Ucore Announces Augmented Results of Large Scale XRT Ore Sorting
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/25/13 -- Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSX VENTURE: UCU)(OTCQX: UURAF) ("Ucore" or "the Company") is pleased to announce the completion of further bulk scale ore beneficiation testing on material from the Bokan - Dotson Ridge rare earth deposit on Prince of Wales Island in Alaska, USA.
A 20 tonne sample, collected from three locations within the Dotson Ridge deposit, was sent to TOMRA (formerly Commodas Ultrasort) of Wedel, Germany. The sample was processed by a large scale x-ray transmission (XRT) ore sorter. Results show that 52% of the feed was rejected as waste, with 96.3% recovery of rare earth oxides (REO), and a net increase in grade from a 0.77 wt. % REO feed to a 1.56 wt. % output.
The current testing improves upon the results of previous ore sorting analysis on bulk samples of lesser size. In an announcement dated March 6, 2012, Ucore released the results of XRT sorting on three one-tonne samples collected from trenches situated at separate locations within Dotson Ridge deposit. The 2012 work, also done by TOMRA, resulted in 46% rejection of waste and 93% recovery of REO. The following is a comparative summary of the ore sorting results in 2012 and 2013:
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Release Date Sample Size Waste Rejection REO Recovery TREO Output Grade
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March 2012 1 Tonne 46% 93% 1.03%
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June 2013 20 Tonne 52% 96% 1.56%
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These tests confirm the effectiveness of XRT at successively larger ore throughput volumes. The results also support Ucore's plan to construct a significantly smaller mill facility than would otherwise be required in the absence of an XRT sorting circuit at Bokan. The reduction in mill size will have a significant effect on the lowering of capital and operating costs associated with the mill facility, as set out in the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) released on January 15, 2013.
At present, a 30 tonne bulk sample collected from Dotson Ridge in December 2012 is being prepared for XRT sorting. The output of that sorting process, scheduled to take place within the next four weeks, will generate the final feed stock required by Ucore to conduct a comprehensive pilot plant for the Bokan - Dotson Ridge project.
The pilot plant, scheduled for Q4 2013, is the final stage of bulk scale testing of the production circuit prior to the release of a Bankable Feasibility Study and the prospective commencement of mine construction.
"The confirmation of XRT effectiveness at large scale is an important milestone in Ucore's march to mine construction," said Jim McKenzie, President & CEO of Ucore. "The Company is the first in the rare earth industry to demonstrate XRT as a beneficiation technique; a technology already well-established in the tungsten and diamond mining sector. XRT shows the clear potential to dramatically reduce the volume of material feeding the mill facility and an equally dramatic increase in TREO ore grade without a great deal of processing."
"The current results justify the plan set out in Ucore's recently released PEA," continued McKenzie. "The addition of an XRT circuit prospectively reduces capital and operating costs, with a smaller processing footprint than is the norm for REE facilities, and with no tailings facility at surface upon mine closure. A zero tailings footprint is a unique environmental objective, and we are aware of no other mine, rare earth or otherwise, that has accomplished such a design feature."
The XRT testing set out in the press release was conducted by TOMRA technicians and observed by Randy MacGillivray, P.Geo. Mr. Edwin H. Bentzen III, Project Manager at Lyntek Inc., Lakewood, Colorado, has prepared the technical data relative to this press release and is the qualified person responsible for its accuracy.
Background
Ucore Rare Metals Inc. is an early stage mine development company focused on rare earth elements, strategic and technology metals. With multiple projects across North America, Ucore's primary focus is the Bokan - Dotson Ridge REE property in Alaska. The Bokan - Dotson Ridge REE project is located 60 km southwest of Ketchikan, Alaska and 140 km northwest of Prince Rupert, British Columbia and has direct ocean access to the western seaboard and the Pacific Rim, a significant advantage in expediting mine production and limiting the capital costs associated with mine construction. The Bokan properties are located in an area reserved for sustainable resource development.
This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future exploration drilling, exploration activities and events or developments that the Company expects, are forward looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of financing, and general economic, market or business conditions.
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.
Contacts:
Ucore Rare Metals Inc.
Mr. Jim McKenzie
President and Chief Executive Officer
(902) 482-5214
www.ucore.com
