Montreal, Quebec / August 28 2014 / Uragold Bay Resources Inc. (“Uragold”) (TSX Venture: UBR) through it’s wholly owned subsidiary, Quebec Quartz is pleased to offer the investing public the following general information on Silicon Metal and the High Purity Quartz.
Uragold and Quebec Quartz will concentrate their work on High Purity Quartz and Metallurgical Silicon Metal for which applications and dollar value of quartz greatly vary based on the purity of the material. The company acquired some of the most prospective historical High Purity Quartz (HPQ) deposits with High Purity Silica (+98.5% SiO2) (HPS) values in Quebec during Q2 2014 through it’s subsidiary Quebec Quartz.
The Quebec Quartz assets can be viewed at: http://www.uragold.com/Quebec-Quartz.php
Patrick Levasseur, President and COO of Uragold stated that: “We have noticed in the last few months that investors are very eager to hear about the developments for silicon metal in Quebec but have not been able to find a comprehensive source for researching the potential of the market.” Mr. Levasseur went on to add: “We are thus extremely pleased to offer investor this first of hopefully many non-exhaustive educational news releases.”
What are High Purity Quartz and Silicon Metal?
High Purity Quartz
- High Purity Quartz (HPQ) has a purity level in excess of 99.997% and is extremely rare.-Used in the semiconductor industry to produce crucibles and quartz glass products, such as windows, rods, and tubes [Source].-Also used in the production of silicon metal, which is the base for the semiconductor wafers, made using the Czochralski Process [Source].
- High purity quartz deposits with low impurities are rare, world supplies are tightening and HPS prices are rising [Source ].
- Demand for HPQ is growing with the high tech industry and the price for premium HPQ can vary between US$ 8,000 to US$ 25,000 or more per ton depending on the specifications needed for the final application [Source ].
Metallurgical Silicon Metal
- Metallurgical Silicon Metal has a purity of 98.5% or higher and is used as an alloying agent in the aluminum industry due to its ability to increase the strength of aluminum [Source].-Adding Silicon Metal to aluminum alloys makes them strong and light [Source].-As a result they are increasingly used in the automotive industry to replace heavier cast iron components [Source].
- Allows weight reductions and a reduction in fuel consumption [Source].
- Demand for aluminium has increased 5% CAGR over the past 20 years [Source].
- It has also been reported that the solar industry will have it’s first global panel shortage since 2006 [Source].
- It has become one of today’s key strategic minerals with applications in high-tech industries that include semiconductors, LCD displays, fused quartz tubing, microelectronics, solar silicon applications and recently, Silicon Anode Lithium Batteries
- Silicon Metal with 98.50% SiO2 purity sells for about US$ 3,200 per ton (or US$ 1.45 US a pound) [Source].
Ferro Silicon
- Has a purity of 50%-98% SiO2, produced by reduction of silica or sand with coke in presence of iron [Source].-Ferrosilicon is used as a source of silicon to reduce metals from their oxides and to deoxidize steel and other ferrous alloys [Source].-Ferrosilicon is also used for manufacture of silicon, corrosion-resistant and high-temperature resistant ferrous silicon alloys, and silicon steel for electromotors and transformer cores [Source].
- Usual formulations on the market are ferrosilicons with 15%, 45%, 75%, and 90% silicon [Source].
- Ferrosilicon with 75% SiO2 purity sells for about US$ 2,170 per ton (or US$ 0.985 a pound) [Source].
Frac Sand
- Lower quality silica is used for frac sand in the oil and gas industry.-Frac sand is in high demand and will experience a 30% increase in growth as the shale gas industry continues to grow [Source].-Pricing for Frac sand remains well below US$ 100 per ton [Source].
About Quebec Quartz
Uragold acquired some of the most prospective historical High Purity Quartz deposits with High Purity Silica (+99.5% SiO2) (HPS) values in Quebec during Q2 2014. Quebec Quartz is a 100% own subsidiary of Uragold Bay Resources, a junior exploration company listed on the TSX Venture under the symbol UBR. Quebec Quartz holds a strategic portfolio of high purity silica (+99.5% SiO2) deposits and closed silicon metal mines in Quebec.
About Silica
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals. It occurs in many different settings throughout the geological record. High Purity Quartz deposits with low impurities are rare. However, only very few deposits are suitable in volume, quality and amenability to tailored refining methods for specialty high purity applications.
High Purity Silica (HPS) and Silicon Metal which is used in large part in the aluminum industry has become one of today’s key strategic minerals with applications in high-tech industries that include semiconductors, LCD displays, fused quartz tubing, microelectronics, solar silicon applications and recently, Silicon Anode Lithium Batteries
About Uragold Bay Resources Inc.
Uragold Bay Resources is a TSX-V listed Gold and High Purity Quartz exploration junior focused on generating free cash flow from mining operations. Our business model is centered on developing mining projects suited for smaller-scale start-up, (Capex < C$10M), that will generate high yield returns (IRR > 50%). Uragold will reach these goals by developing Quebec’s first placer mine in 50 years, the Beauce Placer Project developing and, in partnership with Golden Hope Mines, the Bellechasse-Timmins Gold Deposit.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For further information contact
Bernard J. Tourillon, Chairman and CEO
Patrick Levasseur, President and COO
Tel: (514) 846-3271
Tags: #mining, #smallcapstocks, $TSXV, High Purity silica, silicon metals, Uragold Bay Resources