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To: LoneClone who wrote (45547)10/20/2009 7:56:14 PM
From: LoneClone  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 193918
 
White Mountain Progress Report on Metallurgical Test Work Programs
Tue Oct 20, 6:00 AM

ca.news.finance.yahoo.com

SANTIAGO, Chile, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- White Mountain Titanium Corporation ("White Mountain" or the "Company") (OTC Bulletin Board: WMTM.OB) reports that rutile locked cycle, feldspar concentrate and Stage 2 pilot plant test work programs currently underway at SGS Lakefield ("SGS") are proceeding well. Rutile locked cycle and initial feldspar concentrate test work have been completed with encouraging results and Stage 2 pilot plant test work is scheduled for completion at the end of October 2009, with full results available to the Company by the middle-to-end of November 2009.

The primary objective of the test work is to produce a natural rutile, titanium dioxide concentrate which meets the chemical and particulate specifications of titanium pigment and metal producers. A secondary objective is to produce a co-product feldspar concentrate which meets the chemical specifications of glass and ceramics producers. For purposes of the test work, a representative bulk sample of the Las Carolinas deposit totalling 275 tonnes was shipped to SGS in late August 2009. The head grade of the bulk sample averaged in excess of 2.9% TiO2.

Drawing upon a process flow sheet and procedures which have been developed and refined over the past two years, the bulk sample is first crushed to -1/2 inch and then ground to a particle size no finer than 100 mesh. The ground sample then passes through a gravity pre-concentration circuit where non-mineralized material is rejected and mineralized material, collected. The collected mineralized material is expected to represent approximately 50% by volume of the total material passing through the gravity pre-concentration circuit, with a corresponding increase in grade. For the bulk sample, we expect the grade of the gravity pre-concentrate passing to the flotation circuit to be approximately 6% TiO2.

Based on the process flow sheet and procedures set out above, SGS has completed a number of 9 hour, locked cycle tests on bulk sample material. These tests were conducted in order to stabilize the pilot plant circuits and attain steady state conditions prior to undertaking continuous pilot plant trials of up to 48 hours at a feed rate of 1 tonne per hour. (Flotation circuit conditions mirror the optimized chemical balances reported from previous work test work.) Detailed chemical analysis of one recent locked cycle test is set out below and we view the results as very encouraging.

LCT Results - Pilot Plant Bulk Sample

Test Product Weight Assays % % Distribution
No. % TiO2 SiO2 Fe2O3 CaO TiO2 SiO2 Fe2O3 CaO

PS1 TiO2 Conc
(Non-mag) 2.57 98.36 0.61 0.81 0.07 83.2 0.03 1.4 0.2
TiO2 Total
Tails 97.43 0.52 62.06 1.53 0.88 16.8 100.0 98.6 99.8
Head (Calc) 100.00 3.04 61.9 1.52 0.87 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

In marketing discussions, potential buyers of our rutile concentrate have emphasized that particulate size is very important to operators of commercial chlorinators used in the production of titanium dioxide pigment. Fines reduce the yield in chlorinators as the fine material can be lost in flue gases. In order to meet the buyer's particulate specifications, we will closely monitor the Stage 2 pilot plant grinding circuit to ensure that the bulk sample is not over ground resulting in too many fines. Results from particulate analysis will be available in the final Stage 2 pilot plant report.

In associated work, SGS has completed initial test work on the recovery of a commercial grade feldspar concentrate from tailings derived from the rutile flotation circuit. Following a detailed mineralogical examination of the feldspar, SGS has been able to reduce the iron content in the final feldspar concentrate from 1.2% Fe2O3 to 0.35% Fe2O3. Feldspar test work is scheduled for completion in early December 2009.

"The Company's metallurgical test work programs are proceeding well, and I am delighted with the results obtained so far," said Michael Kurtanjek, the Company's President and CEO. "The process flow sheet and procedures developed jointly for the Cerro Blanco project by SGS and White Mountain technical staff appear to be capable of achieving rutile concentrate specifications at a time of growing concern over future concentrate feedstock supplies. A recent marketing article by the London based magazine Industrial Minerals drew attention to the fact the global supply of titanium dioxide feedstock remains tight and that prices for rutile concentrate appear to be heading to $600 per tonne FOB."

About White Mountain Titanium Corporation

The Company holds mining concessions on the Cerro Blanco property currently consisting of 33 registered mining exploitation concessions and five mining exploration concessions in the process of being constituted, over approximately 8,225 hectares located approximately 39 kilometres west of the City of Vallenar in the Atacama, or Region III, geographic region of northern Chile. The Company's principal objectives are to advance the Cerro Blanco project towards a final engineering feasibility, and to secure off-take contracts for the planned rutile concentrate output. It would be the intention to sell the rutile concentrate to titanium metal and pigment producers. Work also continues to investigate the commercial viability of producing a feldspar co-product. The feldspar could find applications in the glass and ceramics industries.

The OTC BB has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and, therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors -- The United States Securities and Exchange Commission permits mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. We may use certain terms in our press releases and on our website, such as 'reserves,' 'resources,' 'geologic resources,' 'proven,' 'probable,' 'measured,' 'indicated,' and 'inferred,' that the SEC guidelines strictly prohibit us from including in our filings with the SEC. U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our annual report on Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2008, File No. 333-129347, and in subsequent filings with the SEC. You can review and obtain copies of our filings from the SEC's website at sec.gov.

Contact:
White Mountain Titanium Corporation
Michael Kurtanjek, President
(56) 2 657 1800

Brian Flower, Chairman
(604) 408-2333

SOURCE White Mountain Titanium Corporation