White Mountain Test Work Succeeds in Recovery of Feldspar From Rutile Flotation Tailings

SANTIAGO, Chile, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- White Mountain Titanium Corporation ("White Mountain" or the "Company") (OTC Bulletin Board: WMTM) reports that it has successfully completed flotation test work to recover feldspar from natural rutile (titanium dioxide) flotation tailings.  The test work program was carried out at SGS Lakefield ("SGS") in Ontario, Canada.  The aim of the program was to produce a low iron, feldspar concentrate from waste stream tailings acceptable for possible use as a flux or in the glass and ceramic industries.

Working on rutile flotation tailings derived from the Stage 2 pilot plant and previous locked cycle test work programs, SGS examined various operating procedures to extract feldspar minerals.  These procedures included the adjustment of pH conditions in the circuit, the use of fresh and sea water as the aqueous medium and the choice of flotation reagents.  Following several trials, SGS were able to develop a process flow sheet that successfully recovered a low iron (Fe2O3), sodium (Na2O) rich feldspar concentrate.

The principal steps in the process flow sheet involve desliming the rutile tailings, muscovite (mica) pre-flotation and preferential flotation of sodium feldspars.  All test work was carried out in an acidic environment (pH 3.5 to 5.5) - very similar to pH conditions previously used in the flotation of rutile.  This is an important achievement as it obviates the need to undertake major pH adjustment from the rutile to the feldspar flotation circuit. A sodium feldspar concentrate assaying 9.07% Na2O and 0.37% Fe2O3 was produced using fresh water as the aqueous medium and minimal addition of flotation reagents. Comparable concentrate grades were obtained using sea water as the aqueous medium.  

"Completion of the flotation test work to recover feldspar is an important component of the Cerro Blanco development program," said Michael Kurtanjek, the Company's President and CEO. "The latest results are a considerable improvement on earlier test work where iron impurity levels in excess of 1% were recorded. Given the high feldspar content in source rock planned for the processing plant and now the demonstrated ability to produce a low iron, sodium feldspar concentrate from rutile flotation tailings, the possible sale of feldspar concentrate may have a significant impact on the economics of the project. We now see the possibility of co-producing both rutile and feldspar concentrates, the latter derived from a plant waste stream."

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, 2008, 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.

SOURCE White Mountain Titanium Corporation

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED