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TSX-V: AGM
Frankfurt: AIW
TORONTO, May 25, 2011 /CNW/ - Aldridge Minerals Inc. (TSX Venture: AGM) ("Aldridge" or the "Company") announced today that it has received new
results from its Yenipazar metallurgical sample, currently being tested
for base and precious metal extraction at G&T Metallurgical Services
Ltd. ("G&T") of Kamloops, B.C. G&T recently prepared a gold gravity
concentrate on Yenipazar crushed ore that recovered 63% of the
contained gold, significantly more than the 36.8% gold recovery from
flotation-only used in the Company's Preliminary Economic Assessment
("PEA") dated February 3rd, 2011 prepared in accordance with National
Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI
43-101") filed on SEDAR.
The sample has been optimized by fine-crushing and gravity
pre-concentration of sulphides at Mintek in Johannesburg, South Africa.
A mass of 90 kg of this pre-concentrated sample was shipped to G&T and
is being processed by flotation for base metals and by gravity methods
for precious metals. Flotation testwork is also continuing at Hacettepe
University in Ankara under the direction of the Company's chief
metallurgical consultant.
The PEA filed early February 2011, considered data obtained up to the
fall of 2010. This PEA indicated an overall gold recovery from
floatation-only of 36.8% based on the amount of gold that had been
recovered to the copper concentrate in earlier flotation test work.
Therefore, the test work this year has been mainly focused on improving
gold recovery. It has now been recognized by microprobe analysis
conducted at Hacettepe University that approximately 90% of the gold in
the 90 kg sample is contained in the form of particles occurring mainly
in the range of 10-40 microns and that most of this gold that was not
recovered exists as discrete tailings products of the copper flotation
circuit, at concentrations of up to 150 g/t Au.
Two distinct methods to recover the previously unrecovered gold have
been examined by G&T thus far. The first method involves extracting
these gold particles with a gravity circuit before any flotation on a
mill discharge product of P80 -75 microns. Most of the gold particles
have been found to be liberated in this material, and a first test with
a Knelson separator yielded a gold gravity-concentrate which recovered
63% of the gold in the Knelson feed at a concentrate grade of 31.6 g/t
Au and a mass pull of 5.2%. Further upgrading of this gold
gravity-concentrate improved the grade to 115 g/t Au at a recovery of
42.6% and a mass pull of 0.94%. G&T will continue test work to improve
upon this positive result. Next steps will include leachability tests
to determine how much of this gold can be recovered.
Secondly, leach testwork is scheduled to recover gold that has escaped
from the gravity-circuit and is collected in discrete tailings products
of the copper flotation circuit. Any free gold recovered from the
flotation circuit will add to the gravity gold recovery. Hence,
pursuant to these tests performed by G&T, the major part of the gold
appears to be recoverable via gravity and flotation, followed by
leaching. It is expected that some gold will still report to the
copper concentrate, but in further test work the target will be to
maximize leachable gold recovery and to minimize gold reporting to the
copper concentrate to avoid typical revenue losses on smelter payables.
Dr. Martin Oczlon, CEO and Exploration Manager of Aldridge commented
"These results indicate that the potential for gold recovery from
Yenipazar VMS-ore has probably been grossly underestimated previously.
We are pleased to see that already the first gravity test has extracted
63% of gold contained in the feed, and that there is potential for
further gold recovery during the flotation process. Further testwork,
in particular leaching of the gold concentrates, will provide concrete
recovery numbers, and we are confident that we will see substantial
improvements of gold recoveries versus the numbers reported previously
in the PEA".
Drilling Restarted at Yenipazar
Apart from the ongoing metallurgical test work, Aldridge has mobilized a
diamond drill rig to Yenipazar to drill about 30 large diameter (PQ)
holes. This program will provide data throughout the orebody regarding
variability parameters for the mineralogical composition of the ore,
its metal ratios, hardness, and floatation characteristics,
gravitational pre-enrichment and other criteria. This data set will
ultimately form the basis for a feasibility study ("FS"). The Company
is currently in very advanced discussions to grant contracts for both
the variability program and the FS in the very near future.
Martin S. Oczlon, PhD Geo, a director of Aldridge and Qualified Person
as defined in NI 43-101, has supervised and interpreted the analytical
test work and reviewed and verified the technical content of this press
release.
About Aldridge Minerals Inc.
Aldridge Minerals Inc. is mainly focused on mineral opportunities in
Turkey where the Company is conducting an ambitious exploration and
development program at its flagship Yenipazar polymetallic VMS project.
Aldridge has also identified several other prospective opportunities in
Turkey as well as Papua New Guinea, where the Company has amassed a
large property position with a systematic exploration program currently
being conducted.
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.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements involve
risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results,
performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from
those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements in this news release, include, but are not limited to,
economic performance and future plans and objectives of the Company.
Any number of important factors could cause actual results to differ
materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future
results. Although Aldridge believes that the assumptions and factors
used in making the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue
reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as
of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that
such events will occur in the disclosed timeframes or at all. Aldridge
disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.