Westwater Resources Announces Positive Lithium Results at Sal Rica

CENTENNIAL, Colo., Sept. 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westwater Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:WWR) (ASX:URI), an energy metals exploration and development company, is pleased to announce positive lithium shallow brine assay results from its Sal Rica Project located in western Utah. Westwater Resources collected shallow brine samples from fourteen (14) auger locations across the project area. The resultant lithium concentrations ranged from 10 ppm (parts per million) to 100 ppm, with seven (7) samples reporting lithium concentrations in excess of 80 ppm. The results confirmed, and exceeded, previous shallow sampling efforts by both Westwater and the previous project owner, Mesa Exploration Corp. Data generated by this sampling effort will aid Westwater in the planning of deeper exploration drilling within the basin.

Christopher M. Jones, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Westwater continues to build shareholder value in three lithium brine projects in the western United States. The positive brine sampling results at the Sal Rica Project have expanded our knowledge in preparation for a drill program.”

Sal Rica Project Sampling Program Details

The sampling program at the Sal Rica Project was designed to infill previous shallow aquifer sampling completed by Mesa Exploration Corp. The resultant combination of the new Westwater data and the existing Mesa Exploration Corp. data provide shallow aquifer lithium concentration data on approximate 1-mile centers across the entirety of the 13,260 acre project area.

Shallow aquifer samples were collected from 14 predetermined locations across the Sal Rica Project area on August 16-17, 2017. At each location, samples were collected from auger borings, 2.5 ft to 9.3 ft in depth, penetrating into the uppermost aquifer in the basin sediments. The groundwater level in each of the auger borings was allowed to equilibrate before sample collection; if necessary a temporary length of PVC casing was inserted for hole stability. The depth to groundwater was recorded in each auger hole, fluid samples were collected via mechanical bailer, and the coordinates of each location recorded. Following the sample collection process, each hole was backfilled.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Samples were collected in duplicate from each auger hole, with one set of samples submitted to ALS Minerals laboratory in Reno, Nevada for analysis by ICP-AES, and one set submitted to Westwater’s Kingsville, Texas laboratory for analysis by ICP-OES. Sample sets submitted to each laboratory included two field duplicates and at least one field blank. All sampling tools were cleaned between samples to prevent cross sample contamination.

ALS Minerals laboratory of Reno, Nevada maintains ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation and operates under a mature Quality Management System. Internal laboratory quality control includes both control standards and replicate sample analysis.

Comparison of data between ALS Minerals and Westwater’s internal laboratory yielded no statistically significant variances. Results reported in this news release are those from ALS Minerals.

About Westwater Resources

Westwater Resources is focused on expanding its energy metals strategy, which includes developing its new lithium business while maintaining optionality in the case of a future rising uranium price. This strategy has expanded and diversified the Company’s portfolio of exploration and development assets for a geopolitically balanced and complementary energy metals business to build shareholder value.

Since the second half of 2016, the Company has identified and acquired three high potential lithium brine exploration projects:

• The Columbus Basin Project in western Nevada, near the only producing lithium mine in the United States, and where the Company is currently executing an exploration drilling program with results expected in Q4 2017
• The Railroad Valley Project in east-central Nevada.
• The Sal Rica Project in northwestern Utah.

With large battery manufacturing facilities, such as Tesla’s “Gigafactory” near Reno, Nevada, the Company’s three lithium projects are at the epicenter of lithium brine development, production and consumption in the United States.

As well, Westwater Resources controls extensive uranium mineral holdings in New Mexico and Texas, USA and a near term, low operating cost development project in the Republic of Turkey. In addition, WWR owns the Rosita and Kingsville Dome processing facilities in Texas, both of which are licensed for uranium production.

Cautionary Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are identified by words such as “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” and other similar words. All statements addressing events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will occur in the future, including but not limited to statements relating to developments at the Company’s projects, including the discovery of future lithium deposits and the associated exploration costs and results, and future demand for and price of uranium and lithium, are forward-looking statements. Because they are forward-looking, they should be evaluated in light of important risk factors and uncertainties. These risk factors and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, (a) estimated or expected net cash used in operations, mineral property expenses, general and administrative expenses, net loss, and cash and working capital positions for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017; (b) the Company’s ability to raise additional capital in the future; (c) spot price and long-term contract price of uranium and lithium; (d) risks associated with our foreign operations; (e) operating conditions at the Company’s projects; (f) government and tribal regulation of the uranium industry, the lithium industry, and the power industry; (g) world-wide uranium and lithium supply and demand, including the supply and demand for lithium-based batteries; (h) maintaining sufficient financial assurance in the form of sufficiently collateralized surety instruments; (i) unanticipated geological, processing, regulatory and legal or other problems the Company may encounter in the jurisdictions where the Company operates, including in Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and the Republic of Turkey; (j) the ability of the Company to enter into and successfully close acquisitions or other material transactions; (k) the results of the Company’s lithium brine exploration activities at the Columbus Basin, Railroad Valley and Sal Rica Projects, and the possibility that future exploration results may be materially less promising than initial exploration results; (l) any lithium or uranium discoveries not being in high enough concentration to make it economic to extract the metals; (m) the ability of the Company to negotiate an extension on the Cebolleta lease and (n) other factors which are more fully described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the Company’s underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those currently anticipated. In addition, undue reliance should not be placed on the Company’s forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update or publicly announce any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release.

Competent Person’s Statement

Technical information in this news release is based on data reviewed by Matthew Hartmann, who is Director – Technical Services of Westwater Resources Inc. Mr. Hartmann is a “Qualified Person” as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, and a “Competent Person” as defined in the 2012 Edition of the “Australasian Code for Reporting Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves” (JORC Code). He is a Licensed Professional Geologist, and a Registered Member of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (No. 4170350RM). Mr. Hartmann has appropriate experience that is relevant to the evaluation of the style and nature of mineral deposits relating to this document. Mr. Hartmann consents to the inclusion in this release of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which they appear.

Westwater Resources Contact:
Christopher M. Jones, President and CEO
303.531.0480

Jeff Vigil, VP Finance and CFO
303.531.0481

Email: Info@WestwaterResources.net
Website: www.WestwaterResources.net