Norzinc Ltd. (NORZF)

[NYBob]

VATUKOULA REPORTS INCREASE IN GOLD PRODUCTION
Vancouver, British Columbia, June 23, 2009 -

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Canadian-Zinc-Corporation-iw-2314035232.html?x=0&.v=1

Canadian Zinc Corporation -
(TSX: CZN; OTCBB: CZICF) reports that Vatukoula Gold Mines plc ("VGM"), which is 20% owned by Canadian Zinc, has reported an increase in gold production for its third quarter ended May 31, 2009.



VGM reported that underground mine production at its Vatukoula Gold Mine in Fiji increased to 54,618 tonnes for the quarter ended May 31, 2009, compared to 47,113 tonnes in the previous quarter. As a result of the increase in underground mine production and higher mining grades, gold production for the quarter increased by approximately 17% to 8,711 ounces from 7,470 ounces in the previous quarter.




3rd quarter ending

May

2009
2nd quarter ending February 2009
1st quarter ending November 2008
9 Months

ending

May

2009

Mined tonnes
54,618
47,113
67,100
168,831

Mined grade - grams gold / tonne
7.46
7.37
7.84
7.59

Gold produced - ounces (troy)
8,711
7,471
10,522
26,704

Average gold sale price-US$ / ounce
920
884
792
861

Cash Cost - US$/ ounce
680
915
778
739





The increased gold production reduced the cash cost per ounce to US$680/ounce for the third quarter from US$915/ounce in the second quarter.



Underground production for the period increased by 16% to 54,618 tonnes, with an average mined grade of 7.46 grams of gold per tonne. The underground mining operations remain adversely affected by the availability of underground haulage equipment which has limited the amount of ore the Mine is able to transport to the shaft ore-pass complex.



Following completion of its recent financing activities, part of which was subscribed by Canadian Zinc, VGM began sourcing and ordering refurbished underground mobile equipment required to achieve targeted production levels. VGM has upgraded its underground pumping capacity with additional pumps and continues with the scheduled refurbishment program of the diesel power generators.



The Vatukoula Treatment Plant continues to operate satisfactorily, with current gold recoveries at 90%, which is consistent with historic gold recoveries at Vatukoula. The ore milled has increased as a result of the higher feed from the mining operations.



During the quarter VGM commenced construction of an "oxide circuit" allowing a second feed option to the Mill. This will allow the Vatukoula Treatment Plant to treat surface oxide ore separately from the underground sulphide ore. Pre-crushed material will be delivered from various sources and the gold will be recovered using a carbon-in-pulp recovery process. The oxide circuit is nearing completion and VGM expects commissioning and production starting in July 2009.



The identification of oxide material on surface close to the current milling operations has given the mine an opportunity to enhance gold production while underground operations are constrained. The oxide circuit will provide additional mineral processing capacity which will augment the mine's gold production. This in turn will allow underground development to be carried out so as to generate sufficient underground working faces to achieve full production in 2010.



Subject to the ongoing refurbishment program and delivery of mobile equipment arriving on schedule, VGM believes that it will be able to achieve a pro-rata production rate of 110,000 ounces of gold during the first half of 2010. VGM believes that this rate of production should lower the Mine's cash costs per ounce (assuming an oil price of US$70/barrel) to between US$520/ounce and US$580/ounce.



On June 10, 2009 VGM announced that it had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Fijian Sugar Corporation ("FSC") to enter into an agreement to purchase the electrical power generated from the planned Rarawai Mill Bagasse project. The FSC is committed to the Bagasse power project as a means to reduce their overall cost of production from the utilization of a waste product. The VGM gold mine has historically operated on diesel generated power, which can represent approximately 40% (dependent on usage and oil price) of the cash costs.



VGM also announced on June 10, 2009 that the Ministry of Finance and National Planning of Fiji granted VGM additional duty concessions on the import of mobile equipment, and reduced the rate of duty for all other imports, for a period of three years.





About Vatukoula Gold Mines plc:



Vatukoula Gold Mines plc is a UK company, listed on the Alternative Investment Market ("AIM") of the London Stock Exchange, which currently owns and operates the Vatukoula Gold Mine located in Fiji.



The Vatukoula Gold Mine has an operational history of over 70 years during which time it is reported to have produced some seven million ounces of gold and over two million ounces of silver from the treatment of around 22,500,000 tonnes of ore. Production at the mine was suspended by the previous owners in 2006.



VGM acquired the Vatukoula Gold Mine in April 2008 and has since then re-established gold mining operations. Current planning is to restore mine operations at a rate of 110,000 ounces per year. VGM has reported that the Mine has a Proven and Probable Reserve of 858,000 ounces of gold and a Measured, Indicated and Inferred resource of 5.15 million ounces of gold. (These reserve and resource figures have been prepared in accordance with the JORC reporting standards and are not in compliance with NI 43-101). VGM has no forward gold sales and has no bank debt.



For further information: www.vatukoulagoldmines.com



About Canadian Zinc:



The Company's principal focus is its efforts to advance the Prairie Creek Mine, a zinc/lead/silver property located in the Northwest Territories of Canada, towards production. The Prairie Creek Mine is partially developed with an existing 1,000 tonne per day mill and related infrastructure.



In April 2009 CZN acquired approximately 348,000,000 shares of Vatukoula Gold Mines plc for £2.54 million ($4.56 million) and subsequently, in June 2009, CZN subscribed for a further 200,000,000 shares of VGM for £1.20 million ($2.16 million). CZN now holds approximately 548,000,000 shares, or 20% of the issued shares of VGM. (See Canadian Zinc Press Release dated June 10, 2009)




Cautionary Statement - Forward Looking Information



This press release contains certain forward-looking information, including, among other things, estimates relating to production volumes and related costs of production at the Vatukoula Gold Mine. This forward looking information includes, or may be based upon, estimates, forecasts, and statements as to management's expectations with respect to, among other things, future production and sales volumes at the Vatukoula Gold Mine, the timing and availability of capital equipment, the size and quality of mineral resources, future trends for the company, progress in development of mineral properties, capital costs, mine production costs, demand and market outlook for metals, future metal prices and treatment and refining charges, the outcome of legal proceedings, the timing of exploration, development and mining activities, acquisition of shares in other companies and the financial results of the company. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company does not currently hold a permit for the operation of the Prairie Creek Mine. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Inferred mineral resources are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that mineral resources will be converted into mineral reserves.





Cautionary Note to United States Investors

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") permits U.S. mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. We use certain terms in this press release, such as "measured," "indicated," and "inferred" "resources," which the SEC guidelines prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their filings with the SEC.

For further information contact:

John F. Kearney

Chairman

(416) 362- 6686

Suite 700, 220 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2W4

Alan Taylor

Vice President Exploration & Chief Operating Officer

(604) 688- 2001

Suite 1710 - 650 West Georgia Street , Vancouver, BC V6B 4N9

Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Tollfree:1-866-688-2001




A more extensive description of the Company's activities is available on the Company's web site at www.canadianzinc.com

E-mail: [e-mail]
Website: http://www.canadianzinc.com