Signifcant Economic Improvement!
AVALON VENTURES LTD ("AVL-V;AVVTF-L") - Separation
Rapids Project Update: - Significant Improvements Achieved In
Recovery Of - Petalite From Big Whopper Ore
Donald S. Bubar, President of Avalon Ventures Ltd. (the
"Company") is pleased to report that recent metallurgical testwork
on the Big Whopper petalite ore carried out by Lakefield Research
Ltd., has succeeded in significantly improving petalite recoveries
and concentrate grades. Through optimization of flotation parameters and use of a new reagent, Lakefield
has succeeded in increasing the recovery of petalite into a high-grade concentrate to approximately 90%.
This is more than double the recovery obtained in the earlier testwork. Furthermore, an ultra-high purity
petalite concentrate assaying 4.75 - 4.85% Li2O (lithium oxide) was consistently produced and the grade
of the lower grade product was increased from 2.45% to 4.0% Li2O. The combined product, which
assays 4.3 - 4.5% Li2O, matches the best quality petalite product presently available in the world market.
These results were replicated in three separate locked-cycle tests using 100kg of ore in each test. A
locked-cycle test is essentially a simulation of a full-scale plant process and the consistency of the results
between each test provides confirmation of the stability of the process.
These new results have a substantial positive impact on the overall project economics, as the Company can
now meet the market demand for its petalite from substantially less mined ore. This cost saving will have a
significant positive effect on the project's profitability. Due to the impact of this change, consulting
engineers, Micon International Ltd., have agreed to revise their economic analysis of the project. This
should be completed in 3-4 weeks. Lakefield is continuing with further testwork focusing on improving
recoveries and grades for the feldspar products.
The petalite concentrates produced from the locked-cycle tests are being used to provide test samples for
evaluation by potential customers. Recent exposure of the project in international industrial minerals and
ceramic industry journals has precipitated a flood of new inquiries about the Companies' petalite and
Rb-K-feldspar products, mainly from end-users and distributors in Europe and Asia. Many of the inquiries
are for petalite applications in ceramics, particularly thermal shock-resistant pottery and dinnerware, a
market which was not evaluated in the previously-completed market studies. Consequently, Hains
Technology Associates have been retained to provide an updated analysis of world-wide petalite markets,
for inclusion in the new economic analysis being prepared by Micon.
Preparations continue for the bulk sampling program which the Company intends to initiate this fall.
Construction work to complete the new access road is in progress and several mining contractors are
being contacted to prepare bids for the bulk sampling work
First Delta Securities Ltd. of Toronto has been retained by the Company as Financial Advisor to assist with
strategic and financial initiatives for the Separation Rapids project. TEL: (416) 364-4938
Donald S. Bubar INET : www.avalonventures.com
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