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Wednesday January 22 5:19 PM EDT
Power Spectra's Ground Penetrating Radar Detects Gold Ore in
Sierra Mine Test
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 22, 1997--Power Spectra Inc. (OTC/BB:PWSP)
announced today that a modified prototype of its Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) system
successfully located precious metal ore bodies during a series of tests conducted in a Sierra Nevada
gold mine.
Gordon Smith, Power Spectra chairman and CEO, said, "These findings, which detected both gold
and silver ore, mark the successful conclusion of a $500,000 feasibility study commissioned by
LandRay Technology Inc., a Power Spectra joint-venture company."
"Metallurgical Laboratories Inc., of Concord, California, has verified the test results with assays of
rock extracted from the mine. While these findings are preliminary, Power Spectra and its joint
venture partners are highly encouraged by these test results," Smith said.
"The detection of these ore bodies is particularly significant because the gold concentration was of
marginal commercial viability, thus validating the high sensitivity of our technology."
Designated the "Seeker," the portable GPR unit that detected the ore incorporates Power Spectra's
proprietary gallium arsenide (GaAs) switching technology. In this series of tests, the device viewed
an 18-by-18-inch cross section of rock wall to a depth of at least six feet. After the data was
recorded, the quartz and schist rock was blasted loose and removed from the mine for assaying.
The tests were performed in the Darrow Mine near Jamestown in Tuolumne County, an area that
plays a key role in California's Motherlode lore. Plans call for the equipment to be further tested in
the Original Sixteen-to-One Mine, in Alleghany, Calif., the oldest gold mining company in the West.
LandRay Technology Inc., the Power Spectra joint venture that commissioned the feasibility study,
was established to apply Power Spectra's GPR technology to mineral and petroleum exploration. A
second joint venture, PEAC, was formed to develop helicopter mounted GPR systems to detect and
map underground utilities and buried anti-personnel land mines.
"Both of these joint ventures, which were established in June of last year, will benefit from the
mining test results," Gordon said. "Moreover, we are continuing to look for additional applications
of our GPR technology."
Power Spectra is known internationally for its gallium arsenide (GaAs) switching technology, which
the company developed for military applications, thereby designing several varieties of impulse
generators, while acquiring an intimate knowledge of impulse radars.
The company markets two proprietary GaAs switches, the BASS(TM) and the PSIristor(TM). These
unique solid-state technologies find their roots in similar physical principles, but operate at different
voltage and power levels. In October, the company introduced an advanced laser range finder, which
is based on the PSIristor switch.
CONTACT: Power Spectra Inc., Sunnyvale
Chuck Byer, 408/737-7977
or
Ted Michel Associates, Emeryville, Calif.
Ted Michel, 510/450-0844
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