Sparton
Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE:SRI)(the "Company") reported today
initial results from the sampling program completed in late
November 2007 on various waste piles of uranium bearing coal
ash from the Lincang Area in central Yunnan PRC. (See
news release dated November 12, 2007).
Results
are available for 61 of a total of 122 samples systematically
taken from the various ash waste locations and represent material
from the largest of the piles, estimated to contain approximately
350,000 tonnes of ash produced by the local germanium extraction
operations.
| Historically
uranium was extracted from coal ash in this area but
all production ceased with the collapse of uranium markets
in the early 1980's. Germanium production has continued
however, and there are a number of radioactive ash waste
piles in the area including the one for which results
are reported here. All waste piles have been systematically
sampled and surveyed using a scintillometer (radiation
detector) by the Sparton team. |
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Sampling
of waste piles, November 2007 |
FIRST
RESULTS
The
average content of 46 samples taken from the largest waste
pile area is 0.029% U3O8 or approximately 0.64 pounds U308
per tonne. The range of values varies from 0.01% to 0.036%
U3O8.
In
addition, 3 samples taken from one highly radioactive area
in the same waste pile averaged 0.41% U3O8 but these results
were not used in calculating the average content reported above.
In
addition to uranium analyses, determinations for lime (CaO)
and magnesia (MgO) content were also completed on these samples
and the results indicate low values for both, averaging less
than 4% for lime and 1% for magnesia.
DISCUSSION
These
results are considered highly encouraging and the low lime
content of this material should contribute positively to uranium
leach extraction tests which will begin shortly both in China
and North America. Analyses for the remaining samples will
be reported when available.
All
analyses reported here were done by SGS-CSTC Standards Technical
Services Co. Ltd. laboratories in Tianjin China, a member of
the international SGS Group.
Sparton
and its partners ARCN, the Remote Sensing and Research Branch
of the China National Nuclear Corporation, and Beijing John
Hanseng Investment Consulting Co. Ltd. have entered into Memorandums
of Understanding with the Hua Jun Coal Mine Co. Ltd. and, more
recently with the Tian Hao Group another local Germanium producer,
to do uranium analyses and leach tests on the coal and various
types of ash waste material produced by these companies. Additional
agreements are currently under negotiation.
If
initial sampling and test results are positive, feasibility
studies will be undertaken to evaluate the commercialization
of uranium production from these waste ash areas. The initial
leaching tests are expected to begin by mid January 2008.
Sparton's
international exploration and evaluation programs are being
carried out under the direct supervision of A. Lee Barker,
P. Eng., P Geol., the Company's President and CEO who is a
Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. |
