NORONT VERIFIES EXCELLENT RECOVERIES AT EAGLES NEST
TORONTO, July 7, 2011 /CNW/ --
TORONTO, July 7, 2011 /CNW/ - Noront Resources Ltd. ('Noront' or the 'Company') (TSX Venture: NOT) is pleased to report initial metallurgical results for the Eagle's Nest
deposit, part of the Company's McFaulds Lake Project in the James Bay
Lowlands, Ontario.
During the 2010 drill program, a series of holes were drilled into the
Eagle's Nest nickel, copper and PGM deposit in order to obtain samples
for metallurgical testwork. The metallurgical samples were shipped to
SGS's Lakefield's independent metallurgical test facility where all
testwork has been completed. Upon arrival at SGS Lakefield, the samples
were composited into the following two main sample types deemed to be
representative of the deposit:
-- Upper Blend: 75% net textured 25% massive material
-- Lower Blend: 90% net textured 10% massive material
The Upper Blend comprised samples representing mineral resources above
the 275 meter level and the Lower Blend represented mineral resources
below this level.
The objective of the flotation testwork was to produce a bulk
copper-nickel PGM concentrate that met the specifications of
conventional nickel smelters. The metallurgical composites were used in
number of initial batch tests to define preliminary process criteria
such as reagent consumption, grind size and flotation grade/recovery
relationships. Once basic parameters were determined in the batch
tests, the flowsheet was to be modeled in a series of locked-cycle
flotation tests designed to simulate actual closed circuit operation.
For the Lower Blend tests an additional batch test was completed to
evaluate the impact of additional reagents on improving the concentrate
grades. The Locked Cycle test results for the Upper Blend are
summarized below:
__________________________________________
|Concentrate Grade and Recovery Upper Blend|
|__________________________________________|
| |Feed Sample|Concentrate| Recovery |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
|Wt% | 100% | 22.40% | - |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
| | | | |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
|Grades| | | |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
| Ni | 3.40% | 13.10% | 86.40% |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
| Cu | 1.74% | 7.47% | 96.10% |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
| Pt | 1.8 gpt | 6.22 gpt | 77.40% |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
| Pd | 5.83 gpt | 23.5 gpt | 90.30% |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
| Au | 0.37 gpt | 1.53 gpt | 92.50% |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
| Ag | 3.56 gpt | 13.1 gpt | 82.50% |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
The Lower Blend was tested in both a locked cycle test and subsequent
batch test to improve concentrate grade by utilizing additional
reagents. The batch test showed similar nickel recoveries but improved
the bulk concentrate by depressing the flotation of talc. The Lower
Blend sample test results are summarized below:
__________________________________________
|Concentrate Grade and Recovery Lower Blend|
|__________________________________________|
| |Feed Sample|Concentrate| Recovery |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
|Wt% | 100% | 16.50% | - |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
| | | | |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
|Grades| | | |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
| Ni | 2.22% | 12.90% | 83.70% |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
| Cu | 0.98% | 6.14% | 87.30% |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
| Pt | 1.13 gpt | 4.84 gpt | 71.00% |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
| Pd | 5.2 gpt | 17.2 gpt | 74.30% |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
| Au | 0.27 gpt | 0.55 gpt | 33.10% |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
| Ag | 3.25 gpt | 12.4 gpt | 63.20% |
|______|___________|___________|___________|
Mr. Paul Semple, P.Eng and Noront's Chief Operating Officer noted
'These positive results confirm the metallurgical assumptions made
during the NI 43-101 Preliminary Assessment report and the
metallurgical characteristics are similar to most other Canadian nickel
copper deposits. Further testwork will focus on finalizing equipment
sizes and the optimization of grade/recovery relationships based on
further discussions with interested smelters.'
This press release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Richard Gowans,
P.Eng. President of Micon International, a Qualified Person as defined
by NI 43-101. Mr. Gowans is a professional metallurgist and also is
Micon's Project Manager leading the technical studies.
About Noront: Noront Resources Ltd. is focused on its significant and multiple,
high-grade nickel-copper-platinum-palladium, chromite, gold and
vanadium discoveries in an area known as the 'Ring of Fire', an
emerging multi-metals district located in the James Bay Lowlands of
Ontario, Canada. Noront is the dominant land holder at the Ring of Fire
and continues to delineate and prove up its discoveries with NI 43-101
technical and economic reports and an aggressive and well financed
drill and development plans. All material information on Noront,
including all NI 43-101 reports on Eagle's Nest, can be found on the
Company's website at www.norontresources.com or at SEDAR at www.sedar.com For further information please contact Noront at (416) 367-1444, or
visit Noront's website at: http://www.norontresources.com.
Wesley (Wes) Hanson
President & Chief Executive Officer
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This release contains 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of
applicable Canadian securities legislation, including predictions,
projections and forecasts. Forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to, statements that address activities, events or
developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur
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competitive strengths, goals, expansion, growth of the Company's
businesses, operations, plans and with respect to exploration results,
the timing and success of exploration activities generally, permitting
time lines, government regulation of exploration and mining operations,
environmental risks, title disputes or claims, limitations on insurance
coverage, timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation and
timing and results of future resource estimates or future economic
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not anticipate', or 'belief', or describes a 'goal', or variation of
such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results
'may', 'could', 'would', 'might' or 'will' be taken, occur or be
achieved.
Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and
assumptions, including, the result of drilling and exploration
activities, that contracted parties provide goods and/or services on
the agreed timeframes, that equipment necessary for exploration is
available as scheduled and does not incur unforeseen break downs, that
no labour shortages or delays are incurred, that plant and equipment
function as specified, that no unusual geological or technical problems
occur, and that laboratory and other related services are available and
perform as contracted. Forward-looking statements involve known and
unknown risks, future events, conditions, uncertainties and other
factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements
to be materially different from any future results, prediction,
projection, forecast, performance or achievements expressed or implied
by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others,
the interpretation and actual results of current exploration
activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be
refined; future prices of gold; possible variations in grade or
recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as
anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; labour
disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining
governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of
exploration, as well as those factors disclosed in the company's
publicly filed documents. Although Noront has attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to
differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements,
there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to
be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance
that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
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that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange)
accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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please contact Noront at (416) 367-1444, or visit Noront's website at: http://www.norontresources.com.