|
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. |