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BHP Billiton Expands Hearing Protection Contract in Australia with Sonomax V3

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:57 AM on Monday, May 7th, 2012

BHP Billiton Expands Hearing Protection Contract in Australia

Sonomax Technologies Inc. (“Sonomax” or the “Company”) (TSX Venture: SHH) today announced that BHP Billiton Iron Ore (BHP: NYSE), through its distributor Australasian Safety Services Inc., has agreed to protect an additional 4,000 workers in its facilities in Western Australia, a contract valued at $600,000. The product used to protect these workers will be the existing V3 ProFit version. BHP Billiton Iron Ore has the potential of an additional 8,000 workers to be protected with the new V5, currently in the final stages of development and testing.

“This breakthrough is made possible by the hard work of distribution partners like Michael Dean”

Said Michael Dean, CEO of Australasian Safety Services, “Our company has been servicing the mining industry for over 5 years now and we are finally starting to gain serious traction with this customer base who is very dedicated to health & safety. We are extremely proud to count BHP as one of our largest customers in Australia. The Sonomax product is now a proven commodity in the mining sector. This agreement is a result of extensive testing over the years. We are excited to get our hands on the V5 this fall to service this customer base of over 200,000 workers.”

“We are happy to report such an important contract to our shareholders for many reasons. Sonomax is much more than earphones. Hearing protection and the prevention of hearing loss has always been the heart of the company. There are over 100M workers around the world who are at risk and miners are at the top of that list. With a commitment to excellence from top mining companies like BHP and our new robust self-fit scalable product line, we will be able to protect a great number of these workers from losing their hearing,” said Nick Laperle, Sonomax’s CEO. “This breakthrough is made possible by the hard work of distribution partners like Michael Dean,” added Laperle.

About Sonomax Technologies Inc.

Sonomax® is a leader in the product development, research, and licensing of in-ear technologies. With more than 50 patents and trademarks worldwide, Sonomax’s pioneering innovation includes instant custom-fitting earpieces that deliver the most comfortable, protective and sound-enhancing experience in the world. Poised to become a standard for all in-ear applications, SonoFit™ offers OEM, ODM and aftermarket clients a broader range of opportunities in customized earpieces for the consumer, industrial, military and health markets. Learn more at http://sonomax.com

Corporate Website / Sonomax Hub

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Golden Hope Intersects 25 metres of 2.06 g/t Gold and 8 metres of 2.26 g/t Gold

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 9:59 AM on Monday, May 7th, 2012

Golden Hope Mines Limited (TSX VENTURE: GNH) (Pink Sheets: GOLHF) – Golden Hope Mines Limited is pleased to announce significant drill results from its recently completed Winter 2012 drill program at the Bellechasse-Timmins Gold Deposit in southeastern Quebec.

Significant near surface vertical depth results include:

  • 3 metres of 1.18 g/t Au and 8 metres of 2.26 g/t Au at 137 meters from surface in hole BD2012-186, 25 metres of 2.06 g/t Au including 5 metres of 9.21 g/t Au at 42 meters from surface in hole BD2012-188,
  • 41 metres of 1 g/t including 6 metres of 3.53 g/t Au and 3 metres of 2.40 g/t Au at 150 meters from surface in hole BD2012-190,
  • 9 metres of 1.82 g/t Au including 7 metres of 2.23 g/t Au at 53 meters from surface in hole BD2012-193 and
  • 3 metres of 12.63 g/t Au including 1 metre of 37.60 g/t Au at 117 meters from surface in hole BD2012-194.

Bellechasse-Timmins
Proposed Drilling
Click to view		 Bellechasse-Timmins
Plan View
Click to download

 

Corporate Website / Golden Hope Hub

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Focus Metals and Hydro-Quebec’s IREQ Sign Graphite Purification Technology Agreement and Anode Production Agreement for Li-Ion Batteries

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:14 AM on Monday, May 7th, 2012

MONTRÉAL, QUEBEC and OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(May 7, 2012) – Focus Metals Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FMS)(OTCQX: FCSMF)(FRANKFURT:FKC) and Hydro-Québec’s world-leading research institute, IREQ, today announced the signing of a licensing agreement enabling Focus Metals to develop a graphite purification facility and a graphite anode production facility for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.

A new, Focus-owned facility will transform first-production graphite sourced from Focus Metals’ Lac Knife (Québec) high-grade deposit to battery-grade material.

The licensing agreement is in two parts. The first part is related to Focus Metals’ development of a graphite purification process that brings Lac Knife’s processed graphite to 99.95% carbon for use in lithium battery applications. The processing includes spherical shaping as well as thermal and chemical purification. The second part of the agreement provides for the production of anodes for Li-ion batteries.

IREQ will provide technical support and cooperate in future material and processing technology improvements.

Focus Metals’ President and CEO, Gary Economo, said the new purification and production facilities will be built in Québec and will be owned and managed by Focus Metals. The new purification facility will be designed, subject to positive economic analysis, to produce 15,000 tons of spherical battery-grade flake graphite at peak, by 2015, whereas the anode production facility will be designed to produce up to 5,000 tons of anodes. The exact cost of the facilities and the financing required have yet to be determined.

In exchange for the technology licence, technological support and future processing improvements, IREQ will receive a licensing fee that will be paid in cash over a three-year period, representing less than 10% of the current working capital, as well as a royalty fee based on a percentage of future sales.

“This agreement represents a huge and significant milestone for us as we move through pre-development to production of our Lac Knife technology graphite deposit,” said Mr. Economo. “Moreover, the marriage of Focus’s Québec-based, world-class graphite deposit to the Québec-based global leader in processing technologies-especially in battery anode production-will leave Focus Metals well-positioned to secure its place as a quality supplier to the fast-growing lithium battery manufacturing sector.”

“In particular, this agreement reinforces our goal of becoming the lowest-cost technology graphite producer in the world,” Mr. Economo added. “To have an all-Québec technology agreement with a world leader in graphite anode development and patenting bodes well for our shareholders.”

Mr. Economo went on to say that the battery-grade process will be incorporated into the Lac Knife Preliminary Economic Assessment due in June 2012.

Focus Metals is the 100% owner of the Lac Knife deposit, which contains 4.9 million tons of measured and indicated resource grading 16% Carbon as graphite (Cgr) and 3.0 million tons of inferred resource grading 16% Cgr (see NI 43-101-compliant Technical Report on the mineral resource estimate filed on SEDAR), the bulk of which is intended for use in technology applications.

IREQ is recognized globally as a leading technology source for renewable energy solutions.

“We believe that the high-grade graphite of the Lac Knife property, associated with our graphite purification and shaping technologies, will yield a quality product for Li-ion battery applications,” said Karim Zaghib, Director – Energy Storage and Conversion at IREQ.

About IREQ

Hydro-Québec’s research institute, IREQ, is a global leader in the development of advanced materials for battery manufacturing and designs cutting-edge processes in its state-of-the-art facilities. IREQ holds more than 100 patent rights and 15 licences for battery materials that are used by some of the world’s most successful battery manufacturers and materials suppliers. Its contributions are helping to develop safe, high-performance lithium-ion batteries that can be charged more quickly and a greater number of times. IREQ also acts as lead partner with private-sector companies based in Québec to build EV and HEV charging stations in support of its technology developments. It promotes open innovation and partners with private firms, universities, government agencies and research centres, both in Québec and abroad. These partnerships allow IREQ to develop, industrialize and market the technologies resulting from its innovation projects.

About Hydro-Québec

Hydro-Québec is Canada’s largest electricity producer and ranks among the world’s leading hydropower producers. It also transmits and distributes electricity. Its sole shareholder is the Québec government. It uses mainly renewable generating options, in particular hydropower, and supports the development of wind energy through purchases from independent power producers. Its research institute, IREQ, conducts R&D in energy efficiency, energy storage and other energy-related fields. Hydro-Québec invests $100 million per year in research.

About Focus Metals

Focus Metals Inc. is an emerging mid-tier junior mining company, a technology solutions supplier and a business innovator. It is the owner of the highest-grade (16%) technology graphite resource in the world. The company’s goal is to assume a dominant industry leadership position by becoming the lowest-cost producer of technology-grade graphite. As a technology-oriented enterprise with a view to building long-term, sustainable shareholder value, Focus Metals is invested in the development of graphene applications and patents through Grafoid Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

This News Release may contain or refer to “forward-looking statements” that reflect Management’s expectations regarding Focus Metals’ future growth, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities. These statements reflect Management’s current beliefs at the time of this news release and are based on information currently available to Management. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and reserves, exploration results, and future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Management’s expectations are exploration risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. While the Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause its views to change, it specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Neither 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.

Contact Information

Gary Economo, President and CEO
Focus Metals Inc.
Ottawa
613-691-1091 ext. 101
[email protected]
www.focusmetals.ca

Louis-Olivier Batty, Media Relations
Hydro-Quebec
514-289-4214
[email protected]

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Graphite proving resilient in tough markets, constrained supply expected

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 2:14 PM on Friday, May 4th, 2012
4th May 2012

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – It would seem as if there is a new darling in the minerals market, as investor interest in graphite was seen rocketing over the past year.

From a total of about four listed companies making it their business to supply hungry markets with the carbon allotrope in 2011, the number of listed firms had increased to about 30, with most listings taking place since the beginning of the year.

Analyst Jeb Handwerger said that during the year, graphite had performed strongly, outpacing the generally depressed market.

“Graphite stocks have hit new highs and have recently pulled back, while gold and silver miners have hit two-year lows. This demonstrates excellent relative strength in an overall weak natural resource equity environment,” he said.

For example, AngloGold Ashanti, Africa’s biggest gold producer, fell 4.2% to R269.50 a share in April, the weakest in more than two years, while Gold Fields, the world’s fourth-biggest gold producer, dropped 5% to R100.73 a share during the same period. On Friday, silver miner Minera Atacocha, the Lima-based zinc and silver mining company, fell by 5.4%.

He expected global demand for graphite to increase exponentially from the current production of about 1.1-million tons over the next few years, possibly reaching 1.6-million tons in five years on the back of the rapid adoption of smart phones, laptops and hybrid-electric cars – all using lithium-ion batteries.

Lomiko Metals CEO Paul Gill also recently said demand for graphite was expected to rise as electric vehicles and lithium battery technology became more widespread and commonplace. Demand for graphite would also increase as new-generation nuclear reactors were being built in China, and if fuel cells and graphene patents became products.

Canadian supplier Northern Graphite CEO Greg Bowes believes people were starting to realize that it took far more graphite than lithium to make lithium-ion batteries and that graphite was, in fact, the supply critical material.

“However, graphite comprises a far larger market than lithium and it has a number of growing uses and new uses. It is not just dependent on the growth of electric vehicles to be successful,” he said.

However, Bowes believes that the story is not as rosy as some would have it.

He told Mining Weekly Online that although prices for the commodity have increased on the back of rising industrial demand, owing to the growth of developing economies and a tight supply from the world’s largest graphite supplier China, prices for the commodity remained largely flat.

“Owing to the economic slowdown in the US, Europe and China, prices had not seen significant increases in the past months. However, it has not declined and with renewed economic growth, will likely continue on an upward trend,” he said.

There is a phenomenal amount of renewed interest in graphite mining in Canada, after the industry had seen little activity for years, with numerous companies racing to be first in line to produce the sought-after flake graphite, prized for its extreme resistance to heat and high conductivity.

CONSTRAINED SUPPLY

However, there are not many new serious development-phase projects coming on-stream soon, with the last significant graphite mine built 30 year ago.

“There are not many graphite mines outside of China. Large economic deposits are rare and right now most operating mines in North America are small. We could see the need for 30 to 40 new graphite mines over the next decade,” Handwerger said.

Northern Graphite found itself among a handful of miners developing a high-quality graphite project, scheduled for production within the next year or so. The miner planned to open its Bissett Creek project, one of the first new graphite mines to open outside China since the 1990s by the end of 2013. A bankable feasibility study for the project, including a mine closeout plan was expected by June.

Ontario Graphite was also developing a graphite mine at its Kearney deposit, located in the same region as Northern Graphite’s Bisset Creek.

Another project – the only notable new project of any size, according to graphite analyst and blogger Dr Alex Cowie – that could be in production soon was the Almenara graphite project being undertaken by Magnesita, an unlisted company in Brazil.

“This could produce 40 000 t of graphite a year, increasing global production by 10%,” he said on Agoracom’s graphite blog.

Bowes pointed out that the new entrants to the market hold earlier-stage exploration projects and it would take many years to determine if they have anything, let alone get permits in place and build the mines – processes that could take years to complete.

However, he expected graphite prices to resume its rising trend when global economic recovery is achieved, leading to renewed demand for the commodity.

Edited by: Creamer Media Reporter
Source: http://www.miningweekly.com/article/graphite-proving-resilient-in-tough-markets-constrained-supply-expected-2012-05-04

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Chris Berry, founder of research firm House Mountain Partners joins BNN to talk graphite market

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 12:57 PM on Friday, May 4th, 2012
Chris Berry, founder of research firm House Mountain Partners joins BNN to talk about the graphite market and why it has been making waves recently.

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Greg Bowes, CEO, Northern Graphite joins BNN to talk about his company and the Bisset graphite mine being developed

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 12:37 PM on Friday, May 4th, 2012
Commodities : May 4, 2012 : Northern Graphite [05-04-12 11:50 AM]
Greg Bowes, CEO, Northern Graphite joins BNN to talk about his company and the Bisset graphite mine being developed in Ontario.

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InvestmentPitch.com Produces Educational Video Discussing Supply, Demand & Uses

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:39 AM on Friday, May 4th, 2012

Vancouver, British Columbia, May 3, 2012 – InvestmentPitch.com has produced an educational video discussing the supply, demand, and many uses of graphite. If this link is not enabled, please visit www.InvestmentPitch.com and enter “graphite supply” in the search box.

Graphite, which evokes images of pencils, golf clubs and tennis rackets, is becoming the darling of the investment community. Natural graphite deposits can generally be characterized as one of three types: crystalline or flake, amorphous, and lump graphite.

Due to its amazing chemical and physical properties, graphite, distant cousin to a diamond, is finding new uses across a wide range of industries. It’s ironic that in our rush to decrease our carbon footprint, we’re turning more and more to carbon products.

For example, the lithium-ion battery is one of the fastest-growing uses of graphite, with each battery containing greater than 10 times more graphite than lithium. These batteries are already widely utilized in the consumer electronics industry in mobile phones, computers and digital cameras, as well as for power tools.

Mackie Research stated “Over the near to mid-term, we expect growth in the refractory market to accelerate to compliment a continuation of strong trends in the lithium ion battery market, where approximate growth is running at 25 – 30% per year.”

According to the United States Geological Survey, fuel cells have the potential to consume as much graphite as all other uses combined.

Graphite is also projected to be a key component in next-generation pebble bed nuclear reactors, which are fuelled by tennis-ball-sized graphite spheres with uranium embedded in them. China is now building the first two commercial units, with plans to have 30 by 2020. University of West Virginia researchers say these reactors could use the world’s entire output of flake graphite.

The dominance of China as a producer with 73% of the market, coupled with measures introduced by the Chinese government to limit exports, has created a supply concern for the rest of the world.

Both the European Union and the United States have already put graphite on their critical mineral lists.

A supply squeeze is now being felt, depicted in the new prices of flake graphite which have risen dramatically over the last year.

Byron Capital Markets expects continued pressure on pricing from customers as they look for supply outside of China. Byron expects to see annual graphite demand increase from 1.1 million tones to about 2.6 million tones by 2020. Even if the lithium-ion predictions don’t pan out, Byron still sees demand steadily rising to 1.5 million tones by 2020.

Because most of the graphite mines being developed worldwide are small flake and amorphous in nature, large flake graphite will encounter the greatest demand. And with demand for graphite growing in double digits and prices reaching $2,500 to $3,000 per ton, the future for graphite companies with actual projects is excellent.

Click here to InvestmentPitch.com’s educational video discussing the supply, demand, and many uses of graphite. If this link is not enabled, please visit www.InvestmentPitch.com and enter “graphite supply” in the search box.

InvestmentPitch.com is a multimedia company that provides a combined solution for creating and hosting financial video content, and distributing it across multiple platforms to investors and financial professionals. InvestmentPitch.com specializes in producing short three minute videos based on news releases and research reports. InvestmentPitch is currently raising $500,000 from the sale of 5 million units at $0.10, by way of an offering memorandum. For more information email [email protected].

CONTACT:
InvestmentPitch.com
Barry Morgan, CFO
604-684-5524
[email protected]

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/03/idUS279550+03-May-2012+HUG20120503

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Bolero jumps on graphite trend

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 4:04 PM on Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

VANCOUVER — Proving there is still healthy demand for new graphite plays, new entrant Bolero Resources‘ share price nearly doubled after announcing it had secured some prospective graphite claims in northern Ontario.

The claims happen to be contiguous to Northern Graphite‘s Bissett Creek claim block, a property that helped propel Northern’s share price from 90¢ in mid-January to an early April peak of $3.72. And not only are Bolero’s roughly 50 km2 of claims contiguous to the 30 km2 Bissett property, but they actually fully surround it.

On news of the announcement Bolero saw 4.3 million shares traded on the Venture as it’s share price doubled from 9¢ to 18¢, and briefly traded as high as 21¢. The company has 38.6 million shares outstanding, or 53.2 million fully diluted.

To secure the property Bolero paid $50,000 on signing the deal and has agreed to pay a further $50,000 and a million shares once the Venture approves the deal. GeoInvest Enterprises, the vendor, also receives a 2% net smelter return royalty and a production royalty equal to $25 per tonne of all graphite mined from the property.

This is by no means the first time Bolero has made the most of a trend or area play.

In December 2009 the company secured an option on 44.5-sq.-km of claims contiguous to Imperial Metals ‘Red Chris project in northern B.C., later adding roughly 13 km2 more. Bolero’s property border sits roughly 5.5 km southwest of the Red Chris East Zone discovery.

After completing preliminary work in 2010 on the property, which Bolero named Red Chris South, the company announced it would be drilling four holes totalling 1,400 metres in 2011 to follow up on two identified anomalies. After announcing the 2011 work plans in early July the company’s share price spiked from around 24¢ to a high of 58¢.

The excitement quickly wore off and the share price dropped back to pre-announcement levels by early August. It was not until early March 2012, however, that the company released results from the program. Of the four holes drilled, three hit no mineralization and a fourth returned a high of 0.0075% Cu and 0.015 g/t Au.

In March 2010 the company also jumped into the rare earth market, entering into an option agreement on 226.6 km2 of claims surrounding Spectrum Mining‘s Wicheeda rare earth discovery in British Columbia. After preliminary survey work in 2010 the company drilled 1,830 metres on the Carbonatite Syndicate property to test anomalies in 2011, but none of the seven holes hit any significant alteration or mineralization, so the company did not assay the holes.

The company plans further geochemical sampling in the region in 2012, while as of the end of 2011 the company had spent roughly $790,000 in acquisition costs and $2.2 million towards deferred development expenditures on the property.

And in September 2010 the company took a go at the Yukon gold rush, acquiring 128 quartz claims covering 26.3 km2 in the White Gold district “in close proximity to recently announced discoveries by Kaminak Gold…and by Underworld Resources.”

2010 work on the White Gold claims consisted primarily of soil sampling, with the highest values found coming in at 0.042 g/t and 0.045 g/t Au. 2011 work concentrated on infill soil sampling and returned a high of 0.121 g/t Au.

Bolero ended 2011 with roughly $857,000 in working capital. The company plans to soon start extensive work on its newly secured graphite project, as well as advance its Red Chris South and Carbonatite Syndicate properties this year.

To read more Northern Miner articles, click here

Source: http://www.canadianminingjournal.com/news/bolero-jumps-on-graphite-trend/1001127495/

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Northern Graphite plans to open Ontario mine next year

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:57 AM on Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

If the timeline holds, Northern Graphite’s (TSXV:NGC) Bissett Creek Project will be one of the first graphite mines to open outside China since the 1990s. Bankable feasibility is scheduled for completion later this month, along with a mine closure plan. Assuming the latter is approved by the Ontario government, a year of construction will bring the project to fruition by the end of next year.

“From a mining and metallurgical point of view, the project has pretty well been de-risked,” CEO Gregory Bowes declares. “This thing had a full feasibility study done on it during the 1980s, so we’re effectively doing the second one, and all the results are consistent. So it’s low risk, technically.”

The new feas will bring firmer numbers, but a 2011 PEA projected a capex of $70 million to $80 million for an open pit producing 19,000 tonnes of graphite a year at a cash cost of $1,000 a tonne and a 40-year mine life. To put those figures in perspective, world graphite production is dropping to about one million tonnes a year while flake-graphite prices range from “at least $1,500/tonne at the lower end and $2,500/tonne for higher-end products, with higher purity and larger flake size,” according to an April 17 Industrial Minerals article by graphite authority Simon Moores.

 

At first glance, Bissett Creek’s in situ grade appears underwhelming. Using a 0.99% cutoff, the September 2011 resource estimate shows 25.98 million tonnes grading 1.81% carbon for 470,300 tonnes graphite indicated, and 55.04 million tonnes grading 1.57% C for 864,100 tonnes graphite inferred.

Bowes maintains, however, that the grade is more than compensated by “the high percentage of large flakes, the high purity, very low strip ratio, good infrastructure and the fact that our project is very scalable. We can increase production three to four times based on the resource we have now.”

He adds, “I think we’re the only graphite company that’s really completed the full suite of metallurgical testing, bulk sampling, pilot plant, all of that stuff and published the results. And I think they confirm that we have the best flake-size distribution in the industry and the highest carbon content of our graphite concentrate, so we will be producing the highest-price, premium-value product.”

Metallurgical tests released April 23 show average flake-size distribution and purity from eight locations on the deposit, including

  • 19.1% of concentrate produced +32-mesh flakes, 98.1% carbon
  • 33% of concentrate +50 mesh, 97% C
  • 23.3% of concentrate +80 mesh, 95.1% C
  • 5.2% of concentrate +100 mesh, 94% C
  • 10.5% of concentrate +200 mesh, 92.7% C

Coarse-flake sizes of +80, +50 and +32 mesh and carbon levels of 94% or better qualify for premium prices, the company states.

As feasibility progresses, the company has been working on a value-added component. Northern announced April 2 the successful manufacture of test quantities of spherical graphite, a product crucial to the battery technology that’s expected to power the future for digital devices and, especially, electric vehicles. “All lithium-ion batteries use spherical graphite, but only some graphite concentrate can be made into spherical graphite,” Bowes explains. Northern’s success led to a strategic cooperation agreement with Panacis Inc, a supplier of li-ion batteries to military, telecom, medical and renewable energy sectors.

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In February, Northern struck a cooperation agreement with Grafen Chemical Industries for graphene research. By supplying Grafen with +48-mesh and +32-mesh jumbo flake, Northern gets a 50% interest in North American patent rights to any products or processes developed by Grafen. As a graphite derivative, graphene is an R&D wonder that’s rollable, foldable, especially conductive and nearly transparent, despite being 200 times stronger than steel.

Bissett’s southeast Ontario location offers admirable infrastructure. “We are 15 kilometres from the Trans-Canada Highway, between Ottawa and North Bay, so we’re also 15 kilometres from the powerline and the natural gas pipeline,” Bowes reports. “We’re about 50 kilometres from nearby towns, so we don’t have to build a camp. We’re five hours by truck from the Port of Montreal. From there we can ship anywhere in the world. You can drive a transport truck from Toronto to the site in five hours.”

The project remains Northern’s sole interest. “Bissett Creek has enough resources that we can expand production three to four times in the future, if the demand is there. So why fiddle around with something else?”

A geologist, Bowes was Senior VP at Orezone Gold Corp (TSX:ORE), VP Corporate Development and later CFO for its predecessor, Orezone Resources, and President/CEO of San Anton Resource Corp. He’s also a director of Industrial Minerals Inc, the company that spawned Northern in the earliest days of the graphite exploration rush.

Among his colleagues is Northern President Don Baxter, who joined the company after five years as President of Ontario Graphite, which plans to reopen the Kearney Graphite Mine. Baxter worked there as Mine Superintendent and Chief Mine Engineer from 1990 to 1995. His background also includes stints with Inco and Noranda.

Technical Adviser George Hawley is a 40-year specialist in research, product development and market analysis for the industrial minerals sector.

Bowes will present a talk at OnPage Media’s May 2 Graphite Express-Conference in Toronto. “We are the leading graphite public story out there by a wide margin,” he says. “This is a supply-demand price story. The mine is very economic at current prices, and we believe the situation in China is going to get worse. So we think the outlook for prices is very positive.”

At press time, Northern Graphite had 46.4 million shares trading at $2.36 for a market cap of $109.5 million.

Disclaimer: Northern Graphite Corp is a client of OnPage Media, and the principals of OnPage Media may hold shares in Northern Graphite.

Read more articles like this at resourceclips.com.

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Source: http://business.financialpost.com/2012/05/02/northern-graphite-plans-to-open-ontario-mine-next-year/

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Pacific North West Capital Announces 2.5 million ounces PGM+Gold Measured and Indicated Resources for its 100% Owned River Valley Project

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

                              

                                                                    PFN: TSX

 

Pacific North West Capital Announces 2.5 million ounces PGM+Gold Measured and Indicated Resources for its 100% Owned River Valley Project, Sudbury, Ontario

Pacific North West Capital Corp. (TSX: PFN; OTCQX: PAWEF; Frankfurt: P7J) announced that the estimated NI43-101 compliant Measured and Indicated mineral resources at a cut-off grade of 0.80 g/t PdEq have increased by >400% from the previous NI43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate (May 2006) to 91,339,500 tonnes grading 0.84 g/t Pd+Pt+Au, 0.06% copper, and 0.02% nickel. The compliant Inferred mineral resources have increased by >1000% to 35,911,000 Mt grading 0.53 g/t Pd+Pt+Au, 0.06% copper, and 0.03% nickel. The River Valley PGM Project is located 100 km from the world-renown Sudbury Ni-Cu-PGM Mining Camp, has excellent infrastructure support, and is 100% owned by PFN.

Highlights:

  • River Valley Measured + Indicated resources: 91 million tonnes @ 0.58 g/t* palladium, 0.22 g/t platinum, 0.04 g/t gold at a cut-off grade of 0.8 g/t PdEq** for 2,463,000 ounces PGM*** plus gold
  • River Valley Inferred resources: 36 million tonnes @ 0.36 g/t palladium, 0.14 g/t platinum, 0.03 g/t gold at a cut-off grade of 0.8 g/t PdEq for 614,000 ounces PGM plus gold
  • On a PdEq basis, the Measured + Indicated resources contain 3,944,000 ounces PdEq and the Inferred resources contain 1,201,000 ounces PdEq
  • River Valley PGM-copper-nickel sulphide mineralized zones remain open to expansion with continued exploration

Dr. William Stone, President & COO, comments, “The large increase in the estimated mineral resources confirms that River Valley is one of the largest undeveloped primary PGM Projects in North America. The strategy of including all the mineralized zones and the full value of the metal suite in the mineral resource estimation produced a very positive result. It greatly increases PFN’s confidence in River Valley as the project is advanced toward a Preliminary Economic Assessment Study. The Company plans to further expand the PGM resources and to discover new resources with more drilling at the River Valley Project and its adjacent properties.”

About Pacific North West Capital Corp

PFN is a mineral exploration company whose philosophy is to be a project generator, explorer and project operator in order to option/joint venture its projects through to production. PFN is focused on the discovery, exploration and development of PGM and nickel-copper sulphide deposits in geologically prospective regions in North America, particularly Canada. The Company’s key asset is its 100% owned River Valley PGM Project in the Sudbury region of northern Ontario. PFN also has PGM and nickel-copper projects and properties in northwest Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alaska, and an option to joint venture a base metal project in northwestern BC’s Golden Triangle region. The Company continues to evaluate PGM and nickel-copper properties and projects in North America for potential acquisition opportunities.

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Posted in Pacific North West Capital, PGM Metals, Platinum | Comments Off on Pacific North West Capital Announces 2.5 million ounces PGM+Gold Measured and Indicated Resources for its 100% Owned River Valley Project

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