Drilling Confirms Deposit Extension at Pele Mountain's Eco Ridge Mine Rare Earth and Uranium Project
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 01/17/13 -- Pele Mountain Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: GEM)(OTCQX: GOLDF) ("Pele" or the "Company") today announced initial results from the recent drill program at its Eco Ridge Mine Rare Earths and Uranium Project at Elliot Lake, Ontario. Pele has completed a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for Eco Ridge that demonstrates its potential to become a profitable producer of rare earth oxides ("REO") and uranium oxide ("U3O8").
The program included step out drilling to the northwest and west of the existing Resource Wireframe with an objective of adding Inferred Resources. Pele targeted areas where wide-spaced historical drilling successfully intersected the Main Conglomerate Bed ("MCB"). Highlights from the first five holes drilled in the Northwest Extension (northwest of the Resource Wireframe) include:
-- All five holes intersected the MCB along a strike length exceeding three
kilometres;
-- Four of the five holes significantly exceeded the average U3O8 and
average Total REO grade of the Resource Wireframe;
-- Hole PM214 returned 0.063-percent U3O8 and 2,125 ppm Total REO over a
true thickness of 2.99 metres, including 313 ppm neodymium oxide
("Nd2O3"), 102 ppm yttrium oxide ("Y2O3"), and 22 ppm dysprosium oxide
("Dy2O3");
-- Hole PM218 returned 0.057-percent U3O8 and 1,856 ppm Total REO over a
true thickness of 3.43 metres, including 277 ppm Nd2O3, 89 ppm Y2O3, and
20 ppm Dy2O3.
Although Pele was reasonably certain that the MCB was present in the Northwest Extension based on historical drilling, these results exceeded expectations.
Both holes drilled in the West Extension (west of the Resource Wireframe) intersected the MCB, returning typical REO grades over thicknesses below the MCB Resource Wireframe average. The U3O8 grade for Hole PM217 was, at 0.08-percent, well above the MCB Resource Wireframe average. Management is encouraged by these results which confirm the deposit continues to the western boundary of the Company's mining leases at Eco Ridge.
Click here to view a map showing the location of the recent drill holes. Additional results will be announced as they become available.
Pele President and CEO Al Shefsky stated, "These results conclusively demonstrate that the Main Conglomerate Bed continues to the north and west of the current Resource Wireframe, which can potentially add significant resources and years of mine-life to the project. We are particularly pleased to see higher-than-average grades of U3O8 and Heavy REO in the Northwest Extension."
Drilling Highlights from Northwest Extension
True Total Light Heavy
From Width REO REO REO U3O8
Hole ID (m) (m) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PM214 530.1 2.99 2,125 1,878 247 0.063
PM216 600.8 2.76 1,887 1,668 219 0.055
PM218 537.2 3.43 1,856 1,635 221 0.057
PM219 589.5 2.73 1,440 1,252 188 0.045
PM220 494.5 2.19 2,065 1,808 257 0.063
Assay results for Critical Rare Earths (from Northwest Extension)
Nd2O3 Eu2O3 Tb4O7 Dy2O3 Y2O3
Hole ID (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PM214 313 2.5 4.6 22 102
PM216 258 2.4 4.1 19 90
PM218 277 2.6 4.2 20 89
PM219 208 2.1 3.5 17 76
PM220 296 3.0 5.0 23 105
Drilling Highlights from West Extension
True Total Light Heavy
From Width REO REO REO U3O8
Hole ID (m) (m) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PM215 179.3 2.35 1,484 1,327 157 0.024
PM217 82.8 1.84 1,534 1,368 167 0.080
Assay results for Critical Rare Earths (from West Extension)
Nd2O3 Eu2O3 Tb4O7 Dy2O3 Y2O3
Hole ID (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PM215 218 2.0 2.8 13 60
PM217 224 2.0 3.1 14 66
Mineral resources for the MCB at Eco Ridge were estimated by Roscoe Postle Associates (as of April 16, 2012), as summarized in the table below.
Mineral Resource Estimate for Main Conglomerate bed at Eco Ridge
Zone & Tonnes U3O8 U3O8 LREO6 HREO7 TREO TREO
Classification ('000s) (%) ('000 lbs) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) ('000 lbs)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indicated
MCB 20,514 0.045 20,447 1,426 193 1,618 73,184
Inferred
MCB 16,906 0.043 15,940 1,279 183 1,463 54,515
Notes:
1. CIM definitions were followed for Mineral Resources.
2. The Qualified Person for this Mineral Resource estimate is Tudorel
Ciuculescu, P.Geo.
3. Mineral Resources are estimated at a cut-off value of $100 per tonne for
the MCB. Values were calculated based on prices and recoveries of
uranium and rare earths, net of off-site rare earth separation costs.
4. Mineral Resources are estimated using an average long-term uranium price
of US$70 per lb U3O8, a rare earth "basket price" of $78 per kg (net of
separation charges), and a C$:US$ exchange rate of 1.00:1.00.
5. A minimum mining thickness of 1.8 metres was used.
6. Light Rare Earth Oxides include La2O3, CeO2, Pr6O11, and Nd2O3.
7. Heavy Rare Earth Oxides include Sm2O3, Eu2O3, Gd2O3, Tb4O7, Dy2O3,
Ho2O3, Er2O3, Tm2O3, Yb2O3, Y2O3, and Lu2O3. Sc2O3 is also included in
HREO, as it occurs in low concentrations and carries high unit values
like an HREO.
The mineral resources at Eco Ridge have excellent potential for upgrade and expansion with lower-than-normal exploration risk in the historically drilled areas, as demonstrated by the results announced today. The deposit remains open and there is excellent potential to add new resources in other historically drilled areas of the property. The mineralized reefs of Elliot Lake are well known for their vast size and consistency. To-date, infill drilling at Eco Ridge has been 100-percent successful in upgrading Inferred resources to the Indicated category in the MCB.
The geological information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Edward C. Walker, Ph.D., P. Geo., an independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.
About Pele
Pele Mountain Resources is focused on the sustainable development of its 100-percent owned Eco Ridge Mine Rare Earths and Uranium Project. Eco Ridge is located in Elliot Lake, the only Canadian mining camp to have ever achieved commercial rare earth production. Elliot Lake was once the major source of heavy rare earth, yttrium and uranium production in North America. With well-understood geology, mineralogy, and metallurgy, excellent regional infrastructure, and strong local support, Eco Ridge is an ideal location for the development of a safe, secure, and reliable long-term supply of critical rare earths and uranium. Pele's shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "GEM" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "GOLDF".
Some of the statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements, such as estimates and statements that describe Pele's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that Pele or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. The economic viability of the 43-101 mineral resource at Pele's Elliot Lake Project has not yet been demonstrated by a preliminary feasibility study.
Shares Outstanding: 153,151,246
Neither the 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:
Pele Mountain Resources Inc.
Al Shefsky
President
(800) 315-7353
www.pelemountain.com