RED LAKE, Ontario, Nov. 20, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Mainstream Minerals Corp. (TSX-V:MJO) and King's Bay Gold Corp. (TSX-V:KBG) are pleased to announce that they have received more results from their Phase 1 diamond drilling program on their Bobjo Mine Project, located in Earngey Township, Red Lake, Ontario.
The partners are pleased to report that Hole #16 was very successful in intersecting more Rare Metals and Rare Earth Elements at depth. This Hole #16 intersected the zone at a depth of 258 metres right below Hole #14, which intersected the zone at a depth of 153 metres. This zone is situated along a fault structure with an approximate ten-kilometre strike length.
Highlights of Hole #16
True widths are not known
* 1.2 metre intersection grading 4.59 g/t Au at a depth of 0.50 metres to 1.7 metres * 1.0 metre intersection grading 2.55 g/t Au at a depth of 7.0 metres to 8.0 metres, and * 43.6 ft intersection with a grade of 11.01 g/t Gallium (Ga), 16.53 g/t Scandium (Sc), 25.85 g/t Rubidium (Rb), 15.36 g/t Cerium (Ce), 6.53 g/t Lanthanum (La), 9.30 g/t Yttrium (Y), 3.77 g/t Selenium (Se), 11.44g/t Lithium (Li), 1.00 g/t Cadmium (Cd), 1.35 g/t Thorium (Th), 2.94 g/t Niobium (Nb), 1.40 g/t Hafnium (Hf), 48.57 g/t Cobalt (Co), 86.55 g/t Vanadium (V), 70.51 g/t Strontium (Sr), and 52.15 g/t Zirconium (Zr) at a depth of 258 metres.
Rare Metals and Rare Earth Elements -- Demand & Uses
Demand for rare metals and rare earth elements is soaring because of consumer demand for more fuel-efficient cars, alternative energy technologies such as fuel cells, the nuclear power industry for both practical and experimental utilization, rechargeable batteries, lasers, hydrogen storage, superalloys as used in the aerospace industry, televisions, computer screens, permanent magnets as used in electric-hybrid vehicles and in the conductor industry for many of the new "Green" technologies, etc. Currently, 97% of the world supply of the Rare Earth Materials (REM) comes from China, and most of this from just one mine. China recently announced a reduction in the exports of REMs coming out of their mines. This decision will considerably reduce the supply for buyers outside of China while world demand is in full growth.
The main consumers of rare earth materials are in South-East Asia (Japan, Korea, Thailand, China) and in the USA. The United States used to be the largest consumer of rare earth materials, about 27% of the world's total. However, in recent years, China became the number one global consumer, exceeding the American consumption. The United States currently imports nearly 100% of their needs in REM, and the American market for rare earth materials is valued at more than 1 billion U.S. dollars per year and growing.
It is reported that 77% of world production is currently coming from one mine in China. The United States used to produce approximately 6% of the world's supply from one of the only in-situ rare earth mines in the world, at Mountain Pass, California. However, Mountain Pass -- the only producing mine in North America -- ceased operations several years ago, creating a situation where there is no Rare Earth Elements production taking place in North America, or anywhere significant outside of China. Therefore, prices and demand are expected to continue to rise drastically.
Of special interest is the fact that the United States Congress last month authorized the release to the public of a report of the conclusions reached by a special committee of the National Academies on "Minerals, Critical Minerals, and the U.S. Economy." It was comprised of information on the present state, as well as the future, of demand for critical and strategic metals for industry by the U.S. government. It outlined minerals like Rhodium, Manganese, Indium, Niobium, Gallium, Rare Earth Elements, Copper Tantalum, Palladium, Platinum, Vanadium, Titanium, and Lithium as critical and strategic minerals. It discussed the kind of negative impact that their shortage would have on industry and the U.S. economy. The partners also believe that it will soon become critical to produce these resources outside of China.
In conclusion, most rare earth materials have significant economic and strategic value. Depending on purity and lot size, individual powders refined into metal may range in price from US$15.00 per kilogram for lanthanum metal, to US$30,000.00 per kilogram (US$30.00 per gram) for scandium metal. Some of these metals like Rubidium, which is not actively traded, have sold for as much as US$58.20 per gram. The information and data herein regarding the demand and uses for rare metals and rare earth elements was collected from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) minerals information site.
Bobjo Mine Project
The Bobjo Mine project is located between the former South Bay Zinc / Copper Mine and Uchi Lake Gold Mine. It is noted that an existing power line passes through the southern part of the property and that it is within trucking distance to the Placer Dome / Goldcorp Mill in Red Lake, Ontario. The area has a history of gold and base metal production dating back 80 years and the work presently being carried out by the partners represents the commencement of the first modern, systematic exploration of the property.
The joint venture is 50% Mainstream Minerals (TSX-V:MJO) and 50% Kings Bay Gold (TSX-V:KBG) with Mainstream Minerals being the Operator of the project. John Archibald, A.P.G.O. - Geologist is the Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. All of the samples herein were analyzed by SGS Canada Inc.'s laboratory in Red Lake, Ontario.
Mainstream Minerals and King's Bay Gold are pleased with the results from the first 16 holes from the Bobjo Mine Project. They are especially pleased with the new rare metals and rare earth element discovery that has just brought a new dimension to this exploration project. The partners did not assay the entire mineralized zone, which was actually more than double in size than the section analyzed and reported herein. The remainder of the zone will be sent for assay a little later and will test for all the rare earth elements. Hole #15 had no significant values and was drilled in a different area. More assay results will be released when received and verified.
About Mainstream Minerals
Mainstream Minerals Corporation is a mineral exploration and development company focused on precious metal mining properties with economic potential, with the aim of bringing such properties to commercial production. The Company's portfolio of properties is primarily located in the prolific Red Lake Gold Camp of Northwestern Ontario. The properties include -- (i) 50% of the Bobjo Mine project, (ii) 100% of the Dixie Lake North project, and (iii) 50% of the Woman Lake North of South Bay project.
"MJO" Shares Issued & Outstanding: 15,282,589 Approximate cash on hand: $1.6 million
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Some of the statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements, such as estimates and statements that describe MJO's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that MJO's management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties.