White Mountain Reports on Results and Developments With Titanium Metal Test Work

SANTIAGO, Chile, June 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- White Mountain Titanium Corporation ("White Mountain" or the "Company") (OTC Bulletin Board: WMTM) reports that, as part of its on-going commitment to metals research, it has received a second quarterly progress report since licensing a new titanium metal technology (the "Chinuka Process") in September, 2010. The report was made by Professor Derek Fray who is directing lab scale test work on the Chinuka Process at the University of Cambridge in the UK.

During the second quarter, research continued to examine the refining and electrolytic deposition of pure titanium metal from Ultra-fine rutile concentrate feedstock sourced from the Company's Cerro Blanco project in Chile, the improvement of overall process recovery and the optimization of cell voltage and current density.  Preliminary results from this test work indicate that the residual oxygen content in titanium sponge metal deposited from molten salts using the Chinuka Process is approximately 1 wt%.  This reported weight per cent figure represents an average for several test runs completed during the second quarter. Based on these results, an examination of the potential use of final acid leaching to lower oxygen content further to approximately 0.5 wt% (a commercial weight per cent specification for sheet rolled titanium metal) was initiated and continued into the current quarter.  

In addition to examining acid leaching of titanium sponge metal, research during the current quarter will start to focus on the adaptability of the Chinuka Process.  The first test work will examine the possible production of titanium metal powder (a higher value product than titanium sponge metal).  This will be followed by an examination into the possible utilization of lower grade rutile and ilmenite concentrates as the process feedstock. Ilmenite is the most common form of titanium concentrate, however many ilmenites have impurities which preclude their use in paint and pigment applications.  

Commenting on the titanium metal technology research test work carried out for the Company thus far, Brian Flower, White Mountain's Executive Chairman said, "Management is very pleased with what Professor Fray and his Cambridge colleagues have achieved at a lab scale in the first two quarters of Company sponsored research on the Chinuka Process.  Remaining at a lab scale while expanding the research focus is a cost-effective way of examining the possibility of lowering the titanium sponge metal oxygen weight per cent to meet a commercial specification, producing a higher value metal powder and operating with lower value feedstock before scaling up to a pilot plant stage."

About White Mountain Titanium Corporation

The Company holds mining concessions on the Cerro Blanco property currently consisting of 33 registered mining exploitation concessions and five mining exploration concessions in the process of being constituted, over approximately 8,225 hectares located approximately 39 kilometres west of the City of Vallenar in the Atacama, or Region III, geographic region of northern Chile. The Company's principal objectives are to advance the Cerro Blanco project towards a final engineering feasibility, and to secure off-take contracts for the planned rutile concentrate output. It would be the intention to sell the rutile concentrate to titanium metal and pigment producers. Work also continues to investigate the commercial viability of producing a feldspar co-product. The feldspar could find applications in the glass and ceramics industries.

The OTC BB has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and, therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors—The United States Securities and Exchange Commission permits mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. We may use certain terms in our press releases and on our website, such as 'reserves,' 'resources,' 'geologic resources,' 'proven,' 'probable,' 'measured,' 'indicated,' and 'inferred,' that the SEC guidelines strictly prohibit us from including in our filings with the SEC. U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our annual report on Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2007, File No. 333-129347, and in subsequent filings with the SEC. You can review and obtain copies of our filings from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

Contact:
White Mountain Titanium Corporation
Michael Kurtanjek, President
(56) 2 657-1800

Brian Flower, Chairman
(604) 408-2333

SOURCE White Mountain Titanium Corporation

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