Joint News ReleaseFavourable Initial Review of Metallurgical
Alternatives for Wolverine
Vancouver, B.C. (August 24, 1999) - The Wolverine Joint Venture, Expatriate
Resources Ltd. (EXR.V, 60%) and Atna Resources Ltd. (ATN.T, 40%), is
pleased to announce progress in its investigation of metallurgical treatment
of massive sulphide ores from its Wolverine Property. Preliminary work
indicates that metal leaching processes provide the best opportunity to
overcome the high selenium content and also result in more of the value
of the exceptionally high-grade Wolverine mineralization being captured.
Other related metallurgical issues such as marketing, infrastructure, waste
disposal and power will be examined concurrently with metallurgical
process alternatives.
The metallurgical team, consisting of Brad Marchant as team leader
(March Process Consulting Limited), Dr. Morris Beattie (Beattie
Consulting Ltd.), Dr. David Dreisinger (University of British Columbia,
Hydrometallurgy Chair) and Dr. Lynton Gormley (H.A. Simons Ltd.),
commenced its preliminary investigation in June. The team has recommended
that a scoping study be undertaken to evaluate further several of the more
attractive alternatives. H.A. Simons Ltd. has been commissioned to complete
a scoping study that will include a technical review and estimate of capital
and operating costs of several of the metal leach processes. This scoping
study will be completed in October 1999 and will form the basis for the
future exploration and development strategy for Wolverine and the Finlayson
District. The scoping study will primarily evaluate commercially demonstrated
pressure leach methods, such as those used by Cominco at Trail and
Falconbridge at Kidd Creek for processing zinc concentrates. Several less
proven processes for leaching copper-lead concentrates are also being
evaluated. Variations of these leach processes will be evaluated for the
treatment of bulk concentrates of all of the sulphide minerals. Initial
production of bulk concentrates would maximize metal recoveries prior
to leaching and has the potential to reduce capital and operating costs for
the metallurgical facility. In addition, bioleaching and Expatriate?sNitrosyl
Process are also being evaluated. In all the processes, solvent extraction
electrowinning (SX-EW) or electrolysis is used for the production of
cathode copper and zinc. Cyanidation of residues is being considered for
recovery of the precious metals.
The preliminary review indicates that the potential increase in revenues
from on-site recovery of metals could be sufficient to pay for the increased
capital and operating costs of a metallurgical facility in the Finlayson
District, if the current reserves and resources in the Finlayson District are
processed in
a common plant. Confirmation of these findings would provide a strong basis
for consolidation of interests in the District and recommencing explorationto
find additional resources.
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For further information contact:ATNA RESOURCES LTD.Peter DeLancey, President
Michael Williams, Investor Relations1550 - 409 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 1T2Tel: (604) 684-2285; Fax: (604) 684-8887
E-mail: atna@atna.com<http://www.atna.com>EXPATRIATE RESOURCES LTD.
Dr. Harlan Meade, President & CEOCarol Ellis, Vice-President, Investor Relations
1016 - 510 West Hastings StreetVancouver, BC V6B 1L8
Tel: (604) 688-2568; Fax: (604) 688-2578E-mail: expat@expatriateresources.com
<http://www.expatriateresources.com> |
