Western Potash Corp. to Commence Drilling on the Russell-Miniota Potash Permits
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Jul 17, 2008 (Marketwire via COMTEX News Network) --
Western Potash Corp. (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:WPX)(FRANKFURT:AHE) is pleased to announce that it has received its initial potash well licenses from Manitoba Science, Technology, Energy and Mines (STEM) and has mobilized a drill rig supplied by Ensign Drilling Partnership to the Company's Russell-Miniota Exploration Permits in Manitoba. These permits comprise 555 square kilometers, are adjacent to BHP Billiton's Potash Lease and Agrium's Exploration permits along the Manitoba border, and lie within 13km of Saskatchewan Potash Corp.'s Rocanville potash mine.
Drilling to further define the extent, grade and type of potash mineralization present on the property will commence immediately. The Company plans to complete an initial five potash exploration wells with an option to extend the program by an additional 10 wells, as results warrant. All holes will be drilled vertically targeting the Prairie Evaporite formation, which will be conventionally cored using inverted drilling fluids so as to not dissolve the salt and potash sequences. Samples will be collected from the potash sequence for observation and analysis, and each hole will be logged using industry standard down-hole geophysical logging techniques. The potential for the property to host potash deposits has been indicated by seismic data purchased by Western Potash, and historic drilling which intersected potash with grades up to 20% K2O over 3.7m (gamma ray logs).
The Company is also obtaining permits and licenses to complete a $1.2 Million, 175 line km 2-D seismic survey on the property to assist in its interpretation of the salt and potash sequence in the area. Prospective salt beds indicated by these seismic surveys will be further tested with additional drilling as part of the ongoing exploration programs. A $5 Million exploration program has been approved by Western's board for this initial drilling and seismic program with a provision to expand the budget by an additional $5 Million once positive results are received.
Western Potash Corp. is a mineral exploration company engaged in the evaluation, exploration and development of potash mineral properties in Western Canada. The Company intends to define and develop a world-class potash deposit in an ecologically sustainable, economically efficient and socially responsible manner.
The in-house qualified persons for the purposes of NI 43-101 guidelines are J. Patricio Varas, P. Geo and Dean Pekeski, P. Geo, both of whom have reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.
For more information on Western Potash Corp.'s projects, please visit the Company's website at: www.westernpotash.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
J. Patricio Varas, President and CEO
This news release contains Forward Looking Statements regarding our intentions and plans. Various factors may prevent or delay our plans, including but not limited to, contractor availability and performance, weather, access, mineral prices and success and failure of the exploration and development carried out at various stages of the program. Readers should review risk factors applicable to junior mining exploration companies generally to understand the variety of risks that can affect the Company.
SOURCE: Western Potash Corp.
Western Potash Corp. J. Patricio Varas President and CEO (604) 689-9378 (604) 689-8199 (FAX) Website: www.westernpotash.com
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