Great Western Minerals Group granted Steenkampskraal regional rare earth prospecting right

TSX Venture Symbol: GWG     
OTCQX: GWMGF
CUSIP: 39141Y 10 3

SASKATOON, Aug. 15, 2012 /CNW/ - Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. ("GWMG" or the "Company"), (TSXV: GWG) is pleased to announce that it has been successful in its appeal of an outstanding application for prospecting rights in the region surrounding GWMG's Steenkampskraal monazite mine in South Africa.

Notification of the grant of the prospecting right was received by GWMG from the Director-General of the Mineral Resources Division, Department of Mineral Resources of South Africa.

As noted in a February 7, 2012 media release, GWMG had made application, through its 74% owned subsidiary, Steenkampskraal Monazite Mine (Pty) Ltd., for prospecting rights for approximately 547 square kilometers surrounding the Steenkampskraal site. (GWMG regional prospecting rights map at http://www.gwmg.ca/gwmg-nr-15-aug-12.html) The Company was, and remains, of the opinion that a number of known monazite outcroppings outside the Steenkampskraal mine site area warrant exploration work in addition to the strong exploration results already reported at the mine site (see April 10, 2012 news release, GWMG Reports Initial Steenkampskraal Rare Earth Assays).

GWMG President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Engdahl said, "Our success in this appeal process is a critical win for the Company as it enables us to extend the Steenkampskraal exploration program past the current boundaries and into the surrounding region. From a long term perspective, for Steenkampskraal and for GWMG, this represents a very important step forward."

Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. is an integrated rare earth processor. Its specialty alloys are used in the battery, magnet and aerospace industries. Produced at the Company's wholly owned subsidiaries Less Common Metals Limited in Birkenhead, U.K. and Great Western Technologies Inc. in Troy, Michigan, these alloys contain aluminum, nickel, cobalt and Rare Earth Elements. As part of the Company's vertical integration strategy, GWMG also holds 100% equity ownership in Rare Earth Extraction Co. Limited, which owns a 74% equity interest in the Steenkampskraal Mine. In addition to an exploration program at Steenkampskraal, GWMG also holds interests in four active rare earth exploration and development properties in North America.

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

Certain information set out in this News Release constitutes forward-looking information.  Forward-looking statements (often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "expect", "may", "could", "anticipate" or "will" and similar expressions) may describe expectations, opinions or guidance that are not statements of fact and which may be based upon information provided by third parties. Forward-looking statements are based upon the opinions, expectations and estimates of management of GWMG as at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or outcomes to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Those factors include, but are not limited to, the successful and timely completion of its preliminary economic assessment and its results, the construction, commissioning and operation of the proposed monazite processing facility and separation facility, mine refurbishment activities, reliance on third parties to meet projected timelines, commencement of production at Steenkampskraal, risks related to the receipt of all required approvals including those relating to the commencement of production at the Steenkampskraal mine, delays in obtaining permits, licenses and operating authorities in South Africa and China, environmental matters, water and land use risks, risks associated with the industry in general, commodity prices and exchange rate changes, operational risks associated with exploration, development and production operations, delays or changes in plans, risks associated with the uncertainty of reserve or resource estimates, health and safety risks, uncertainty of estimates and projections of production, costs and expenses, risks that future Steenkampskraal and region exploration results may not meet exploration or corporate objectives, the adequacy of the Company's financial resources and the availability of additional cash from operations or from financing on reasonable terms or at all, political risks inherent in South Africa and China, risks associated with the relationship between GWMG and/or its subsidiaries and communities and governments in South Africa, radioactivity and related issues, dependence on one mineral project, loss of key personnel, the factors discussed in the Company's public disclosure record, and other factors that could cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated. In light of the risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking information. Although GWMG believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements set out in this press release or incorporated herein by reference are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Except as required by law, GWMG does not assume any obligation to update forward looking statements as set out in this news release. The forward-looking statements of GWMG contained in this News Release, or incorporated herein by reference, are expressly qualified, in their entirety, by this cautionary statement and the risk factors contained in GWMG's annual information form available at www.sedar.com

SOURCE Great Western Minerals Group Ltd.