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MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Sept. 29, 2011) - Geomega Resources Inc. (GeoMegA) (TSX VENTURE:GMA) is pleased to announce the initial National Instrument 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate of the Core Zone at its 100% owned Montviel's carbonatite rare earth elements (REE) property in Abitibi, Quebec. The resource estimate was prepared by Claude Duplessis, P. Eng., and Guy Desharnais, Ph.D., P.Geo., independent Qualified Persons of SGS Canada Inc. - Geostat ("SGS Geostat") of Blainville, Quebec.
Montviel's "Core Zone" base case resource estimate, using a Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO) cut-off grade of 1.00%, hosts an Indicated mineral resource of 183,900,000 tonnes grading 1.45% TREO in addition to an Inferred mineral resource 66,700,000 tonnes grading 1.46% TREO. Highlights include at the base case 1.00% TREO cut-off grade:
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Resource Nd2O3 (Kg Pr2O3 (Kg Dy2O3 (Kg
Category Tonnes in-situ) in-situ) in-situ)
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Indicated 183,900,000 446,000,000 139,000,000 4,190,000
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Inferred 66,700,000 160,000,000 50,000,000 1,650,000
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Resource Eu2O3 (Kg Y2O3 (Kg Nb2O5 (Kg
Category Tonnes in-situ) in-situ) in-situ)
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Indicated 183,900,000 9,000,000 13,000,000 231,000,000
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Inferred 66,700,000 3,000,000 5,000,000 94,000,000
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Values displayed in this table are "in-situ" and intended for illustrative purposes only. No mining scenario, milling or metallurgical recovery has been estimated or applied to these values, and therefore they do not have demonstrated economic viability.
The mineralization remains open to the west, south and at depth. The grade increases to the west with DDH MVL-11-18 returning 2.15% TREO over 250.65 meters (m) from 133.55 m between sections 5+00 west and 7+00 west. Phase 2 drilling is currently focusing on the definition of high grade near surface resource with step out and infill holes west of section 5+00 west.
"A round of applause for GeoMegA's technical team who within its first year since the IPO, masterfully identified one the of largest Indicated mineral resource of TREO outside China at our 100% owned Montviel property. A spectacular achievement performed by a high calibre team. This world class Neodymium resource is in Quebec (Plan Nord eligible), near surface (open pit potential), road accessible and close to electricity and available labour (60 min drive from Lebel-sur-Quevillon). The mineral study revealed known Rare Earth Elements (REE) carrying minerals (see press release dated August 24, 2011 and September 7, 2011) which are amenable to concentration and separation by recognized metallurgical processes. Montviel has the potential to play a significant near term role in the clean energy of the 21st century." said Mr. Simon Britt, CEO of GeoMegA.
"Metallurgical tests are expected to be completed in Q1 2012 during which a Preliminary Economic Assessment will be initiated. Our goal is to define Montviel as economic based on its Neodymium content alone." adds Mr. Britt.
The following table presents the Indicated and Inferred mineral resource estimate for the Core Zone at a range of cut-off grades with the Base-Case in bold face.
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Average
Cut-off Bulk
Grade TREO Resource Density TREO LREO IREO
(%) Category Tonnes (t/m3) (%) (%) (%)
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0.85 Indicated 196,200,000 2.91 1.420 1.372 0.037
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1.00 Indicated 183,900,000 2.92 1.453 1.404 0.037
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1.25 Indicated 136,000,000 2.92 1.562 1.511 0.039
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1.50 Indicated 69,200,000 2.92 1.744 1.688 0.043
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Average
Cut-off Bulk
Grade TREO Resource Density HREO Y2O3 Nb2O5
(%) Category Tonnes (t/m3) (%) (%) (%)
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0.85 Indicated 196,200,000 2.91 0.004 0.007 0.123
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1.00 Indicated 183,900,000 2.92 0.004 0.007 0.126
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1.25 Indicated 136,000,000 2.92 0.004 0.007 0.135
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1.50 Indicated 69,200,000 2.92 0.005 0.008 0.158
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Average
Cut-off Bulk
Grade TREO Resource Density TREO LREO IREO
(%) Category Tonnes (t/m3) (%) (%) (%)
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0.85 Inferred 72,600,000 2.89 1.417 1.366 0.038
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1.00 Inferred 66,700,000 2.89 1.460 1.408 0.039
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1.25 Inferred 48,100,000 2.88 1.587 1.533 0.041
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1.50 Inferred 26,800,000 2.87 1.755 1.696 0.045
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Average
Cut-off Bulk
Grade TREO Resource Density HREO Y2O3 Nb2O5
(%) Category Tonnes (t/m3) (%) (%) (%)
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0.85 Inferred 72,600,000 2.89 0.005 0.007 0.136
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1.00 Inferred 66,700,000 2.89 0.005 0.007 0.140
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1.25 Inferred 48,100,000 2.88 0.005 0.007 0.153
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1.50 Inferred 26,800,000 2.87 0.005 0.008 0.177
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Notes:
-- Effective date September 26, 2011.
-- Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated
economic viability.
-- Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO) include: La2O3, Ce2O3, Pr2O3, Nd2O3,
Sm2O3, Eu2O3, Gd2O3, Tb2O3, Dy2O3, Ho2O3, Er2O3, Tm2O3, Yb2O3, Lu2O3,
Y2O3.
-- Light Rare Earth Oxides (LREO) include: La2O3, Ce2O3, Pr2O3 and Nd2O3.
-- Intermediate Rare Earth Oxides (IREO) include: Sm2O3, Eu2O3 and Gd2O3.
-- Heavy Rare Earth Oxides (HREO) include: Tb2O3, Dy2O3, Ho2O3, Er2O3,
Tm2O3, Yb2O3 and Lu2O3.
Using the 1.00% TREO base case cut-off grade average grades by oxydes are:
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LREO
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Resource Nd2O3
Category Tonnes La2O3(%) Ce2O3(%) (%) Pr2O3(%)
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Indicated 183,900,000 0.3696 0.7163 0.2425 0.0755
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Inferred 66,700,000 0.3785 0.7142 0.2404 0.0751
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IREO HREO
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Resource Gd2O3 Eu2O3 Dy2O3 Nb2O5
Category Tonnes Sm2O3(%) (%) (%) (%) Y2O3(%) (%)
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Indicated 183,900,000 0.0246 0.0082 0.0082 0.0023 0.0072 0.1257
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Inferred 66,700,000 0.0255 0.0086 0.0086 0.0025 0.0078 0.1403
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Neodymium market
Global demand for REE is expected to be around 180,000 metric tons (mt) by 2015, with sales expected to reach US$9.2 billion. Permanent magnets represent the largest rare earths market in both value and volume. The heat-resistant Neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, also known as "neo-magnets", are projected to account for the majority of sales (Source: The Freedonia Group, Inc. July 2011). Neo-magnets are found in computer hard drives and offer significant weight and performance advantages in hybrid/electric vehicles (HEV) permanent magnet motors (PMM) and gearless wind turbines permanent magnet generators (PMG). HEV from Toyota-Prius, Nissan-Leaf, Ford-Focus electric, Honda-Insight all use PMM. PMG are used in next-generation "gearless" wind turbines where each megawatt (MW) of generating capacity requires an estimated 150-200 kg of Neodymium (Source: Technology Metals Research, LLC. August 2011). These two emerging clean energy mass markets have astonishing growth numbers: from 159,213 MW of wind power (equalling 2% of global electricity consumption) in 2009 to a possible global capacity of 1,500,000 MW by 2020 WWEA and from 480,000 total HEV (equalling less than 1% of global sales) in 2008 to an expected 11.28 million HEV by 2020 (Source: JPMorgan). Global demand of neodymium oxide is forecasted to reach 35,000 to 40,000 mt by 2015, with a global supply projected at 30,000 to 35,000 mt IMCOA April 2011). Current price of Neodymium oxide is US$290/kg (Source: Asian Metals, September 28, 2011).
Montviel's carbonatite Core Zone Mineral Resource Estimate Details
The mineral resources were estimated using analytical results from 19 diamond drill holes totalling 8,856 metres completed by GeoMegA at the Montviel Carbonatite in 2010 and 2011. The mineral resource estimate has been completed using three-dimensional wireframe modelling of geological contacts followed by block model interpolation methodology. The wireframe covers approximately 625 metres in the east-west direction, 725 metres in the north-south direction and reaches a maximal depth of 625 metres below surface
The block model was defined by blocks measuring 10 metres long by 10 metres wide by 10 metres thick. The interpolation process was conducted by ordinary kriging using assay composites of two metres in length. Three separate variographic analyses and kriging parameters were used for the interpolation (REEs, Nb, and P2O5). The mineral resources were estimated using SectCad software. No capping was applied to the assays. Results are presented undiluted and in situ. The bulk density was interpolated (inverse distance squared) from 308 evenly distributed specific gravity measurements taken from wrapped core samples.
SGS Geostat established the cut-off grade using a conceptual economic model based on an estimated operating cost of 120$/tonne, a mining cost of 5$/tonnes and a three year average price for the REEs (August 2008 to August 2011). The REE prices were compiled from other mining studies as well as www.asianmetal.com. A Whittle optimized mining scenario (assuming 45 degrees pit slope, 75% TREO recovery, and 60% Nb recovery) was run to test the limits of "reasonable prospect of economic extraction" by open pit. Only 12 of 98,054 blocks fell outside of the "Base Case" pit shell; of which only one was above the 1% TREO cut-off grade.
NI 43-101 Disclosure
Claude Britt, P. Geo., and Jacquelin Gauthier, P. Eng., are the qualified persons who supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.
Claude Duplessis, P. Eng., and Guy Desharnais, Ph. D, P. Geo., from SGS Geostat, independent qualified persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101, are responsible for the mineral resource estimate for the Montviel's carbonatite Core Zone and have verified the data disclosed in this release.
The Technical Report, compliant with National Instrument 43-101 standards, describing the mineral resource estimation and providing details of the Phase 1 drill program and sampling will be filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) within 45 days.
About Rare Earth elements
Rare earth elements are key components of the clean energy technologies and other high-technology applications. Major applications include hybrid/electric automobiles, advanced wind turbines, computer hard drives, compact fluorescent lights and numerous metal alloys.
About GeoMegA
GeoMegA, which owns 100% of the Montviel property, is a Quebec mining exploration company focusing on finding economically viable deposits of elements needed by Clean Technologies. GeoMegA 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.
GeoMegA currently has 21,735,399 common shares outstanding and is well funded.
Forward-Looking Statements. This Company news release contains certain "forward-looking" statements and information relating to the Company that are based on the beliefs of the Company's management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company's management. Such statements reflect the current risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitations, competitive factors, general economic conditions, customer relations, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, the interest rate environment, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, changes in industry practices, and one-time events. Should any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein.
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