Matamec Hires Experienced Metallurgist
MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwire) -- 03/06/12 -- Matamec Explorations Inc. ('Matamec' or the 'Company' - (TSX VENTURE: MAT) is pleased to announce that it has appointed an experienced metallurgist to its Kipawa REE-Y-Zr deposit development team.
Director of Metallurgy: Mr. Paul Blatter, Metallurgist
Mr. Paul Blatter has been appointed Director of Metallurgy for Matamec Explorations Inc. Mr. Blatter holds a B.Sc. in Metallurgical Engineering (1999) from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and he is a member of l'Ordre des Ingenieurs du Quebec.
He joins Matamec to lead the mill process design team during the feasibility study, construction phase, and, subsequently, the mill commissioning, start-up, and operation. The Company will use his strong ore processing background, his experience in R&D, and his improvement skills to maximise the value from a new and challenging ore. He will also take on new challenges associated with REE ore valuation. He will work under the guidance of our VP Project Development and Construction, Mr Bertho Caron, and in conjunction with our lab metallurgist, Eliza Ngai, metallurgical consultants, labs and the Toyota Tsusho Corp. network during the present due diligence period. As a strong team player, he will add his experience to the team, while engaging in new challenges and learning experiences.
Result-oriented, dynamic and hands-on, he has more than 12 years of experience in testwork, process design and optimization of several mill technologies including: grinding, flotation, leaching, solid/liquid separation, pressure leaching and gold recovery units. He has initiated several successful brownfield mill expansions in the Abitibi region for the recovery of base and precious metals. He led research and development activities in base and precious metals, with multiple successful technology migrations to existing plants which led to increased metal recovery and reduced milling costs. Between 1999 and 2012, he was plant metallurgist then metallurgy superintendent at Laronde mill for Agnico-Eagle Mines, and for a two year period he was assistant mill superintendent at Lapa mill (2007-2009).
He is president of north-western Quebec regional CMP branch (CIM) and he is active member of local CIM branch and national CMP conference.
Andre Gauthier, President and CEO of Matamec stated: 'We are very pleased to welcome Paul to our team. We are ramping up the project with expertise at the industrial scale. All is on schedule to complete our definitive feasibility study by mid 2013.'
Bertho Caron, Vice President Project Development and Construction of Matamec, states that 'we are extremely pleased to have Paul join our team. I have personally worked on a process plant design with him in the past, and the results were very good and the plant start-up went very well. Paul is already well-informed concerning rare earth concentrating technologies and their challenges. His addition to the team increases Matamec's confidence in the development of its Kipawa mine project.'
The Board of Directors have granted 200,000 stock options to Mr. Blatter at a price of $0.34 per share for a period of five years. These options, as well as the terms and conditions of their exercise, are governed by the Company's Stock Option Plan.
About Matamec
Matamec Explorations Inc. is a junior mining exploration company whose main focus is in developing the heavy rare earths Kipawa deposit and exploring more than 35 km of strike length in the Kipawa Alkalic Complex for rare earths-yttrium-zirconium-niobium-tantalum mineralization on its Zeus property.
The Company is also exploring for gold, base metals and platinum group metals. Its gold portfolio includes the Matheson JV property located along strike and in close proximity to the Hoyle Pond Mine in the prolific mining camp of Timmins, Ontario.
In Quebec, the Company is exploring for lithium and tantalum on its Tansim property and for precious and base metals on its Sakami, Valmont and Vulcain properties. As well, it is exploring for gold together with Northern Superior Resources Inc. on the Lesperance/Wachigabau property.
'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
Caroline Wilson (P.Geo.)
Director of Investor Relations
(647) 938-4080
info@matamec.com
www.matamec.com