Adex Mining Inc. ("Adex" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: ADE) is
pleased to provide a progress report on metallurgical test programs
that were carried out by the Company in relation to its Mount
Pleasant Mine Property ("Mount Pleasant" or the "Property"). The
results of the metallurgical test programs provide the Company with
valuable information required to develop an optimal commercial
extraction and recovery process for the principal metals hosted at
Mount Pleasant, being tungsten, molybdenum, tin and indium. This
information will also help guide the Company in developing
production options for the Property.
GRAVITY-FLOTATION SEPARATION TEST PROGRAM
SGS Lakefield Research Europe Ltd. of Cornwall, United Kingdom
("SGS Europe") has completed initial bench scale testing of a
multi-stage grinding and gravity-flotation separation process (the
"Gravity Process"). The Gravity Process is being considered by the
Company as an innovative approach to improving the grade and
recovery (by pre-concentration) of the metals hosted at Mount
Pleasant's two mineralized zones - being the tungsten-molybdenum
bearing Fire Tower Zone (the "FTZ") and the tin-indium-zinc bearing
North Zone (the "NZ").
The Gravity process was designed by Thibault & Associates
Inc. of Fredericton, New Brunswick and was tested using bench scale
techniques by SGS Europe to quantify its metallurgical performance
for the production of tungsten concentrate from the FTZ deposit.
The Company is evaluating the use of tungsten concentrate from the
Gravity Process and a hydrometallurgical Process for possible
production of ammonium paratungstate ("APT"). APT is considered the
primary intermediate for the production of tungsten carbide which
is used primarily for hard steel applications.
The Gravity Process was bench scale tested for conceptual design
of the concentrator. The results of the bench scale test were also
used to model the performance of the proposed flowsheet. Bench
scale batch test results combined with computer modeling of a fully
integrated flowsheet for continuous concentrate production has
indicated that a recovery of 83.3% for tungsten with a concentrate
grade of 25.6% tungsten tri-oxide (WO3) may be achieved. A
continuous pilot test of the proposed Gravity Process will be
required to verify the overall grade and recovery of processing the
ore from the FTZ.
The Gravity Process tested on ore samples from the FTZ was also
used to assess tin concentrate production from the NZ deposit. The
results of the Gravity Process test program indicate that
modifications to the flowsheet developed for tungsten production
will be required for the production of tin concentrate.
TUNGSTEN GRAVITY CONCENTRATE LEACHING TEST PROGRAM
Development of the Gravity Process: a representative sample of
ore from the FTZ zone was processed by the Minerals Engineering
Centre of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia to produce a
low grade tungsten concentrate.
Research and Productivity Council ("RPC") of Fredericton, New
Brunswick then completed a bench scale test program to improve on
the quality of the gravity concentrate for APT production. Bench
scale flotation tests on the low grade gravity concentrate achieved
up to 70% reduction of the arsenic bearing minerals prior to
tungsten leaching, thereby improving feedstock for APT
production.
The tungsten leach is the initial step of the APT
hydrometallurgical process developed by Thibault & Associates
Inc. and the test program was conducted by RPC to assess the
technical viability of the proposed leaching process. Two stage
atmospheric bake-leach and single stage autoclave leach tests were
carried out on the arsenic (arsenopyrite, loellingite) flotation
tails (tungsten concentrate) to assess processing alternatives for
the extraction of tungsten from low grade concentrates. The results
of the leach test program indicate a selective process for optimum
tungsten extraction (using an autoclave leach) in the range of 95%
to 99% may be achieved based on bench scale batch testing.
The arsenic flotation and tungsten leach tests will assist the
Company in the design of a hydrometallurgical process for the
production of APT from a gravity concentrate. Continuous piloting
of the leach and solution purification unit operations will be
required to confirm the purity of the APT.
MINERALOGY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
SGS Lakefield Research Limited of Lakefield, Ontario ("SGS
Lakefield") has completed a detailed mineralogy assessment (the
"Mineralogy Assessment") of ore from both the FTZ and NZ. The
initial results of the Mineralogy Assessment, which were first
reported in the Company's press release dated December 23, 2008,
provide information on grain size for various minerals, liberation
or grind requirement and theoretical grade-recovery relationships
for the beneficiation of various metals. The results of the
Mineralogy Assessment also suggest that sphalerite is the
predominant host of indium at Mount Pleasant.
The foregoing series of metallurgical programs that have been
completed by the Company at its contract laboratory facilities,
being SGS Lakefield, SGS Europe, Dalhousie University and RPC, were
necessary in order for the Company to move forward in developing
various production options for the Property. In addition, the
information obtained from the metallurgical programs will assist
the Company in designing and developing a future pilot plant
program which may lead to commercial-level production of tungsten,
molybdenum, tin and indium at Mount Pleasant.
SGS Lakefield and SGS Europe are leading mineralogy research and
metallurgical testing firms. RPC is an independent R&D firm
situated in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Thibault & Associates
Inc. - Applied Process Chemical Engineering of Fredericton, New
Brunswick serves as an independent consulting firm to the Company
with respect to Mount Pleasant metallurgical and environmental
process development, design and planning.
QUALIFIED PERSON:
Mr. J. Dean Thibault, M.Sc., P. Eng., is the Senior Process
Chemical Engineer of Thibault & Associates Inc., and is an
independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument
43-101. Mr. Thibault has managed the metallurgical test programs
and supervised the preparation of the technical information
contained in this press release in compliance with National
Instrument 43-101.
ABOUT ADEX:
Adex Mining Inc. is a Canadian junior mining company with an
experienced management team. The Company is focused on developing
its flagship Mount Pleasant Mine Property, a multi-metal project
that is host to promising tungsten-molybdenum and
tin-indium-zinc-copper mineralization. Located in Charlotte County,
New Brunswick, Mount Pleasant is situated approximately 80
kilometres south of Fredericton, the provincial capital, and is 65
kilometres from the United States border. The common shares of Adex
trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the stock symbol "ADE".
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this press release may constitute
"forward-looking" statements which involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results,
performance or achievements of Adex, its subsidiary or the industry
in which they operate to be materially different from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the
words "estimate", "believe", "anticipate", "intend", "expect",
"plan", "may", "should", "will", the negative thereof or other
variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the
current expectations of the management of Adex with respect to
future events based on currently available information and are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results,
performance or achievements to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements. These
risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time, including,
without limitation, under the heading "Risk Factors", in reports
filed by Adex with the Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario
Securities Commissions which are available at www.sedar.com and to
which readers of this press release are referred for additional
information concerning Adex, its prospects and the risks and
uncertainties relating to Adex and its prospects. New risk factors
may arise from time to time and it is not possible for management
to predict all of those risk factors or the extent to which any
factor or combination of factors may cause actual results,
performance and achievements of Adex to be materially different
from those contained in forward-looking statements. Although the
forward-looking statements contained in this press release are
based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions,
Adex cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent
with these forward-looking statements. Given these risks and
uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results.
The forward-looking information contained in this press release
is current only as of the date of the press release. Adex does not
undertake or assume any obligation to release publicly any
revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events, except as required by law.
No securities commission or regulatory authority has approved or
disapproved the contents of this press release.
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.
Contacts: Adex Mining Inc. J. Errol Farr, CMA President, Chief
Executive Officer and Director 1-866-508-2339 (ADEX)
investorrelations@adexmining.com www.adexmining.com
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