Matamec Discovers Boulders Containing Up to 86% HeavyREO+ Y2O3/TREO and 6.96% Niobium
MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwire) -- 08/19/10 -- Matamec Explorations Inc. ('Matamec' or the 'Company')(TSX VENTURE: MAT) is pleased to announce that it has discovered a train of boulders around and upslope from the bedrock Surprise showing, located on the Zeus property. From this train, six samples were collected for analysis. These samples are characterized by a strong enrichment in rare earths, yttrium, niobium and tantalum as presented in the following table:
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Analytical Results for Six Boulders(ii) from the Surprise Showing-Zeus
Property
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Element Oxides Sample Number and Analytical Results in %
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RA-3 RA-5 RA-9 RA-11 RA-12 RA-14
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La2O3 Lanthanum Oxide 0.036 1.278 0.260 0.072 0.019 0.869
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Ce2O3 Cerium Oxide 0.086 2.695 0.600 0.233 0.098 1.834
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Pr2O3 Praseodymium Oxide 0.011 0.308 0.080 0.036 0.012 0.219
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Nd2O3 Neodymium Oxide 0.045 1.184 0.296 0.193 0.064 0.815
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LREO(i) Light rare earths 0.179 5.465 1.237 0.532 0.193 3.737
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Sm2O3 Samarium Oxide 0.020 0.104 0.097 0.109 0.044 0.215
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Eu2O3 Europium Oxide 0.004 0.047 0.017 0.022 0.009 0.037
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Gd2O3 Gadolinium Oxide 0.032 0.347 0.138 0.179 0.070 0.296
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MREO(i) Medium rare earths 0.056 0.498 0.251 0.310 0.122 0.549
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Tb2O3 Terbium Oxide 0.009 0.062 0.036 0.048 0.022 0.071
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Dy2O3 greater
than
Dysprosium Oxide 0.074 0.468 0.328 0.504 0.220 0.574
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Ho2O3 Holmium Oxide 0.021 0.108 0.092 0.137 0.061 0.173
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Er2O3 greater
than
Erbium Oxide 0.071 0.328 0.328 0.477 0.218 0.572
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Tm2O3 Thulium Oxide 0.012 0.039 0.050 0.062 0.032 0.084
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Yb2O3 Ytterbium Oxide 0.070 0.215 0.292 0.378 0.194 0.545
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Lu2O3 Lutetium Oxide 0.008 0.023 0.035 0.041 0.022 0.065
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HREO(i) greater
than
Heavy rare earths 0.266 1.243 1.160 1.646 0.769 2.084
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Y2O3 Yttrium Oxide 0.531 3.518 2.305 2.692 1.160 4.280
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HREO + Y2O3 greater
than
0.797 4.761 3.465 4.338 1.929 6.364
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% HREO greater
+Y2O3/TREO 77 44 70 84 86than 60
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TREO(i) greater
than
Total rare earths 1.031 10.724 4.953 5.181 2.244 10.649
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ZrO2 Zirconium Oxide 0.921 0.111 0.689 1.857 2.209 0.729
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Nb2O5 Niobium Oxide 0.737 0.062 3.905 4.707 3.677 6.967
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Ta2O5 Tantalum Oxide 0.023 0.005 0.090 0.063 0.060 0.145
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(i) LREO: light rare earths oxides (or Ceric) = La2O3 to Nd2O3 MREO :
Medium rare earths oxides = Sm2O3 to Gd2O3 HREO: Heavy rare earths oxides
(or Yttric) = Tb2O3 to Lu2O3 TREO: Total rare earths oxides = LREO + MREO
+ HREO + Y2O3
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N.B.: Sub-divisions used by Roskill Information Services Ltd. and
Industrial Minerals Company of Australia Pty Ltd.
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'greater than ' This symbol shown in the above table means that the
results are overlimit. We are currently awaiting these new analyses.
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(ii)An assay from a selected boulder could not represent the average grade
of its source.
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These are preliminary results from the spring-summer field exploration work done on Matamec's Zeus property May to July 2010. This 2010 work was carried out on the Kipawa deposit and its surroundings, mostly on the Falaises, Surprise and TH showings (discovered in 2008), as well as other areas of the property which cover much of the Kipawa Alkalic Complex.
Once all results of the samples submitted for analysis are received in full, they will be reviewed by Anthony Mariano, PhD. He will identify the mineral species containing the rare earths, yttrium, zirconium, niobium and tantalum values, using various methods at his disposal.
Niobium is presently being mined at three places in the world, two in Brazil and one in Canada. The Canadian producer is the Niobec Mine owned by IAMGOLD Corporation, located in the Saguenay region of Quebec. The mine presently (December 31, 2009) produces from ore which averages 0.56% Nb2O5. IAMGOLD states that it is 'comfortable' with the February 27th 2010 price of niobium, in the mid-$30's per kilogram.
Andre Gauthier, president of Matamec, underlines that 'the discovery of these boulders means that it is probable to find high grade mineralization greatly enriched in heavy rare earths and niobium in the area of the Kipawa Alkalic Complex'.
Alex Knox, geologist (P. Geol). and Aline Leclerc. geologist (OGQ) and Vice-President Exploration of Matamec, are qualified persons for the Zeus Project. As qualified persons, they have supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information for the Zeus property and verified the data in this press release.
About Matamec
Matamec explores for significant gold deposits in the Timmins mining camp in Ontario of which the Matheson JV property with Goldcorp Canada Ltd. and Goldcorp Inc. is the main target. In Quebec. the Company explores for precious and base metals on its Sakami, Valmont and Vulcain properties. As well, Matamec is exploring for gold together with Northern Superior Resources Inc. on its Leperance/Wachigabau property.
Concurrently with the above mentioned exploration programs, Matamec's Quebec Tansim property is also being explored for rare metals such as lithium, tantalum and niobium.
'Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.'
Contacts:
Andre Gauthier
President
514-844-5252
514-844-0550 (FAX)
info@matamec.com
www.matamec.com