MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Nov. 17, 2011) - Matamec Explorations Inc. ("Matamec" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:MAT) has retained SGS Minerals Service in Lakefield, Ontario to operate the mineral processing and hydrometallurgical pilot plants for their flagship Kipawa project. The pilot plants are scheduled to be completed by mid-2012.
Bench scale metallurgical testwork for the treatment of Kipawa's unique Eudialyte ore has been ongoing at SGS Mineral Services since early 2010. A successful treatment process has been developed which includes two steps: 1) physical concentration by magnetic separation and 2) a proprietary direct room-temperature leach for recovering the Rare Earth Elements (REE).
The two pilot plants include: a mineral processing pilot plant that treats 15 tonnes of ore, and a 10-day hydrometallurgical pilot plant that operates at 10 kg/h. The size and duration of the pilot plants were established in collaboration with SGS. A deposit payment has been made and the pilot plants are scheduled to be completed by mid-2012. In addition, an extensive bench optimisation testwork program is in place so that the process flowsheet can be optimized before commencing the pilot plants.
"We have reached yet another important milestone on the Kipawa project," says André Gauthier, the president of Matamec. "With the positive metallurgical results we have achieved to date, these pilot plants will help validate our entire treatment flowsheet for producing a valuable mixed RE product. At this point we are completely confident in being able to fast track our project to production."
Aline Leclerc, V-P Exploration (Geo.) and Eliza Ngai (P.Eng) are Matamec's Qualified Persons for this press release.
About Matamec
Matamec Explorations Inc is a junior mining exploration company whose main focus is in developing the heavy rare earths Kipawa deposit and exploring more than 35 km of strike length in the Kipawa Alkalic Complex for rare earths-yttrium-zirconium-niobium-tantalum mineralization on its Zeus property.
The company is also exploring for gold, base metals and platinum group metals. Its gold portfolio includes the Matheson JV property located along strike and in close proximity to the Hoyle Pond Mine in the prolific mining camp of Timmins, Ontario.
In Quebec, the Company is exploring for lithium and tantalum on its Tansim property and for precious and base metals on its Sakami, Valmont and Vulcain properties. As well, it is exploring for gold together with Northern Superior Resources Inc. on the Lesperance/Wachigabau property.
