Duran Reports 93% Copper and 91% Molybdenum Recoveries From Initial Metallurgical Test Work on the Main Aguila Intrusive Porphyry

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 9, 2012) - Duran Ventures Inc. (TSX VENTURE:DRV) ("Duran" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Duran Ventures Inc.'s metallurgical consultant G&T Metallurgical Services Ltd. ("G&T"), based in Kamloops, B.C., has completed the preliminary program of laboratory flotation testing on Aguila drill core composite samples. The initial metallurgical work has been successful. Mineralogy and locked cycle flotation test results indicate that the copper and molybdenum essentially occur as primary sulphides that can be readily recovered to a commercial concentrate by standard flotation techniques.

Two sample composites were prepared by the Company's geologists using 208 kilograms of Aguila drill core. The two composites represent a higher grade composite sample and a lower grade composite sample. The higher grade composite sample was prepared from drill core intersecting the main Aguila intrusive porphyry. The lower grade composite was prepared from the mineralized sediments or wallrock. The following tables included in this news release have been taken from the G&T report, dated December 21, 2011, and a summary of the head assay analysis follows:

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                                              Ag               Cu(ox) Cu(CN)
Composite            Cu %   Mo %   Fe %  g/tonne    S %    C %      %      %
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Intrusive            0.69  0.038    2.5        2   1.51   0.18  0.002  0.013
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Sedimentary          0.27  0.023    1.7        1   0.82   0.17  0.002  0.009
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The metallurgical test program included batch rougher and open circuit cleaner flotation tests on each composite, as well as locked cycle flotation tests. Preliminary results indicate that the process flow sheet for Aguila will be a conventional copper-molybdenum porphyry flow sheet, with a primary grind size of 150 micrometres K80 for both composites followed by a regrind to 30 micrometres K80 for the intrusive composite and a regrind to 25 micrometres K80 for the sedimentary composite. The locked cycle flotation test on the intrusive composite indicated that 93 percent of the copper and 91% of the molybdenum in the feed was recovered into a final copper concentrate containing 28 percent copper. This concentrate also contained 1.5 percent molybdenum, and 82 g/tonne silver. The locked cycle flotation test on the sedimentary composite indicated that 83 percent of the copper and 82% of the molybdenum in the feed was recovered into a final copper concentrate containing 24 percent copper. This concentrate also contained 1.7 percent molybdenum, and 110 g/tonne silver.

The following tables summarize the test results from each composite;

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Product            Weight  Assay - percent or g/t         Distribution      
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Intrusive Test          %   Cu    Mo   Fe    S   Ag   Cu   Mo   Fe    S   Ag
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Flotation Feed        100 0.71  0.04  2.6 1.51    3  100  100  100  100  100
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Bulk Con              2.4 27.7 1.463 31.0 34.1   82   93   91   28   54   63
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Bulk 1st Clnr Tail    5.7 0.50  0.02 13.3 8.30    4    4    3   29   32    7
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Bulk Ro Tail         91.9 0.03 0.002  1.2 0.24    1    3    6   43   15   30
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Product            Weight  Assay - percent or g/t         Distribution      
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Sedimentary Test        %   Cu    Mo   Fe    S   Ag   Cu   Mo   Fe    S   Ag
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Flotation Feed        100 0.26  0.02  1.7 0.82    2  100  100  100  100  100
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Bulk Con              0.9 23.5 1.724   32 35.6  110   83   82   17   40   45
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Bulk 1st Clnr Tail      5 0.62  0.02   11 6.39    6   12    5   32   39   13
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Bulk Ro Tail         94.1 0.01 0.003  0.9 0.19    1    5   13   52   21   42
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The conclusion in the report entitled "PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF THE TWO COMPOSITE SAMPLES FROM THE AGUILA DEPOSIT KM3161", dated December 21, 2011 and prepared by G&T Metallurgical Services Ltd. from their work performed on the Aguila intrusive and sedimentary composite samples is quoted as follows:

"A preliminary assessment metallurgical test program aimed to investigate ore characteristics and flotation response of two composite samples from the Aguila deposit was undertaken. The two composites samples constructed for this program of study represented Intrusive and Sedimentary ores.

On average, the samples contained about 0.5 percent copper, 0.03 percent molybdenum, and 1.5 g/tonne silver.

Mineralogy showed that, at a nominal 150 micrometres K80 primary grind sizing, chalcopyrite was slightly over 45 percent liberated in the two samples, with the majority of the particle interlocking occurring with non-sulphide gangue.

The average Bond ball and Bond rod work indices for the two samples were 13.2 and 14.1 kWh/tonne, respectively. SMC test results indicated that the average A(i)b and t10 at 1 kWh/t values were about 29 and 25, respectively. These ore hardness results would classify the two samples as hard.

A basic bulk flotation flow sheet was developed incorporating a moderate primary grind size of about 150 micrometres K80. The pH in the rougher circuit was elevated to pH 10 using lime. Potassium Amyl Xanthate (PAX) and fuel oil were used as the copper and molybdenum collectors, respectively. A regrind of about 20 to 30 micrometres K80 was required to produce high grade copper concentrates. The pH of the cleaning stages was elevated to pH 11 using lime.

Results from a locked cycle test on the Intrusive sample indicated that about 93 percent of the copper in the feed was recovered into a final copper concentrate containing 28 percent copper. This concentrate also contained 1.5 percent molybdenum, and 82 g/tonne silver.

Results from a locked cycle test on the Sedimentary sample indicated that about 83 percent of the copper in the feed was recovered into a final copper concentrate containing 24 percent copper. This concentrate also contained 1.7 percent molybdenum, and 110 g/tonne silver. These concentrate molybdenum grades, on average, about 1.6 percent; should be sufficient for the efficient separation of a molybdenum concentrate.

Concentrations of deleterious elements appear below typical smelter penalty thresholds."

The Company is very pleased with the initial metallurgical results on the intrusive and sedimentary composite samples containing the copper and molybdenum mineralization at Aguila. The high recoveries and the lack of any deleterious elements indicate that the process flow sheet should be conventional and straightforward. Further metallurgical work is recommended by G&T and will follow in accord with the development of the project.

Company Information

Duran Ventures is a Canadian exploration company focused on the exploration and development of porphyry copper, precious metal, and polymetallic deposits in Peru. The Company's principal project is the Aguila Copper-Molybdenum Porphyry Project with related silver-lead-zinc mineralization. Jeffrey Reeder, P. Geo., a qualified person as defined in National Policy 43-101, is responsible for all technical information contained in this news release.

Duran Ventures Inc. is a Canadian resource company

Listed on the TSX Venture Exchange: Symbol "DRV"

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Corporation's expectations are disclosed in the Corporation's documents filed from time to time with the TSX Venture Exchange and, among others, the Ontario Securities Commission as well as under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual and interim Management Discussion and Analysis.