CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - March 9, 2010) - Torch River Resources Ltd. ("Torch" or the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE:TCR) (FRANKFURT:WNF) (PINK SHEETS:TORVF) is pleased to announce geochemical and geophysical data compilation has identified REE targets on its 100% owned Mount Copeland mineral tenures. From the 2008 drill core samples (West Glacier Zone), a total of 31 select core sample (0.5-2.0 m length range) pulps were analyzed by lithium borate fusion with ICP-MS finish (Pioneer Labs, Richmond, BC report number 2092505). Elevated values of niobium, neodymium, yttrium, cerium, lanthanum, and rubidium, with zirconium, titanium and strontium listed as follows:

Mean average values for elements listed, from 31 core samples geochemically analyzed:

A total of 53 soil samples (from 2008 soil sampling program on the Glacier, E and W Basin Zones) were analyzed for some REE's by ICP-MS, (method code ME-MS61, ALS Chemex, N Vancouver, BC certificate number VA8127982). Elevated values of niobium, phosphorus, yttrium, cerium, lanthanum, and rubidium, with molybdenum, titanium and strontium listed as follows:

Mean average values for elements listed, from 53 soil samples geochemically analyzed:

In addition to anomalous REE geochemical targets, there are 6 targets identified by a magnetometer survey carried out in 2008. These positive total field magnetic anomalies (moderate strength 200-500 nT increase, strong >500 nT increase) are listed as follows:

The magnetometer survey strong anomalies are located in an area of marble with extensive zones of pyrrhotite and/or magnetite/ilmenite replacement mineralization which may account for the increase in total field magnetics. 

The geological setting for the Copeland molybdenite occurrence is within concordant bodies of nepheline syenite gneiss that occur adjacent to the calc-silicate gneiss and marble unit. The syenite have locally developed an augen texture with large porphyryblasts of K-feldspar in a fine-grained groundmass. Calc-silicate assemblages contain diopside, garnet and actinolite. Carbonates and carbonatites are re-crystallized to medium and locally coarse-grained granoblastic marbles. Lithologies present are summarized as follows:

PROTEROZOIC (PRE-CAMBRIAN)

8- Syenite Aplite/Syenite Pegmatite: K-feldpsar, kaolinite, sericite, calcite, biotite, fluorite, garnet, sphene, specularite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, molybdenite, ilmenite, chalcopyrite, scheelite, tourmaline, apatite, riebeckite, poikilitic aegirine, zircon, zeolite, cancrinite, and analcite
7- Hangingwall Syenite Gneiss, Nepheline Syenite: K-feldspar, green/brown phlogopite, calcite, chlorite, accessory apatite, zircon, sphene, tourmaline, sphene, apatite, riebeckite, poikilitic aegirine, zircon, fluorite, zeolite, cancrinite and analcite
6- Biotite-Amphibole Marble: weathered and deeply pitted appearance, biotite, hornblende, chlorite, marble (granoblastic), actinolite, diopside
5- Black Biotite Amphibole Gneiss: biotite, hornblende, chlorite, oligoclase, magnetite
4- Quartzite Gneiss:feldspar, granular, interbedded marble bands, actinolite & diopside
3- Footwall Schist: massive biotite, minor feldspar, chlorite
2- Footwall Syenite Gneiss: microcline/oligoclase, green/brown mica, chlorite
1- Green Diopside Gneiss: 50% feldspar, 10-35% biotite, 2-10% green diopside,

Mount Copeland Glacier Zone features underground production (1970-73) that extracted 169,729 tonnes and recovered 2,625,046 pounds (1,190,713 kilograms) of molybdenum. When the Mount Copeland Glacier Zone molybdenum mine went into production in 1970, development work (diamond drilling, mapping, sampling) indicated there was 163,340 tonnes @ 1.1% Mo (Fyles, 1973). Mount Copeland nepheline syenite complex geologically correlates with the west flank of the Frenchman's Cap gneiss dome, which includes REE enriched deposits located along the Perry River/Ratchford Creek and Mount Grace areas. The Glacier Zone soil sample survey indicates there is anomalous Nb and Ce near the adit and may be related to granitic intrusions that are associated with molybdenite-pyrite-ilmenite-magnetite-chalcopyrite mineralization The East Basin soil sample survey also has anomalous Nb and Ce values. Mount Copeland nepheline syenite has high background values of rare earth elements such as Nb, Rb, Nd, Ce, La, and Y (with significant values of Zr, Sr, and Ti). The fieldwork carried out in 2008 and 2009 on Mount Copeland was conducted and supervised by Andris Kikauka, P.Geo., a Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Kikauka has reviewed the contents of this news release. Torch River Resources will be following up potential REE targets on its 100% owned Mount Copeland mineral property. Management will be conducting REE exploration in the area of the molybdenite occurrences and exploring large bodies of granoblastic marble to test for REE mineral potential.