Pacifica Resources Acquires New Claims Around Howard's Pass Zinc-Lead Yukon Properties

VANCOUVER, May 17 /CNW/ - Pacifica Resources Ltd. (PAX.TSX-V) is pleased
to announce that it has added to its land holdings for the Selwyn Project that
includes the Howard's Pass zinc-lead deposits. Recent staking by field crews
has acquired 415 new mineral claims in the Yukon and 24 mineral claims in the
Northwest Territories. These new claims cover favorable strata with potential
for hosting sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) mineralization similar to the
Howard's Pass zinc-lead properties. The new mineral claims, when combined with
Pacifica's previous 143 NOD and HP mineral claims and the 420 mineral claims
and 2 leases acquired from the Howard's Pass Joint Venture (see Press Release
May 2, 2005), gives Pacifica control over 205 square kilometers. The claims
cover all of the 49 kilometre known strike length of the favorable strata.
The Howard's Pass SEDEX zinc-lead properties are comprised of three
deposits that include the XY and Anniv, and OP deposits. Sulphide
mineralization that has been outlined to date includes a pre-National
Instrument 43-101 indicated resource of 115.4 million metric tonnes grading
5.41 per cent zinc and 2.10 per cent lead in the XY and Anniv zones and a     
pre-National Instrument 43-101 inferred resource of 367 million tonnes grading
5.12 per cent zinc and 1.90 per cent lead within the Anniv and XY zones (see
Press Release May 6, 2005). These resources are not National Instrument 43-101
compliant and should be considered mineral resources until a NI 43-101
compliant resource estimate can be prepared.

Pacifica is a junior resource company focused on exploration for base
metals in the Americas. The Company shares management with its major
shareholder, Yukon Zinc Corporation, which is developing the Wolverine        
zinc-lead-copper-silver-gold deposit in south central Yukon.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on
assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results
that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of exploration and other risk
factors beyond its control and actual results may differ materially from the
expected results.

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