Kootenay Silver Inc (KOOYD)

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Kootenay announces drill program to commence August 2014 on Promontorio's La Negra Diatreme Breccia prospect

Shares Outstanding: 68,307,350

VANCOUVER , July 22, 2014 /CNW/ - Kootenay Silver Inc. (TSX VENTURE: KTN.V; OTC:KOOYF) ("Kootenay") is pleased to announce drill contracts are in place, drill targets have been identified and road construction is underway in preparation for an upcoming phase I drill program on its La Negra Diatreme Breccia prospect, located approx. 7 kms north of Kootenay's flagship Promontorio Silver Resource in Sonora, Mexico . Drilling is slated to commence in late August 2014 and is expected to include a minimum 2,500 meters of core drilling.

States Kootenay President and CEO James McDonald "We are very pleased to proceed to the drilling stage on La Negra. La Negra has emerged as one of the Promontorio mineral belt's premier diatreme breccia prospects. La Negra's distinct geological characteristics gives it potential to evolve into a near-surface, open-pittable resource and represents a strong complement to our existing NI 43-101 resource located 7 kms to the south. Based on reported silver grades and the extensive silver mineralization identified on La Negra on surface from trenching and sampling to date, we remain highly optimistic the upcoming program can mirror this success as we begin drilling to depth."

The program follows a recently conducted strategic hand trenching and chip sampling program that indicated widespread silver mineralization is present on surface within the entire 100 by 400 meter core of the La Negra Diatreme Breccia (See news release May 6, 2014 ). The current drilling campaign is designed to determine the extent and grades of silver mineralization extending from surface to depth.

2014 Hand Trenching and Sampling Program

The hand trenching and chip sampling program was designed to gain a better understanding of the grade potential and continuity of silver mineralization within the breccia, in preparation for the upcoming drill program. Composited intervals from 3 meter chips in the trenches averaged over 45 gpt silver across a cumulative 150 meters in 6 trenches along a 100 by 400 meter extent of breccia (See news release June 5th, 2014 ). This supported earlier results that first returned anomalous silver across the total exposed breccia. Included were 19 panel chip samples taken from 2 by 2 meter panels returning an average of 107 gpt Ag within a larger sample set of 50 samples (19 panel chips in 2 by 2 meter panels plus 31 grab samples) that averaged 77 gpt silver (See news release May 6, 2014 ).

The breccia was mapped over an area approximately 100 to 200 by 500 meters and revealed extensive bedrock exposure in an area measuring 100 by 400 meters. The breccia is believed to be a diatreme pipe that forms a prominent hill with approximately 120 to 130 meters of relief. Airborne geophysics was effective in mapping the southern contact of the breccia and indicates the breccia could be twice the aerial extent of the visible bedrock exposure.

To View Full Results of Sampling Program Visit: http://www.kootenaysilver.com

Current NI 43-101 Compliant Silver Resource

The current mineral estimate on Promontorio effective date March 31, 2013 (See May 14, 2013 news release) contains a combined Measured and Indicated silver resource of 92,428,000 silver equivalent ounces (39.9M oz's Ag, 508K oz's Au, 394.8M lb's Pb, 462.2M lb's Zn). In addition to the measured and indicated silver resources, there are an additional 26,814,000 silver equivalent ounces in the Inferred category (12.8M oz's Ag, 147 oz's Au, 99.5M lb's Pb, 109.1M lb's Zn). Measured and Indicated resources are contained in open pit resources of 44,504,000 tonnes grading an average of 64.32 gpt silver equivalent (27.77 gpt Ag, 0.35 gpt Au and 0.87% Pb+Zn) and resources outside of the open pit of 215,000 tonnes grading an average of 56.96 gpt silver equivalent (22.89 gpt Ag, 0.28 gpt Au and 0.95% Pb+Zn). Inferred resources are within open pit resources of 14,564,000 tonnes grading an average of 51.95 gpt silver equivalent (24.95 gpt Ag, 0.28 gpt Au and 0.59% Pb+Zn) and resources outside of the open pit of 1,265,000 tonnes grading an average of 61.17 gpt silver equivalent (26.57 gpt Ag, 0.37 gpt Au and 0.74% Pb+Zn).

The current NI 43-101 Resource Estimation conducted on Promontorio by SRK Consulting Inc. (U.S.) of Lakewood, Colorado (See May 14, 2013 news release), included gold assay results in the updated resource estimation. As a result of the addition of gold, the mineral resource is now contained in a single larger optimized Whittle Pit, as opposed to two individual smaller pits as reported in the August 21, 2012 resource estimate. The decision to include gold in the resource estimation follows extensive metallurgical testing and technical analysis conducted by ALS Minerals of Kamloops, British Columbia that confirmed up to 94.5% recovery of gold from pyrite concentrates from the Promontorio resource can be achieved using a post pressure oxidation treatment process.

QA/QC

Samples were assayed using a high-grade multi-acid digestion ICP analysis conducted by ALS Chemex of North Vancouver, B.C. , Canada and prepped in ALS Chemex's Lab in Hermissilo, Sonora, Mexico . Further Quality Assurance and Control procedures and details on assays procedures and laboratories used are disclosed on the Kootenay Silver Inc. website. Further Quality Assurance and Control procedures and details on assays procedures and laboratories used are disclosed on the Kootenay Silver Inc. website.

The foregoing geological disclosure has been reviewed and verified by Kootenay's CEO, James McDonald , P.Geo (a qualified person for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). Mr. McDonald is a director of Kootenay.

ABOUT KOOTENAY

Kootenay Silver Inc. is actively developing mineral projects in the Sierra Madre Region of Mexico and in British Columbia, Canada . Its flagship property is the former producing Promontorio Silver mine in Sonora State, Mexico . Kootenay's objective is to develop near term discoveries and long-term sustainable growth. Its management and technical team are proven professionals with extensive international experience in all aspects of mineral exploration, operations and venture capital markets. Multiple, ongoing J/V partnerships in Mexico and Canada maximize potential for additional, new discoveries while maintaining minimal share dilution.

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

Contact:

James McDonald, CEO and President at 403-238-6986

Ken Berry, Chairman at 604-601-5652; 1-888-601-5650

or visit: http://www.kootenaysilver.com

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