Westwater Resources Discovers New Clay Deposit at its Tulu Tepe Property in the Republic of Turkey

CENTENNIAL, Colo., Oct. 27, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westwater Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:WWR) is pleased to announce that it has discovered a 300,000 – 400,000 dry metric ton (330,000 – 450,000 short ton) deposit of calcium montmorillonite clay at its Sefaatli uranium project in the Republic of Turkey in an area referred to as Tulu Tepe. This discovery is the result of diligent asset management, and excellent fieldwork, exploration drilling and in-house resource estimation work completed by our resident staff in Turkey.

These clays have a wide range of uses including bleaching agent, bonding agents in foundry molding sands, cosmetics and medical markets. It has revenue potential of $20-30 dollars per ton if sold directly as unprocessed run-of-mine material. However, revenues can be as much as $80-100/ton if processed for certain applications such as drilling additives or refined bleaching agent. WWR is working to test the clays for detailed chemical and physical parameters that can define the ultimate market for this material, as well as performing tests to finalize in place moisture values necessary for defining a final dry tonnage estimate. Permitting and surface rights acquisition activities are pending. Further resource development and market development activities will be managed by WWR’s existing staff at Adur Madencilik Ltd STI (“Adur”), WWR’s wholly owned subsidiary in the Republic of Turkey.

Christopher M. Jones, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “The diligence and creativity of our geological staff in Turkey is commendable. This clay can represent a near term revenue source for WWR with no impact to any future development of the uranium resource that may underlie this deposit. We are working with potential customers for this material.”

About the Tulu Tepe Clay Deposit

The Sefaatli Project area is located about 6 miles (10 kilometers) north of the town of Sefaatli. The Tulu Tepe clay deposit is located within the boundaries of the Sefaatli Project, and overlies a previously discovered uranium deposit. Uranium mineralization in this area was discovered by the General Directorate of Mineral Research & Exploration (MTA) in the mid-1980s, and further drilling by Adur has expanded this mineralization. Adur holds 3 licenses totaling 25,113 acres (10,163 hectares), which covers the entire Sefaatli uranium occurrence.

During uranium exploration drilling at the Tulu Tepe area, Adur intersected a large clay interval in several holes. Based on observations from certain uranium exploration holes, the clay layer was present at the ground surface and extended to a depth of approximately 70 ft. (21 meters) depth. Analyses of samples indicated that the layer is composed of almost pure calcium montmorillonite. As part of WWR’s review of the Tulu Tepe area, a field program was designed to further investigate and define the geometry of the clay deposit and its physical characteristics.

Field work began on September 25, 2017 to further delineate the clay resource after receiving all necessary permits. Drilling was performed by Kure Sondaj using a wireline core drilling rig, advancing HQ size tooling. A total of 1,925 ft. (587 meters) of drilling was completed over 32 holes. Core samples were collected for density measurements and further laboratory testing. The clay layer was intersected by 25 of the 32 holes. The thickness of clay layer in the intersected holes ranged from 0.16 ft. (0.05 meters) to 65 ft. (19.8 meters) of almost pure calcium montmorillonite. As drilling continued, infill drilling was performed in some areas or additional drilling points were selected just outside the initial holes to better define the lateral extent of the deposit.

About Westwater Resources

WWR (formerly known as Uranium Resources, Inc.) is primarily focused on expanding its energy metals strategy, which includes developing its lithium business while maintaining optionality in the case of a future rising uranium price.

The Company is pursuing lithium exploration and development projects that leverage our broad base of hydrogeological, well field engineering and hydrometallurgical expertise in the Western United States. This effort has expanded and diversified our portfolio of 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 uranium processing facilities in Texas, both of which are licensed for 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 future exploration costs and results, future demand for and price of uranium and lithium, the use of proceeds from the agreement with Aspire, and the Company’s liquidity, including future capital markets and disposition activities, 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, lithium and calcium montmorillonite clay; (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 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; (l) the ability of the Company to negotiate an extension on the Cebolleta lease and (m) 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 Christopher M. Jones, who is President and Chief Executive Officer of Westwater Resources Inc. Mr. Jones is a “Qualified Person” as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101). He is a Licensed Professional Engineer registered in Utah, USA and Alberta, Canada. Mr. Jones has a wide range of appropriate experience that is relevant to the evaluation of the style and nature of mineral deposits relating to this document. Mr. Jones 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