TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 21, 2013) - Potash Ridge Corporation ("Potash Ridge" or the "Corporation") (TSX:PRK)(OTCQX:POTRF) today announced that it has commenced pilot scale test work for its Blawn Mountain Project.
The primary objectives of the pilot scale test work are to confirm the results of historic pilot plant testing, confirm the results of current bench scale testing on a continuous basis, process optimization, and generation of concentrate and products for material characterization and downstream metallurgical testing. Process optimization is primarily focused on operating efficiencies and maximizing SOP recoveries, while still producing a bauxite-type material that can be sold to refiners for processing into alumina.
The Blawn Mountain deposit was extensively evaluated during the 1970s and early 1980s. At that time, alumina was the primary product, with SOP produced as a by-product. The development work during that period included the operation of a pilot plant scale test facility for three years using technology acquired from a pre-existing commercially-operated alunite processing facility in Azerbaijan. The project was suspended during the 1980s due to economic conditions and declining alumina prices. Potash Ridge now owns all of this historic data.
The pilot scale test work will be conducted at Hazen Research's facilities in Golden, Colorado. The design of the flowsheet being tested uses a combination of proven technologies and is similar to the Azerbaijan alunite processing facility. The first run of the pilot scale testing will focus on flotation, followed by calcination, leaching and crystallization. The flotation pilot plant will process approximately one tonne of alunite material per day.
Guy Bentinck, Potash Ridge's President and Chief Executive Officer said, "The commencement of pilot scale testing represents a major milestone in the continued development of the Blawn Mountain Project."
The pilot scale testing is a component of the overall metallurgical test program. Work on the overall metallurgical test program is expected to continue until the end of 2013.
About Potash Ridge
Potash Ridge is a Canadian based exploration and development company with a unique opportunity to develop a mine and processing facility to produce SOP and a bauxite-type material. SOP is a premium priced potash fertilizer and bauxite is a mixture of hydrated aluminum oxides used in the production of alumina.
The Corporation's Blawn Mountain Project consists of four areas of surface mineable alunite mineralization in the State of Utah. Alunite is a sulfate mineral rich in both SOP and alumina.
Located in a mining friendly jurisdiction with established infrastructure nearby, the project covers approximately 11,550 acres of state-owned land and has a known permitting process. Extensive development was completed in the 1970s including a mine plan, feasibility study and three-year pilot plant operation.
Potash Ridge has a highly qualified and proven management team in place with significant financial, project management and operational experience and the ability to take projects into production.
For more information on the Corporation, please visit www.potashridge.com .
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the Corporation's expectations regarding future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects. These forward-looking statements may include statements that are predictive in nature, or that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and can generally be identified by words such as "may", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "guidance" or similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent the Corporation's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the future financial or operating performance of the Corporation and its subsidiaries and its mineral projects; the anticipated results of exploration activities; the estimation of mineral resources; the realization of mineral resource estimates; capital, development, operating and exploration expenditures; costs and timing of the development of the Corporation's mineral projects; timing of future exploration; requirements for additional capital; climate conditions; government regulation of mining operations; anticipated results of economic and technical studies; environmental matters; receipt of the necessary permits, approvals and licenses in connection with exploration and development activities; appropriation of the necessary water rights and water sources; changes in commodity prices; recruiting and retaining key employees; construction delays; litigation; competition in the mining industry; reclamation expenses; reliability of historical exploration work; reliance on historical information acquired by the Corporation; optimization of technology to be employed by the Corporation; title disputes or claims and other similar matters.
If any of the assumptions or estimates made by management prove to be incorrect, actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Such assumptions include, but are not limited to, the following: that general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties remain favorable; that agriculture fertilizers are expected to be a major driver in increasing yields to address demand for premium produce, such as fruits and vegetables, as well as diversified protein rich diets necessitating grains and other animal feed; that actual results of exploration activities justify further studies and development of the Corporation's mineral projects; that the future prices of minerals remain at levels that justify the exploration and future development and operation of the Corporation's mineral projects; that there is no failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; that accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry do not occur; that there are no unanticipated delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of future studies, development or construction activities; that the actual costs of exploration and studies remain within budgeted amounts; that regulatory and legal requirements required for exploration or development activities do not change in any adverse manner; that input cost assumptions do not change in any adverse manner, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Corporation's Annual Information Form (AIF) for the year-ended December 2012 found on sedar.com. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
