|
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. |
|
|
| |
|
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. .
|
