27 May 2013
News release KEX2013-08
KENT EXPLORATION NOTES GRAPHITIC OCCURRENCES AT FLAGSTAFF WA PROJECT
Kent Exploration Inc. KEX: TSX.V, (the "Company" or "Kent") reports that it has commenced an evaluation of graphite potential at the Company's 100% optioned and permitted Flagstaff Mountain, WA, Barite Mine. The barite body is surrounded by and underlain by graphitic schist as shown by mapping and drilling in the course of the development of the barite body since 2009.
Due to short supply, graphite has become a strategic material. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) in its most recent pricing survey notes that Graphite prices for 2012 ranged from US$329/ton for amorphous graphite to US$1,990 per ton for flake, lump and chip graphite. For higher purity graphite, prices range up to US$3,000 per ton.
Pyrite-bearing graphitic schist at Flagstaff Mountain appears to underlie and may be interbedded with the sedimentary barite. These and other layers are distributed in a complex tight north-south syncline. The graphitic unit may be on the order of a few hundred feet thick west of the barite and less than a hundred feet east of the barite. A number of historic assays of the graphitic schist give organic carbon contents as high as 3.85%. The Company notes these assays are of a historic nature, are not NI-43-101-Complint and should not be relied upon.
The Company President & CEO, Graeme O'Neill, comments "During our gold exploration programs we continue to discover industrial minerals on our gold projects. We have now identified graphitic zones at both our Alexander River and Flagstaff properties. Our barite and bentonite projects bring us the potential to establish near term cash flow. Any positive cash flow derived from operations will allow us to reduce future dilution and fund our gold exploration projects with its attendant upside".
The Flagstaff project is fully permitted for mining, with the property being serviced by an excellent access road, and is approximately ten miles from the town of Northport, WA, which has all required support facilities, including rail access. The Company intends to quarter the existing half core from the prior drill programs and submit it for analysis for graphite content and quality.
In the event that the graphite is of sufficient quality and as the property is fully permitted for mining, the Company intends to ascertain whether the graphite has the potential for mining, possibly as an adjunct to any mining of the historic barite deposit.
The Company is awaiting results of graphite assays on the Alexander River Project, that have been submitted to SGS Laboratories for analysis.
Work on Flagstaff Mountain is under the direction of Dr. Clay Conway, P. Geol a Director of the Company, and a qualified person as recognized by NI-43-101
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Kent Exploration Inc. is a junior exploration company with a 100% interest in all its major projects, and is planning on building shareholder value through establishing cash flow from its Flagstaff Mountain, WA, barite mine. Any positive cash flow is intended to reduce dilution and fund exploration on its three major high grade gold prospects (Alexander River, Paparoa and Lyell), in the highly prolific West Coast South Island gold fields of New Zealand. Additional shareholder value has been established through its approximately 15% interest in Archean Star Resources Inc, ("Archean") which is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ASP.
The Company has an experienced management and technical team with extensive exploration expertise and offers investors the potential for a major gold discovery on its New Zealand gold projects.
This News Release has been prepared on behalf of the Kent Exploration Inc. Board of Directors, which accepts full responsibility for its contents. The contents of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Clay Conway, P. Geol., a Qualified Person as recognized by National Instrument NI-43-101 and a director of the Company.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"Graeme O'Neill"
Graeme O'Neill, President
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), has reviewed, nor do they accept responsibility for, the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.