GEOMEGA LAUNCHES PHASE 2 DRILL PROGRAM AT MONTVIEL
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate distribution
Update on the intensive advanced exploration program
Montreal, September 7, 2011 – Geomega Resources Inc. (GéoMégA) (TSX.V: GMA) is pleased to announce the beginning of the Phase 2 definition and exploration drilling on its rare earth elements Montviel property, located in the Abitibi, Quebec. This new milestone is part of an update on the current intensive exploration program, which includes the following:
- The Phase 2 definition and exploration drilling campaign is scheduled to begin on September 12, 2011;
- The NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate, based on 18 holes in the Core Zone from the Phase 1 drill program, is expected to be released by the end of September 2011;
- Two mini-bulk samples of 300 kg, for bench-scale metallurgical testing, have been sent to SGS Canada Lab in Lakefield, Ontario;
- Preliminary mineralogical evaluation by SGS already confirmed that the mineralized carbonatite mainly contains REE-bearing minerals of the Bastnasite-Synsychite family, which are amenable to concentration and separation by recognized metallurgical processes.
“Phase 1 drilling results are excellent. We are optimistic that the initial NI 43-101 compliant resource will allow us to confirm that our Montviel property represents one of the largest Neodymium deposits in the world. The Phase 2 drilling and metallurgical tests will enlighten us on its full potential,” said Mr. Simon Britt, president of GéoMégA.
- 1. A) Phase 2 diamond drilling program – Core ZoneThe main objective of this two-rig diamond drill campaign is to complete a drilling pattern of 100 X 100 meters or better over the Core Zone of the Montviel Carbonatite Complex. The 18 diamond drill holes (DDH) of the Phase 1 drill program have already defined a REE-rich zone of a minimum length of 750 meters, down to a minimum depth of 550 meters and a width of 300 to 450 metres. The Phase 2 drill program will immediately focus on the south-west (SW) portion of the deposit where some of the best results (DDH MVL-11-18: 2.15% TREO over 250.65 meters; see August 2, 2011 press release) were intersected. The Core Zone remains open to the SW with average grade values increasing in that direction. The Core Zone is also open to the north-east (NE) but could be possibly offset by a fault as suggested by the airborne magnetic survey. Step-out holes will be drilled to delineate the actual limits of the Core Zone. Finally, sub-vertical DDH MVL-11-15 – ended in mineralization at 549 m – will be deepened in an attempt to define the ultimate depth of the REE-enriched ferro-carbonatite.
1. B) Phase 2 diamond drilling program – Satellite targets
Later this fall, one of the two rigs will be mobilised to test over half a dozen targets that were defined by previous exploration work elsewhere on the Montviel Property. One of these targets is the SW extension of a polygenetic breccias unit that was cut in some of our DDHs and which roughly defines the NW contact between the REE-rich ferro-carbonatite and the silico-carbonatite. The total rare earth oxides content (TREO) of this breccia unit is lower (0.1% to 0.9% TREO) than the Core Zone but it exhibits a clear enrichment of mid and heavy rare earth oxides (MHREO) toward the west. The MHREO/TREO ratio reaches 28% over 17.1 m in hole DDH MVL-11-09 compared to ratios of 4 to 6% in the other DDH to the NE. This intercept in DDH MVL-11-09 also averaged 210 ppm of Dysprosium oxide. Limited trenching work completed in August, one kilometre to the SW of DDH MVL-11-09, revealed very similar breccias over a width of more than 30 meters. There is no DDH between these surface breccia occurrences and those in DDH MVL-11-09.
2. NI 43-101 compliant initial resource calculation
An NI 43-101 compliant preliminary resource estimate performed by SGS Géostat of Blainville, Quebec is well underway. These first 43-101 resources will be based on the 18 holes drilled in the Core Zone of the Montviel Carbonatite Complex. During the summer, SGS has audited and compiled all the drilling data, checked the QA/QC, visited the Montviel Property and took their own core samples for check assays. The NI 43-101 resource estimate is expected to be released by the end of September 2011 with the report to be filed on SEDAR within the next 45 days.
- 3. Bench-scale metallurgical tests
Bench-scale metallurgical testing is being initiated by SGS Canada Lab in Lakefield, Ontario. Two 300-kg representative samples from re-split core were sent to the lab in August. Early September, SGS Lab will start mineral processing tests and should deliver preliminary results during the fall. Final metallurgical testing, including hydro-metallurgy, should be available in the first quarter of 2012.
- 4. Mineralogical evaluation
Two important criteria, in evaluating the quality and the feasibility of a REE project, are mineralogy and mineral grain size. REEs are very special metals having very similar physico-chemical characteristics making them difficult to separate. It is crucial to look for minerals that are known to be economically amenable to concentration and REE-separation by established metallurgical processes.
Preliminary mineralogical evaluation of Montviel’s mineralisation by SGS’s Lakefield Ontario lab, using Qemscan and microprobe techniques, confirmed that the REE-bearing minerals are from the Bastnasite-Synsychite family (see August 24, 2011 press release). These are huanghoite, a barium-cerium fluoro-carbonate, and cebaite, a barium-REE fluoro-carbonate. Huanghoite and cebaite are two of the main REE-minerals at the world class Bayan Obo Mine in Inner Mongolia, China. Bastnasite is the main REE mineral of the Mountain Pass Mine in California, the world’s main REE producer from the 70s to the 90s that is to resume production in 2012.
SGS’s mineralogical study also revealed that the overall grain size distribution of the hanghoite and cebaite of the Montviel Carbonatite is comparatively coarse, which is a prerequisite for concentration by conventional mineral processing techniques.
NI 43-101 Disclosure
Jacquelin Gauthier, P. Eng., vice-president exploration, and Gary H. K. Pearse M.Sc., P.Eng., an independent consultant, are the qualified persons who supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.
About GéoMégA (ressourcesgeomega.ca)
GéoMégA, which owns 100% of the Montviel property, is a Québec mining exploration company focusing on finding economically viable deposits of elements needed by Clean Technologies. GéoMégA is committed to meeting stringent mining industry standards and distinguishing itself with its expertise, know-how and its support and respect for local communities and the environment.
GéoMégA currently has 21,735,399 common shares outstanding and is well funded.
The TSX Venture Exchange and its regulatory service provider (as defined in the TSX-V Rules) cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of this release.
For Investors:
Simon Britt
President and CEO
GéoMégA
450 465-0099