VANCOUVER, British Columbia,
July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
i-minerals inc. (TSX.V: IMA , US OTC: IMAHF) announces it
has received initial results from Dorfner Anzaplan ("Dorfner"), a
specialty quartz testing laboratory in Germany. Dorfner's initial work included a
detailed analysis of the quartz product derived from the primary
clay material from the Company's Bovill Kaolin Project. The
material was first processed at Ginn Mineral Research in
Sandersville, Georgia, wherein the
clay fraction (kaolin + halloysite) was separated from the sand
fraction (feldspar + quartz). The sand fraction was then sent to
Minerals Research Laboratory at North Carolina
State University ("MRL") where four quartz products were
created using a multiple flotation techniques: a 30 mesh one float
product ("2011 F1 30"); a finer grind 50 mesh one float product
("2011 F1 50"); a 50 mesh two float product ("2011 F2 50") and a 50
mesh three float product ("2011 F3 50"). Dorfner completed analysis
of each of the four samples with the results as follows:
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2011 F1
30
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2011 F1
50
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2011 F2
50
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2011 F3
50
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total impurities
(ppm)
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1742.07
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355.57
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303.92
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279.57
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SiO2 purity
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99.730%
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99.944%
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99.953%
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99.956%
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High pure quartz products have total impurities less than 500
parts per million ("ppm") or greater than 99.95% SiO2. All of the
50 mesh products tested by Dorfner reported total impurities of 356
ppm or less. The purity levels achieved after the single and second
float are some of the best results achieved to date. At least 80%
of impurities are attributable to Al+K+Na indicating there is
likely trace amounts of feldspar in the quartz product.
High pure quartz products are used in a variety of applications
including solar glass, specialty chemicals manufacturing, and
optical applications including fibre optics. Various applications
required different specifications for total element content.
i-minerals is undertaking additional analysis for less common
elements to confirm the quartz product is acceptable into a variety
of markets and applications.
The company has commissioned Dorfner to undertake a series of
leach testing to see how much further the trace elements can be
reduced.
With these results we have now produced high pure quartz from
both the granitoid ores of our Kelly's Basin deposit and the
primary clay from the neighboring Bovill Kaolin project," commented
Thomas Conway, President and CEO of
i-minerals inc. "To have achieved this level of purity through
basic flotation leaves the company well positioned to be a low cost
producer of high purity quartz products and naturally we are all
very encouraged with these results."
A. Lamar Long, CPG, is the
Qualified Person ("QP") for the Helmer-Bovill project under NI 43-101. He oversees
the quality control and quality assurance program and the
construction of all samples for metallurgical analysis and reviews
all analytical results prior to public release.
About i-minerals inc.
i-minerals holds ten minerals leases in northwestern
Idaho that hosts Kelly's Basin
feldspar-quartz deposit that is the subject of an ongoing
feasibility study. High purity quartz (>99.98% SiO2) can be
produced through a standard flotation process. A pre-feasibility
study completed by SRK Consulting (USA) Inc. of Denver
Co ("SRK"), calculated a NPV of $61
million and an IRR of 19%. Preliminary exploration work on
occurrences of primary clay deposits has identified variable
concentrations of kaolinite, halloysite, quartz and feldspar. The
Company commissioned SRK to complete and initial assessment of the
primary clay deposits through a Preliminary Economic Assessment
(the "PEA") which is based upon limited, widely spaced drilling
over large areas. While additional assessment work is required to
fully assess the economic viability of the deposits, the PEA
yielded a NPV of $95 million and an
IRR of 48% and indicated these primary clay deposits may represent
the largest deposit of halloysite in North America. Halloysite is a unique tubular
shaped alumina-silicate mineral often referred to as a halloysite
nanotube which is being increasingly used in nanotechnology
applications.
i-minerals inc.
Per: "Thomas M.
Conway"
Thomas M. Conway,
President & CEO
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Contact:
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Barry Girling
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Encompass Communications
Inc.
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877-303-6573 or
604-303-6573
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604.630.0770
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Email: info@imineralsinc.com
Or visit our website at
www.imineralsinc.com
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info@encompassinc.ca
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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 NEWS RELEASE.
This News Release may contain forward-looking statements
based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future
events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of
risk factors beyond its control, and actual results may differ
materially from the expected results.
i-minerals inc.
Suite 880 - 580 Hornby Street
Vancouver, BC, V6C 3B6
Phone: 604.303.6573
Fax: 604.684.0642
Email: info@imineralsinc.com
SOURCE i-minerals inc.