TMX group

VANCOUVER, Jan. 10 /CNW/ - Bear Creek Mining (TSX Venture: BCM) ("Bear
Creek" or the "Company") has learned that the preliminary cyanide bottle roll
leaching results for the oxide mineralization at the Corani project reported
to the Company by Plenge Laboratories in Lima, Peru and detailed in its news
release dated 14 November,'05 contained assay errors. To confirm the earlier
work performed by Plenge, samples were collected for shipment to Salt Lake
City for testing at Dawson Metallurgical Laboratories. The initial Dawson test
work still shows that the material responds to leaching but indicate that
recoveries for oxide mineralization are on the order of 55% to 70% compared to
the 75% to 95% in the preliminary report from Plenge. Testing at both labs is
considered very preliminary. Further testing, including cyanide leaching and
flotation, is ongoing at Dawson to determine the appropriate metallurgical
process for the Corani mineralization. The metallurgical work will progress
concurrently with the resource calculation being performed by SRK Consulting.
According to Andrew Swarthout, President/CEO, "while these preliminary
bottle roll leach tests are still considered positive for a silver deposit,
they indicate lower recoveries than the initial testing. Further work is
proceeding, including optimization of crush size and leach conditions, to
quantify the economic benefits of low cost leaching of the lower grade
material which halos the higher grade mineralization. We have always
recognized that a significant amount of the value of the mineralization at
Corani is derived from lead (and zinc); therefore, flotation and gravity
separation tests are in progress to optimize recoveries of these byproducts
and provide the best economic alternatives for maximizing the value of the
deposit. The Company remains very confident that a positive metallurgical flow
sheet for the project will be developed."
Drilling is restarting this week following the Christmas break with three
drills. Drilling will continue to explore extensions to the north and east on
Corani Este where the last drill holes intersected the thickest mineralization
to date on the project. At Main Corani, one drill will continue to extend
mineralization to the north and west where mineralization also remains open.
Drilling will focus on step-out drilling along the recently drilled gold zone
where the first three drill holes intersected 3 g/t gold. A fourth drill will
be added to explore new targets such as La Curva and Trench 25 located west of
Main Corani where trenching results indicate that mineralization extends under
cover. The next drill assay results are expected to be released in February.

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy
or accuracy of this release.

Regulatory footnotes:

The metallurgical program and pertinent disclosure of a technical or
scientific nature in this news release are prepared by or prepared under the
direct supervision of Andy Swarthout P.Geo., Bear Creek's President and
Director who serves as the qualified person (QP) under the definitions of
National Instrument 43-101. A section in Bear Creek's website is dedicated to
sampling, assay and quality control procedures.

Certain disclosure in this release, including management's assessment of
Bear Creek's plans and projects, constitutes forward-looking statements that
are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to
Bear Creek's operation as a mineral exploration company that may cause future
results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-
looking statements. (x)Any reference to the potential quantity & grade or
recovery of mineralization at Corani is conceptual in nature, there has been
insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource on the property and it
is uncertain if further exploration will result in discovery of a mineral
resource on the property. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements. Bear Creek expressly disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise."
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