Verena Minerals Corporation (Verena) is a development-stage mineral exploration company with a portfolio of properties, including gold and gemstones in Brazil. Through its wholly owned Brazilian subsidiaries, the Company controls approximately 189,150 hectares of prospective exploration concessions covering mineralized belts in the Goias, Minas Gerais, Para and Tocantins states. Verena’s key gold projects include Volta Grande and Patrocinio. Its gemstone projects include the Uberaba and Frutal diamond project in Minas Gerais state, and the Rainbow Alexandrite project in Goias state. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company completed a drill campaign at Volta Grande with 23 holes totaling 3,526 meters with positive results. In 2008, at the Company’s 100% controlled Frutal project, four tenements covering the Sertaozinho gravel diamond occurrence in Minas Gerais State were re-acquired. In addition, in 2008, it completed the sale of the Bonfim Tungsten project.