.

While most rigs and ships left the spill site out of caution, ships running underwater robots that provide live feeds of the wellhead stayed and continued to operate, BP spokeswoman Jessie Baker said.

Those feeds showed no problems with the cap, which has shut in all flow from the leak since July 15, BP said.

A pair of Transocean Ltd (RIGN.VX) (RIG.N) rigs had been drilling two relief wells, the second well a backup for the first. BP suspended drilling on the second relief well July 13 so it wouldn’t interfere with the first one.

BP stopped work on the first well July 20 in advance of the storm and put a plug inside to keep it stable until the last round of casing could be installed.

Allen said on Sunday that the casing work will start “sometime in the next week” once the rig reconnects to the well, removes the plug and cleans out the hole.

While the static kill can start once the casing is in place, the relief well will still bore into the blown-out Macondo well near its bottom 13,000 feet (2.5 miles/4 km) beneath the seabed, Allen said.

Kent Wells, BP’s senior vice president of exploration and production, said in an update on BP’s website that the static kill might plug the leak on its own. The relief well will confirm that or finish the job, Wells said.

“Those two work in tandem,” Wells said.

And Allen said on Sunday that BP will still move ahead with assembling a four-vessel oil-capture system that can handle up to 80,000 barrels a day if needed. (Reporting by Kristen Hays; Editing by Eric Beech)

UPDATE 2-BP says relief well rig back at Gulf spill site

HOUSTON, July 25 (Reuters) – A rig that had been drilling a relief well to plug BP Plc’s (BP.L) (BP.N) Gulf of Mexico oil leak was reconnecting equipment to resume work at the spill site on Sunday, the top official overseeing the spill response said.

Once the last bit of pipe, or casing, is cemented in place near the bottom of the relief well this week, BP will begin a “static kill” the first week of August, retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen told reporters at a briefing.

“Generally the next week will be preps, making sure everything is ready to go,” he said.

The leak remains capped after what was Tropical Storm Bonnie disintegrated over the Gulf on Saturday.

Allen had said the static kill, which involves pumping heavy drilling mud and cement into the well from the top, could start three to five days after the casing is cemented in the relief well.

He said on Sunday that the timeline was “refined and revised” after consultations with BP.

The entire operation was interrupted last week when the storm was bearing down on the Gulf.

While most rigs and ships left the spill site out of caution, ships running underwater robots that provide live feeds of the wellhead stayed and continued to operate, BP spokeswoman Jessie Baker said.

Those feeds showed no problems with the cap, which has shut in all flow from the leak since July 15, BP said.

A pair of Transocean Ltd (RIGN.VX) (RIG.N) rigs had been drilling two relief wells, the second well a backup for the first. BP suspended drilling on the second relief well July 13 so it wouldn’t interfere with the first one.

BP stopped work on the first well July 20 in advance of the storm and put a plug inside to keep it stable until the last round of casing could be installed.

Allen said on Sunday that the casing work will start “sometime in the next week” once the rig reconnects to the well, removes the plug and cleans out the hole.

While the static kill can start once the casing is in place, the relief well will still bore into the blown-out Macondo well near its bottom 13,000 feet (2.5 miles/4 km) beneath the seabed, Allen said.

Kent Wells, BP’s senior vice president of exploration and production, said in an update on BP’s website that the static kill might plug the leak on its own. The relief well will confirm that or finish the job, Wells said.

“Those two work in tandem,” Wells said.

And Allen said on Sunday that BP will still move ahead with assembling a four-vessel oil-capture system that can handle up to 80,000 barrels a day if needed. (Reporting by Kristen Hays; Editing by Eric Beech)

BP says relief well rig back at Gulf spill site

July 25 (Reuters) – BP Plc (BP.L) (BP.N) said on Sunday that a rig that had been drilling a relief well to plug the Gulf of Mexico oil leak was back on site and reconnecting equipment to resume work.

The Transocean Ltd (RIGN.VX) (RIG.N) rig “is on location, and beginning the process of reconnecting,” BP spokeswoman Jessie Baker said.

Other vessels that also left the site late Friday in advance of what was Tropical Storm Bonnie also were returning on Sunday, she said. (Reporting by Kristen Hays; Editing by Eric Beech)

Xcite Energy Limited (“Xcite Energy” or the “Company”) Rig Contract – Ocean Nomad

ABERDEENSHIRE, UK, Jul 20 (MARKET WIRE) —
This Announcement Is Not for Release, Publication or Distribution in or
Into the United States

Xcite Energy is pleased to announce that Xcite Energy Resources Limited
(“XER”) (TSX-V: XEL) (LSE: XEL) (AIM: XEL) has entered into a binding
contract for the Ocean Nomad semi-submersible rig to drill the 9/3b-R
well on the Bentley field. With an expected spud date around the middle
of September subject to the current rig programme, this will enable XER
to complete the intended 9/3b-R well programme as planned in 2010.

Neither 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.

ENQUIRIES:

Xcite Energy Limited
Richard Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Rupert Cole
Chief Financial Officer
+44 (0) 1330 826740

Arbuthnot Securities Limited
(Nomad and Broker)
Antonio Bossi
Director
+44 (0) 207 012 2000

Pelham Bell Pottinger
Mark Antelme
Director
+44 (0) 207 861 3232

Paradox Public Relations
Jean-Francois Meilleur
Consultant
+1 514 341 0408

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

Scorpion gets new CEO, CFO after Seadrill offer

July 9 (Reuters) – The top management of rig firm Scorpion Offshore (SCORE.OL) has been replaced in the wake of an offer by Seadrill (SDRL.OL) for its shares.

In May, rig firm Seadrill outbid rival Ensco International (ESV.N) for the control of the Oslo-listed owner of jack-up drilling rigs. [ID:nLDE64R0P5]

John C. Cole, Scorpion’s President and CEO, and Mark L. Mey, the firm’s Vice-President and CFO, have tendered their resignations and are no longer with the company, Scorpion said in a statement.

“The resignations are in connection with the pending mandatory offer issued by Seadrill to acquire the shares of Scorpion,” the firm said late on Thursday.

They will be replaced by Tim Juran, who becomes President and CEO, and Rune Magnus Lundetrae as Vice-President and CFO. Both are employed by Seadrill.

Seadrill currently owns 50.11 percent of Scorpion Offshore’s shares after a bidding war with Ensco International. (Reporting by Gwladys Fouche; Editing by Michael Urquhart)

Italian Stocks – Factors to watch on June 29

June 29 (Reuters) – The following factors could affect Italian markets on Tuesday.

Cyclical Consumer Goods | Energy

Reuters has not verified the newspaper reports, and cannot vouch for their accuracy. New items are marked with (*).

SAIPEM (SPMI.MI)

The oilfield services company said a fire had been reported at the Scarabeo 8 rig under construction with no injuries. [ID:nWEA7746]

SMALL AND MID CAPS

I GRANDI VIAGGI (IGV.MI)

The tour operator posted a first-half loss of 5.2 million euros, deeper than the 4.4 million euro loss in the same period of the year before. It cited a “crisis of consumption” for the deeper loss and said a turnaround in the second half was unlikely.

Italian Stocks – Factors to watch on June 29

June 29 (Reuters) – The following factors could affect Italian markets on Tuesday.

Cyclical Consumer Goods | Energy

Reuters has not verified the newspaper reports, and cannot vouch for their accuracy. New items are marked with (*).

SAIPEM (SPMI.MI)

The oilfield services company said a fire had been reported at the Scarabeo 8 rig under construction with no injuries. [ID:nWEA7746]

SMALL AND MID CAPS

I GRANDI VIAGGI (IGV.MI)

The tour operator posted a first-half loss of 5.2 million euros, deeper than the 4.4 million euro loss in the same period of the year before. It cited a “crisis of consumption” for the deeper loss and said a turnaround in the second half was unlikely.

Cyclical Consumer Goods
Energy

Pioneer Natural Resources Announces $1.15 Billion Eagle Ford Shale Joint Venture with Reliance Industries

DALLAS–(Business Wire)–
Pioneer Natural Resources Company (NYSE:PXD) (“Pioneer” or “the Company”) today
announced the Company signed a joint venture agreement with a wholly-owned U.S.
subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (“Reliance”). Under the agreement,
Pioneer will sell a 45% interest in approximately 212,000 net acres leased by
the Company in the highly prospective Eagle Ford Shale play for a total price of
$1.15 billion. Reliance will pay $266 million in cash to Pioneer at closing and
will pay an additional $879 million to carry Pioneer`s share of future drilling
costs (“drilling carry”). Reliance will also participate with Pioneer in the
development of midstream assets in the Eagle Ford Shale as a 49.9% partner.
Closing is expected within five business days. Reliance has also entered into a
joint venture agreement with Pioneer`s existing partner in the Eagle Ford Shale
play, Newpek LLC, for total consideration of approximately $210 million.

The joint venture agreement is effective June 1, 2010. Under the agreement,
Reliance acquires 95,300 net acres of leasehold held by Pioneer. Pioneer retains
an average 42% working interest in the acreage and Reliance receives an average
41% working interest, with other working interest owners continuing to hold the
remaining 17% working interest. Pioneer continues as operator. Reliance has the
right to perform certain drilling and completion operations beginning in 2011 -
one rig initially escalating up to four rigs under the current drilling ramp-up
schedule. In addition to funding its own drilling obligations, Reliance has
agreed to fund 75% of Pioneer`s portion of drilling costs until the $879 million
of drilling carry is fully utilized. Pioneer has six years to utilize the
drilling carry, subject to extension under certain circumstances.

Pioneer and Reliance have agreed to a joint venture development plan which
forecasts the drilling of 26 horizontal Eagle Ford Shale wells during June
through December 2010, increasing to 70 wells in 2011, 120 wells in 2012 and 140
wells in 2013. This plan is consistent with the accelerated development program
previously announced by Pioneer (7 rigs by year-end 2010, 10 rigs by year-end
2011 and 14 rigs by year-end 2012) and will allow the joint venture to retain
its acreage position.

Pioneer has successfully drilled and completed six horizontal wells in the Eagle
Ford Shale. Five of these are on production at a combined rate of 28 million
cubic feet equivalent per day (gross) and the sixth is expected to be brought
online late in the third quarter following the completion of a central gathering
facility. Pioneer recently increased its drilling activity in the play from two
rigs to five rigs. These rigs are currently drilling in Live Oak, Karnes and
DeWitt Counties. Three additional wells are awaiting completion. These three
wells are expected to be brought online during the fourth quarter after central
gathering facilities are completed. Pioneer is also purchasing a new fracture
stimulation fleet to support the joint venture`s drilling ramp-up. This new
fleet is expected to be operational by the second quarter of 2011.

The joint venture will benefit from Pioneer`s position as a technology leader in
the Eagle Ford Shale with greater than 2,000 square miles of 3-D seismic data,
logs from more than 150 operated wells, proprietary core samples and
micro-seismic results. Approximately 1,750 drilling locations have been
identified over the existing joint venture acreage position with a gross
resource potential of more than 11 trillion cubic feet equivalent.

Pioneer and Reliance expect to continue to grow the joint venture`s Eagle Ford
Shale leasehold position within an area of mutual interest (AMI), which includes
six counties in Texas (Atascosa, Bee, DeWitt, Karnes, Live Oak and McMullen).
Pioneer will act as the sole leasing agent for the joint venture in the AMI.
Reliance will have the option to acquire a 45% interest in Pioneer`s share of
such new acreage under comparable terms to those agreed to by Pioneer with the
leasehold owner. The joint venture will own approximately 9,500 net acres within
the AMI that have recently been acquired by Pioneer.

Pioneer and Reliance will also develop a midstream business which will initially
consist of central gathering facilities to separate condensate production from
produced gas and to treat the produced gas. Pioneer`s 50.1% capital requirement
associated with the construction of these facilities through 2013 is estimated
to total approximately $275 million, with much of this capital expected to be
spent by the end of 2011. Developing this midstream business as opposed to
contracting with a third-party will provide enhanced control and efficiencies
for the marketing of the joint venture`s upstream production and the potential
to attract third party business.

Based on the joint venture development plan, Pioneer`s net production in the
Eagle Ford Shale is expected to increase from an average of 2,000 barrels oil
equivalent per day (BOEPD) in 2010 to a range of 32,000 BOEPD to 41,000 BOEPD in
2013. This strong production growth, coupled with the up-front cash payment and
drilling carry from Reliance, is expected to generate positive cash flow for
Pioneer from its Eagle Ford Shale upstream and midstream activities in all years
going forward (assuming current NYMEX strip prices for oil and gas).

Scott Sheffield, Chairman and CEO, stated, “We are very excited to partner with
Reliance, a global energy industry leader, and pleased that they share our
confidence in the development potential of Pioneer`s large, liquids-rich acreage
position in the Eagle Ford Shale. Our joint development plan will add
significant production and reserves for Pioneer while enhancing shareholder
value.”

“We had originally forecasted total Company production growth at 10+% per year
over the 2011 through 2013 period, while continuing our commitment to spend
within cash flow. This strong growth was primarily attributable to our
significant drilling ramp up in the Spraberry field. With the addition of the
ramp up in Eagle Ford Shale drilling, we now expect production growth over this
same period to be 15+% per year, while still spending within cash flow. Cash
flow is forecasted to substantially increase from $1.2 billion in 2010 to $2.0
billion in 2013 assuming current NYMEX strip prices and taking into account the
Company`s attractive oil and gas derivatives for 2010 through 2013.”

Pioneer Natural Resources Company is a large independent oil and gas exploration
and production company, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with operations
primarily in the United States. For more information, visit Pioneer`s website at
www.pxd.com.

Reliance Industries Limited is an India-based industrial enterprise with a
market capitalization of over $78 billion. It is one of the largest refiners and
petrochemical producers in the world and currently produces approximately 3
billion cubic feet equivalent per day of oil and gas production from its E&P
operations. For more information, visit Reliance`s website at www.ril.com.

On Thursday, June 24, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time, Pioneer will hold a
conference call and webcast to discuss the Eagle Ford Shale joint venture
transaction, with an accompanying presentation. Instructions for listening to
the call and viewing the presentation are shown below.

Internet: www.pxd.com
Select “Investors,” then “Investor Presentations,” to listen to the discussion
and view the presentation.

Telephone: Dial (877) 440-5807, confirmation code: 4015000 five minutes before
the call. View the presentation via Pioneer`s internet address above.

A replay of the webcast will be archived on Pioneer`s website. A telephone
replay will be available through July 16 by dialing (888) 203-1112, confirmation
code: 4015000.

Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this News
Release are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor
Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995.Forward-looking statements and the business prospects of Pioneer are
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause Pioneer`s actual
results in future periods to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things,
volatility of commodity prices, product supply and demand, competition, the
ability to obtain environmental and other permits and the timing thereof, other
government regulation or action, the ability to obtain approvals from third
parties and negotiate agreements with third parties on mutually acceptable
terms, international operations and associated international political and
economic instability, litigation, the costs and results of drilling and
operations, access to and availability of drilling equipment and transportation,
processing and refining facilities, Pioneer’s ability to replace reserves,
implement its business plans or complete its development activities as
scheduled, access to and cost of capital, the financial strength of
counterparties to Pioneer`s credit facility and derivative contracts and the
purchasers of Pioneer`s oil, NGL and gas production, uncertainties about
estimates of reserves and resource potential and the ability to add proved
reserves in the future, the assumptions underlying production forecasts, quality
of technical data, environmental and weather risks, including the possible
impacts of climate change, and acts of war or terrorism. These and other risks
are described in Pioneer`s 10-K and 10-Q Reports and other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, Pioneer may be subject to
currently unforeseen risks that may have a materially adverse impact on it.
Pioneer undertakes no duty to publicly update these statements except as
required by law.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors –The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”) prohibits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, from
disclosing estimates of oil or gas resources other than “reserves,” as that term
is defined by the SEC. In this presentation, Pioneer includes estimates of
quantities of oil and gas using certain terms, such as “resource potential,” or
other descriptions of volumes of reserves, which terms include quantities of oil
and gas that may not meet the SEC`s definitions of proved, probable and possible
reserves, and which the SEC’s guidelines strictly prohibit Pioneer from
including in filings with the SEC. These estimates are by their nature more
speculative than estimates of proved reserves and accordingly are subject to
substantially greater risk of being recovered by Pioneer. U.S. investors are
urged to consider closely the disclosures in the Company`s periodic filings with
the SEC.Such filings are available from the Company at 5205 N. O’Connor Blvd.,
Suite 200, Irving, Texas 75039, Attention: Investor Relations, and the Company`s
website at www.pxd.com. These filings also can be obtained from the SEC by
calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

Pioneer Natural Resources
Investors
Frank Hopkins, 972-969-4065
or
Nolan Badders, 972-969-3955
or
Media and Public Affairs
Susan Spratlen, 972-969-4018
or
Suzanne Hicks, 972-969-4020

Copyright Business Wire 2010

BP “top kill” continues, spill costs hit $930 mln

BP Plc still does not know whether its “top kill” operation designed to plug the biggest oil spill in United States history will be successful and puts the cost of tackling the disaster so far at $930 million.

“The top kill procedure has never before been attempted at these depths and its ultimate success is uncertain,” the British oil giant said in a statement on Friday.

President Barack Obama is set to visit the Louisiana coast as BP battles deep on the sea floor to stem a flow of oil that has permeated wetlands, closed a lucrative fishing trade and angered locals recovering from 2005′s Hurricane Katrina.

The London-based company said attempts to halt the spill by pushing heavy fluids known as drilling mud into the well may continue for another 24 to 48 hours and repeated that in the event of failure the equipment was already in place to try an alternative remedy.

The total financial cost of the response in the five weeks since a rig explosion killed 11 workers and unleashed the oil from a well head one mile (1.6 km) down now stands at $930 million, up from a $760 million estimate on May 24, BP said.

(Reporting by Paul Hoskins; editing by Matt Scuffham)

BP’s “top kill” on leaking well could be delayed

BP Plc will begin a process to plug a leaking undersea oil well on Wednesday at the earliest, but it could be delayed or even abandoned if tests show it would not work, a company executive said on Tuesday.

“In terms of when the actual kill might go forward, the earliest would be tomorrow and it could extend on from there,” BP senior vice president Kent Wells told reporters on a conference call, referring to the “top kill” procedure.

Under intense pressure from the Obama administration to plug the five-week-old gushing leak in the Gulf of Mexico, BP sought to manage expectations of its latest effort.

The company has failed to plug or completely corral the leak that burst after a rig drilling the well a mile beneath the water’s surface exploded and sank, killing 11 workers.

President Barack Obama and U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar have publicly scolded BP for a breakdown of responsibility and missing deadlines in sealing the well.

BP officials had said the top kill, which involves injecting heavy drilling fluids twice as dense as water into the well to stop the oil flow, would begin last Sunday at the earliest.

They subsequently pushed its start to Tuesday, then Wednesday, and Wells said it might start later as scientists finish tests to gauge its chances of success.

“In terms of timing, the pace at which we’re doing this — subsea construction — we usually spend months to do what we’ve done in days and weeks,” Wells said. “We have to be careful in terms of setting expectations.”

MAY ABANDON KILL ATTEMPT

Wells said the tests may prompt BP to abandon the top kill altogether if scientists determine it can’t be done safely or will worsen the leak.

“What we learn during this diagnostic phase will be crucial to us,” he said.

Russell Hoshman, a petroleum engineer with the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service, said the agency is reviewing procedures to ensure they are technically sound so as to “not make this situation worse.”

Wells said the 12- to 24-hour diagnostic phase would take place “over the next day or so.” If given the go-ahead, the top kill could take half a day to two days to show results, he said.

The top kill involves injecting drilling fluids, which are heavier than oil, into the failed five-story blowout preventer at the seabed, at the rate of 50 barrels (2,100 gallons) per minute. The tests are supposed to show which of the five points of entry into the blowout preventer can be used.

The biggest risk in the procedure is that the upward pressure of the oil and gas rushing from the well would overcome the downward pressure from the mud and blow it out the top of the blowout preventer, BP executives have said.

Wells said some oil could get past the fluids and escape, but the concept is to pump them fast enough to overcome the oil and kill the well.

“JUNK SHOT” OPTION

If the fluids aren’t enough, BP could employ a “junk shot,” or pump solid materials like shredded rubber golf balls as a “bridging agent” to slow the oil flow and allow more fluids down the well.

If those options don’t work, BP can remove the bent pipe coming out of a piece of equipment on top of the blowout preventer and place a containment dome with a seal on top of it to corral the oil. The oil would be transported by pipe to a drilling ship at the surface.

BP tried such a containment dome over the leak before. Too much seawater inside mixed with natural gas coming from the leak and formed ice, known as hydrates, which blocked oil from flowing to the drillship. Wells said the seal should reduce seawater to cut potential for hydrates to form.

(Reporting by Kristen Hays and Chris Baltimore; Editing by David Storey)

BP exploring new option to siphon off spill oil

Oil major BP is exploring a new way to siphon off oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico should current plans to plug the leak this week fail.

The London-based company said on Tuesday it had plans to remove a damaged part from the ruptured well and put in place a tube which would capture most of the oil and gas flowing into the sea, calling it the LMRP cap containment option.

BP already has one tube in place which is siphoning off an average 40 percent of the 5,000 barrels of oil the company estimates is leaking out of the well each day.

The company said it would be ready to try to fit the new tube by the end of the month, but in the meantime it would attempt in the next few days to plug the leak using heavy fluids — the so-called “top kill” option that BP has given a 60 to 70 percent chance of success.

Oil has been gushing into the Gulf of Mexico from the ruptured well since April 20 when an explosion sank the Deepwater Horizon rig.

BP said in a separate statement on Tuesday its internal investigation team had begun sharing its review of the causes of the oil spill with the U.S. government.

The company said the investigation was focused on the failure of the control mechanisms which were in place.

Pressure piles on BP as Gulf spill widens

BP sharply reduced its estimate on Monday of how much oil it is siphoning off each day from a ruptured well in the Gulf of Mexico that has been spewing oil for a month and threatening ecological disaster.

The British-based energy giant said the oil captured on average by a mile-long siphon tube was 2,010 barrels (84,420 gallons/319,500 litres) per day in the six days before May 23, less than half the up to 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons/795,000 litres) per day the company estimated it had been capturing.

At times the capture was as low as 1,360 barrels per day (57,120 gallons/216,200 litres).

The oil group believes about 5,000 barrels have been leaking every day, although some experts have given significantly higher estimates for the size of the leak.

The lower estimate came as two members of U.S. President Barack Obama’s Cabinet were to visit the fouled Gulf Coast on Monday to keep pressure on BP in hopes of averting a looming environmental catastrophe.

The Obama administration warned the company on Sunday that it would be removed from efforts to seal the well if it is not seen as doing enough. But it acknowledged that only the company and the oil industry have the know-how to stop the leak.

BP is readying new measures to try to stop the gushing torrent of oil that began after an April 20 explosion sank the Deepwater Horizon rig, killing 11 workers.

BP shares have taken a beating in the markets since the accident. On Monday its share price fell 1.9 pct, with sentiment hit by renewed pressure from the Obama administration.

But today’s news on the bill and the amount of oil the company is siphoning off remains within existing estimates. The market looks squarely focused on BP’s effort in the next few days to plug the well completely.

“We had the initial euphoria on Thursday that it was doing 5,000 (barrels) and then they revised down the numbers and there was a bit of concern about exactly how much crude was coming out. I think the market was very much aware of this one,” said Panmure Gordon analyst Peter Hitchens.

“Really what everyone’s waiting for is the top kill operation which should be coming up in the next couple of days hopefully. Touch wood. That really is the key: whether they can actually kill off this well.”

“We very much got a bad reaction on Friday. This is just confirmation that they’re getting some of it out but not all of it so really it’s down to this top kill.”

MARRING MARSHLANDS

Oil has been sloshing into Louisiana’s fragile marshlands and over 65 miles (110 kms) of shoreline have been tarred.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, accompanied by a U.S. Senate delegation, were due to visit the state on Monday and fly over the affected areas.

They also will discuss the latest response efforts with federal officials and BP representatives, and meet with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and local community and industry leaders, the departments of Interior and Homeland Security said in a statement.

Salazar said on Sunday Washington was frustrated and angry that BP has missed “deadline after deadline” in its efforts to seal the well more than a month after an oil rig explosion triggered the disaster.

“If we find they’re not doing what they’re supposed to be doing, we’ll push them out of the way appropriately,” he said after visiting BP’s U.S. headquarters in Houston.

(Additional reporting by Sarah Young; Writing by Ed Stoddard and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Matthew Jones)

Pammie urges Twitter followers to save U.S. bird population in oil crisis

London, May 21 (ANI): Pamela Anderson has urged her Twitter followers to help save America””s bird population following the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

A massive oil leak from the exploded Deepwater Horizon Rig near the Gulf Coast hit the headlines last month (Apr10), and despite desperate efforts to stem the flow of leaking oil, it has washed ashore in states including Louisiana and Florida.

And there are fears that the spill will completely devastate the areas”” wildlife.

In a bid to back the International Bird Rescue Research Center””s (IBRRC) efforts to raise money and help creatures caught in the spill area, the former Playboy bombshell has resorted to Twitter.

“Please support International Bird Rescue””s ongoing rescue work by donating, becoming a member or adopting a bird,” the Daily Express quoted her as saying in a post on her Twitter.com page. (ANI)

BP CEO says Gulf oil-slick is �tiny� when compared to a �big ocean�

New York, May 15 (ANI): The chief executive of BP, Tony Hayward, has shamelessly tried to extenuate his company�s colossal mistake by saying that the oil-slick in the Gulf of Mexico is �relatively tiny� when compared to the �very big ocean�.

The Gulf oil-spill has the makings of the biggest ecological disaster in US history. Its devastating ramifications will be borne by the aquatic life in the area for years to come, experts say.

“The Gulf of Mexico is a very big ocean. The amount of volume of oil and dispersant we are putting into it is tiny in relation to the total water volume,” Fox News quoted an impenitent Hayward as saying.

U.S. officials estimate that at least 5,000 barrels of oil per day are leaking from a pipeline more than 5,000 feet deep that was damaged more than three weeks ago by an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig, which later sunk.

Eleven workers died in the disaster.

Hayward told The Guardian that BP would “fix” the disaster, “We will fix it. I guarantee it,” he told the newspaper. “The only question is we do not know when.” (ANI)

Man dies after truck crash

A 61 year old truck driver has died after his rig crashed into a tree in the South West.

Police say the truck hit a utility at the intersection of Harris Road and Martin Pelusey Road near Bunbury before careering into a tree just before 06:00 this morning.

A 30 year old woman, who was driving the utility, has been taken to hospital with leg and head injuries.

Sergeant Gerard Murphy says it appears the truck driver was at fault.

“At this stage it appears early on in the investigation that the truck driver has contravened the stop sign but we’ll be looking at the cause of the crash throughout the investigation.

“The indication at the scene is that he’s continued on for another 100 metres through a paddock and then hit a large tree.”

Suroco Energy Inc. Announces Production Performance From First Development Well; Commences Drilling Second Development

CALGARY, ALBERTA, Mar 01 (MARKET WIRE) —
(NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

Suroco Energy Inc. (TSX VENTURE: SRN) (the “Corporation”) is pleased to
announce that the Pinuna 2 well, which is the second well in the
Suroriente Block development drilling program commenced drilling on
February 26.

Pinuna 2 Well: The Pinuna 2 well is being drilled with San Antonio rig
SAI 15, which is the same rig that was used to drill the Pinuna 5 well.
The well is targeting the Villeta ‘T’ and Lower ‘U’ reservoirs and will
be drilled to a total depth of 2,983 m. The well is being directionally
drilled from the Pinuna 1 surface location, with a bottom hole location
approximately 350 m. from the Pinuna 1 vertical well which is currently
producing at 1,550 bbls/day (226 bbls/day net to the Corporation after
royalty). The well is being drilled to maximize the recovery of reserves
in a four-way dip closed feature which is partially separated from the
Pinuna 1 feature.

Pinuna 5 Well: Since commencing production on February 11th, the Pinuna 5
development well has averaged 1,944 barrels per day (283 bbls/day net to
the Corporation after royalty) with no pressure depletion and no
significant water production. The initial production behavior of Pinuna
5, which is capable of flowing at approximately 1,400 bbls/day in natural
flow without pump, indicates that this well is capable of higher
sustained rates.

The overall Suroriente Block production rate, since the Pinuna 5 well
commenced production, has averaged 4,670 bbls/day (680 bbls/day net to
the Corporation after royalty) and is currently constrained whilst
additional storage and trucking facilities are being put in place. The
additional facilities are expected to be in place in April, when the
Pinuna 2 well is anticipated to come on stream and adding to overall
production rates.

2010 Development Drilling Program: The Corporation is re-evaluating its
planned 2010 drilling program with a view to locating a rig to drill an
offset well to the new Lower ‘U’ pool discovered by the Pinuna 5 well,
which did not have any reserves assigned to the Lower ‘U’ reservoir at
this location. In addition this Lower ‘U’ pool development, the
Corporation is planning to drill at least three more development wells in
the Pinuna-Quillacinga ‘T’ sand pool and in the Cohembi ‘N’ sand pool
during 2010.

The Corporation expects that its December 31, 2009 reserves booking will
reflect some part of those reserves discovered in the Pinuna 5 well.

Alea 1947C Block: The newly acquired seismic data in the Alea 1947C block
has now been evaluated and the Corporation, along with its partner in the
Block, have made the decision to proceed with the second exploration
phase. A large, well defined exploration prospect has been identified in
the block which is on trend with the producing Platanillo oil pool in the
Putumayo Basin. The second phase requires one exploration well to be
drilled to a total depth of approximately 8,000 feet.

The Corporation is a Calgary-based junior oil and gas company, which
explores for, develops, produces and sells crude oil, natural gas liquids
and natural gas in Colombia and Western Canada. The Corporation’s common
shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol SRN.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information regarding the Corporation contained herein may
constitute forward looking statements within the meaning of applicable
securities laws. Forward looking statements may include estimates, plans,
expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other
statements that are not statements of facts. Although the Corporation
believes that the expectations reflected in such forward looking
statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such
expectations will be realized. These statements are subject to certain
risks and uncertainties and may be based on assumptions that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in
the forward looking statements. The Corporation’s forward looking
statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary
statement.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as
that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:
Suroco Energy Inc.
Alastair Hill
President and Chief Executive Officer
(403) 232-6784

Suroco Energy Inc.
Travis Doupe
VP Finance and Chief Financial Officer
(403) 232-6784
(403) 232-6747 (FAX)
www.suroco.com

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

Declining CO2 levels helped in Antarctic formation 34 million years ago

Washington, September 14 (ANI): In a major research study, the link between declining carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the earth’s atmosphere and the formation of the Antarctic ice caps some 34 million years ago has been confirmed for the first time.

The research was carried out by a team of scientists from Cardiff, Bristol and Texas A and M universities, in a small East African village, where they extracted microfossils in samples of rocks which show the level of CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere at the time of the formation of the ice-cap.

Geologists have long speculated that the formation of the Antarctic ice-cap was caused by a gradually diminishing natural greenhouse effect.

The study’s findings confirm that atmospheric CO2 declined during the Eocene – Oligocene climate transition and that the Antarctic ice sheet began to form when CO2 in the atmosphere reached a tipping point of around 760 parts per million (by volume).

According to Professor Paul Pearson from Cardiff University’s School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, who led the mission to the remote East Africa village of Stakishari, “About 34 million years ago, the Earth experienced a mysterious cooling trend. Glaciers and small ice sheets developed in Antarctica, sea levels fell and temperate forests began to displace tropical-type vegetation in many areas.”

“The period, known to geologists as the Eocene – Oligocene transition, culminated in the rapid development of a continental-scale ice sheet on Antarctica, which has been there ever since,” he said.

“We therefore set out to establish whether there was a substantial decline in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels as the Antarctic ice sheet began to grow,” he added.

The team mapped large expanses of bush and wilderness and pieced together the underlying local rock formations using occasional outcrops of rocks and stream beds.

Eventually, they discovered sediments of the right age near a traditional African village called Stakishari.

By assembling a drilling rig and extracting hundreds of meters of samples from under the ground, they were able to obtain exactly the piece of Earth’s history they had been searching for.

According to co-author Dr Gavin Foster from the University of Bristol Earth Sciences Department, “By using the rather unique set of samples from Tanzania and a new analytical technique that I developed, we have, for the first time, been able to reconstruct the concentration of CO2 across the Eocene-Oligocene boundary – the time period about 34 million years ago when ice sheets first started to grow on Eastern Antarctica.” (ANI)