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http://www.theaureport.com/pub/na/14623 ... TCMR: Who is the other Nova Scotia company you wanted to mention? MN: Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (UCU:TSX.V; UURAF:OTCQX) has a HREE project in southeast Alaska. The Bokan Mountain project is located near Ketchikan, Alaska. The company is rapidly advancing the project and has recently completed several "firsts," which investors may not have taken into account. It recently announced successful separation of HREEs including dysprosium, neodymium and erbium, producing a purified salable product. In addition, this process nearly removes all of the undesirable elements including iron, uranium and thorium, which may be returned to the mine in paste backfill together with all of the mine tailings. This means Ucore's Bokan operation will have minimal daylight expression at surface and a very small environmental footprint. TCMR: The paste backfill must have pretty good appeal for government regulators. MN: That is certainly correct, but Ucore has impressed several layers of government in Alaska, and the U.S. The U.S. Department of Defense has recognized the importance of the project in securing a sustainable North American resource of HREEs. It has also received support from its congressional representative to advance road access and other infrastructure developments in national lands. The state of Alaska also sees the potential for drawing value-added businesses to Alaska, like permanent magnet manufacturers. Support includes ongoing financial support for metallurgical study at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and support for developing cheaper hydropower alternatives near the mine. The company is currently reviewing the latest solid-phase extraction that removes deleterious elements, purifying the concentrate on a molecular level. TCMR: How does Ucore's resource at Bokan Mountain stand up? MN: Bokan Mountain has an Inferred resource of about 5.3 Mt of 0.65% TREO, of which 40% is enriched by HREEs. This is a modest initial resource estimate. The project is open to expansion, and it has excellent potential for value enhancement with the new solid-phase extraction process. The positive results of the study have led the company to delay completion of the PEA, but it has good potential for accelerating in improving the confidence in the bankable feasibility study. Upon completion of the PEA, Ucore will also be able to actively pursue off-take partners. From our vantage point, we see its partnership with the Department of Defense as providing substantial long-term support, mitigating political risk. TCMR: When will interest increase in REE companies like Namibia Rare Earths and Ucore? MN: I think the market is always looking for a bottom and is ready to start accumulating companies that look like winners. Ucore's recent price movement supports this idea. The market is looking for companies with the ability to jump the metallurgical hurdle. This is why Namibia Rare Earths, while less advanced than Ucore, still presents a deep-value exploration opportunity. TCMR:Thank you, Mike. MN: My pleasure. ... |
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| aus der Diskussion: | >>> Ucore hebt ab <<< |
| Autor (Datum des Eintrages): | Langstrumpf2 (24.10.12 07:53:43) |
| Beitrag: | 1,033 von 2,726 (ID:43744764) |
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