Athabasca Potash Inc. ("Athabasca" or the "Company") (TSX:API) is pleased to announce it has identified the preferred shaft and mill site location for the Burr Project. The selection was based on a site location study performed by MDH Engineered Solutions Corp. ("MDH") and supported by the 2007 3D seismic survey interpretation program performed by Boyd Exploration Consultants Ltd. over the targeted potential shaft locations.
The planned site is located in the east central part of the Burr Project area. Approximately 3,600 acres of the 5,420 acres of surface lands Athabasca has acquired over the previous two years during an extensive land acquisition program is in the immediate area of the preferred shaft and mill site. "We are very pleased with the efforts of the Athabasca team and our consultants in identifying the preferred shaft location through an extensive review process. The excellent geological and geographic qualities of this location continue to support the development of the proposed potash mine" said Dawn Zhou, the Company's President and CEO.
In November 2008 Athabasca initiated a community consultation process in connection with its work program on the Burr Project and continues to solicit feedback from local residents regarding the preferred shaft and mill site location. Athabasca's community consultation process is ongoing and feedback from this process will be considered prior to any final determination regarding the shaft and mill site location.
MDH completed a detailed siting study in order to define the preferred shaft and Tailings Management Area (TMA) location within the Burr Project Area. Preliminary analysis of the area identified no high level impact risks from the proposed facility, and data from field investigations supported these findings. The final optimization of the shaft and TMA location took into account geological, environmental, geotechnical, hydrogeological, social, historical, operational, and economic considerations for the development.
As a component of the siting study, MDH completed a hydrogeological and geotechnical field investigation that included drilling of 48 boreholes, installation of instrumentation arrays, and gathering of baseline hydraulic and groundwater chemistry data for several potential TMA locations. The detailed hydrostratigraphic interpretation of the area was used in the siting study, and will also be used in support of the environmental permitting for the mine. Prefeasibility TMA design and cost estimates for the proposed facility are being undertaken as part of the complete Burr Project prefeasibility study which is currently ongoing. MDH is a full service geoenvironmental, hydrogeological, geotechnical and environmental consulting company, bringing over 25 years of experience in the Saskatchewan Potash mining industry to the Burr Project.
Bradley V.A. Fettis, P.Eng. and VP Mining, Athabasca's Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43101") supervised the preparation of the information contained in this press release and has reviewed and verified the data underlying this information. For additional information regarding the Burr Project please see the NI 43101 compliant technical report entitled NI 43101 Technical Report for a Resource Estimation on the Burr Project, Athabasca Potash Inc., Saskatchewan, Canada, available at
www.sedar.com or
www.athabascapotash.ca.
About Athabasca:Athabasca Potash Inc. is a Canadian based corporation and was founded with a goal of establishing itself as a preeminent Canadian public company engaged solely in potash exploration and development with focus on the Company's wholly owned Burr Project, and to provide its shareholders with a unique investment opportunity focused entirely on potash.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is "forward-looking information" within the meaning of certain securities laws. This includes statements concerning Athabasca's plans at its mineral properties, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Athabasca, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, exploration risks, lack of historic drill hole documentation, challenges or impairments to title, the negotiation of access to certain potash mineralization, permit requirements, governmental regulations, aboriginal land use, environmental risks and competition in attracting and retaining personnel. In addition, forward-looking information is based on various assumptions. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Athabasca undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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