Rock Tech Produces Lithium Carbonate with 99.988% Purity
(via Thenewswire.ca)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, September 21, 2011 - Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSX-Venture: RCK; Frankfurt: RJIA; Pink Sheets: RCKTF) (the "Company" or "Rock Tech") is pleased to announce that it has further improved the quality of its metallurgical sample and achieved purity of 99.988% lithium carbonate ("Li2CO3") on the bulk sample taken from the Company's 100% owned Georgia Lake project in the Thunder Bay Mining District of northwestern Ontario. Preliminary results of the metallurgical testing, announced June 27, 2011, produced a sample of 99.96% Li2CO3.
A standard hydrometallurgical flow sheet was used which included concentrate leach, primary impurity removal, secondary impurity removal, ion exchange, lithium carbonate precipitation and bicarbonate polishing. The key findings related to this six-stage processing can be found in the detailed report posted on the Company's website (www.rocktechlithium.com).
The main objective of the test program was to determine if a high-grade lithium carbonate sample could be produced from the three concentrate samples generated through heavy liquid separation (HLS) and floatation. The first attempt produced a Li2CO3 product with a purity of 99.963%. After processing the sample through the bicarbonate polishing step, a Li2CO3 product with a purity of 99.988% was produced. Though specification for lithium carbonate purity varies among battery manufacturers, purity must meet or exceed a 99.5% threshold.
The samples were processed at SGS Lakefield Mineral Services, under the supervision of senior metallurgists Massoud Aghamirian, Ph.D., and Stephen Mackie, Ph.D.
Company President and CEO, Eunho Lee, commented, "We are very pleased with the results of the hydrometallurgical study carried out in cooperation with SGS Lakefield. The study clearly demonstrates that a high-quality, battery-grade lithium carbonate product can be produced from the lithium-bearing pegmatites found at Rock Tech's Georgia Lake project."
In addition to the hydrometallurgical results, the Company is also pleased to provide the results of the remaining 22 drill holes from the 2010/2011 winter exploration program that entailed nearly 8,000 metres of diamond drilling at the Nama Creek and Conway claim blocks.
Highlights of the drill results are as follows (the true thickness of the drill intersection may be less than the reported intervals) and is consistent with historical drill results:
-Drill Hole NC11-14 - intersected 10.55m at 1.22% lithium oxide (Li2O), 458 ppm beryllium oxide (BeO) and 854 ppm rubidium oxide (Rb2O); plus four smaller intersections, 1 to 3m wide with 0.35% to 1.14% Li2O and anomalous values of other rare metals.
-Drill Hole NS11-01 - intersected 12.75m at 0.9% Li2O, 450 ppm BeO and 790 ppm Rb2O; a second intersection includes 2.25m at 1.0% Li2O, 341 ppm BeO, 116 ppm niobium oxide (Nb2O5) and 1,329 ppm Rb2O.
-Drill Hole NS11-02 - intersected 4.12m at 1.37% Li2O, 459 ppm BeO and 993 ppm Rb2O; a second intersection includes 4.45m at 1.20% Li2O, 442 ppm BeO and 768 ppm Rb2O.
-Drill Hole PL11-01 - intersected 6.29m at 2.0% Li2O, 400 ppm BeO, 111ppm Nb2O5 and 563 ppm Rb2O.
-Drill Hole CW11-09 - intersected 10.25 m at 0.9% Li2O, 315 ppm BeO and 1,029 ppm Rb2O.
-Drill Hole NC11-07 - intersected 6.70 m at 1.39% Li2O, 423 ppm BeO and 988 ppm Rb2O.
The results are summarized in the following table (the true thickness of the drill intersection may be less than the reported intervals):
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|Drill Hole|Claim |From |To |Width|Li2O|BeO|Cs2O|Nb2O5|Ta2O5|Rb2O|
|ID |Block/| | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |metres|metres|metres|% |ppm |ppm|ppm |ppm |ppm |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|PL11-01 |Parole|198.47|204.76|6.29 |2.00|400|18 |111 |39 |563 |
| |Lake | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|PL11-02 |Parole|149.25|154.00|4.75 |1.40|461|26 |108 |57 |746 |
| |Lake | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|HW11-05 |Nama |44.40 |49.23 |4.83 |1.20|435|63 |42 |45 |843 |
| |Creek | | | | | | | | | |
| |West | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |123.54|126.13|2.59 |0.85 |362 |53 |31 |17 |718 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|HW11-06 |Nama |36.54 |41.68 |5.14 |1.23|471|52 |32 |29 |831 |
| |Creek | | | | | | | | | |
| |West | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |134.45|136.70|2.25 |1.03 |387 |45 |27 |18 |792 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|NS11-01 |Nama |85.88 |88.13 |2.25 |1.00|341|77 |116 |191 |1329|
| |Creek | | | | | | | | | |
| |South | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |179.80|192.55|12.75 |0.90 |450 |49 |44 |35 |790 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|NS11-02 |Nama |67.85 |71.97 |4.12 |1.37|459|56 |71 |67 |993 |
| |Creek | | | | | | | | | |
| |South | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |81.53 |85.98 |4.45 |1.20 |442 |84 |84 |58 |768 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|NS11-03 |Nama |98.86 |100.46|1.60 |0.94|404|55 |79 |69 |1175|
| |Creek | | | | | | | | | |
| |South | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |101.46|104.46|3.00 |1.03 |419 |47 |31 |18 |848 |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |116.02|118.02|2.00 |1.29 |489 |40 |75 |39 |664 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|NS11-04 |Nama |94.85 |98.52 |3.67 |0.82|281|55 |53 |43 |616 |
| |Creek | | | | | | | | | |
| |South | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |108.15|109.05|0.90 |0.52 |353 |32 |94 |141 |616 |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |207.50|209.50|2.00 |0.50 |513 |36 |37 |22 |551 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|CW11-05 |Conway|122.42|128.05|5.63 |1.00|414|53 |41 |30 |998 |
| |Main | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |132.68|133.68|1.00 |0.63 |278 |56 |42 |42 |1121 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|CW11-07 |Conway|92.69 |94.69 |2.00 |0.54|232|58 |22 |17 |1313|
| |Main | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |127.41|132.41|5.00 |0.73 |316 |61 |41 |36 |1111 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|CW11-08 |Conway|162.80|167.80|5.00 |1.15|345|53 |29 |20 |1145|
| |Main | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |169.80|170.60|0.80 |1.16 |347 |49 |27 |18 |936 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|CW11-09 |Conway|96.60 |106.85|10.25|0.90|315|63 |28 |18 |1029|
| |Main | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|CW11-10 |Conway|66.00 |70.00 |4.00 |0.66|376|68 |48 |38 |1008|
| |Main | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|CW11-11 |Conway|130.50|132.50|2.00 |0.75|401|64 |51 |33 |1015|
| |Main | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|CW11-12 |Conway|63.65 |65.88 |2.23 |1.19|498|71 |39 |33 |875 |
| |Main | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|CW11-13 |Conway|53.77 |54.56 |0.79 |0.73|266|60 |38 |32 |741 |
| |Main | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|NC11-06 |Nama |72.87 |75.29 |2.42 |0.20|117|321 |28 |27 |693 |
| |Creek | | | | | | | | | |
| |North | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |78.51 |81.24 |2.73 |0.94 |368 |269|49 |41 |1015 |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |84.70 |86.50 |1.80 |0.46 |315 |126|57 |67 |608 |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |91.58 |97.84 |6.26 |0.37 |145 |310|33 |32 |945 |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |104.00|105.51|1.51 |0.69 |225 |219|48 |50 |607 |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |123.94|126.10|2.16 |1.83 |494 |56 |70 |63 |714 |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |127.69|129.94|2.25 |1.58 |477 |51 |49 |32 |872 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|NC11-07 |Nama |81.77 |82.86 |1.09 |0.52|521|54 |67 |56 |599 |
| |Creek | | | | | | | | | |
| |North | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |96.20 |97.03 |0.83 |0.71 |350 |48 |56 |53 |626 |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |112.45|119.15|6.70 |1.39 |423 |61 |60 |46 |988 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|NC11-11 |Nama |121.80|129.58|7.78 |0.94|516|51 |68 |62 |830 |
| |Creek | | | | | | | | | |
| |North | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |153.70|154.25|0.55 |0.59 |461 |58 |60 |57 |922 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|NC11-12 |Nama |110.38|112.23|1.85 |0.75|408|64 |72 |71 |1007|
| |Creek | | | | | | | | | |
| |North | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |116.49|117.35|0.86 |0.85 |419 |61 |79 |88 |803 |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |157.14|159.22|2.08 |0.96 |392 |179|75 |86 |1137 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|NC11-13 |Nama |2.54 |3.15 |0.61 |1.09|486|96 |127 |190 |1308|
| |Creek | | | | | | | | | |
| |North | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |47.13 |48.97 |1.84 |1.14 |456 |53 |81 |54 |898 |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |51.55 |53.55 |2.00 |1.08 |351 |50 |50 |34 |784 |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |55.30 |56.07 |0.77 |0.02 |686 |81 |155 |430 |829 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|NC11-14 |Nama |128.00|131.00|3.00 |0.87|359|86 |53 |33 |775 |
| |Creek | | | | | | | | | |
| |North | | | | | | | | | |
| |Dyke | | | | | | | | | |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |132.29|133.29|1.00 |1.14 |292 |53 |60 |79 |843 |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |134.18|136.34|2.16 |0.35 |194 |331|55 |88 |819 |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |152.95|154.50|1.55 |0.77 |392 |40 |45 |49 |450 |
| |----------------------------------------------------|
| |224.10|234.65|10.55 |1.22 |458 |53 |39 |31 |854 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Li2O = lithium oxide; BeO = beryllium oxide; Cs2O = cesium oxide; Nb2O5 = niobium oxide; Ta2O5 = tantalum oxide; Rb2O = rubidium oxide
Technical information of this news release has been reviewed by Afzaal Pirzada, P.Geo., VP of Exploration, a Qualified Person as defined in NI43-101.
In the coming weeks, the Company will release its initial NI43-101 resource estimates for the Nama Creek and Conway claim blocks and its plans for the second phase of its drill program at Georgia Lake.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
"Eunho Lee"
Eunho Lee
Director, President and CEO
For more information, please contact:
Brad Barnett
Controller and Senior Manager, Business Affairs
789 West Pender Street, Suite 1205
Vancouver, B.C., V6C 1H2
Telephone: (604) 688-1140
Facsimile: (604) 688-1173
Email: info@rocktechlithium.com
Disclaimer and Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
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 press release. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction.
All statements, trend analysis and other information contained in this press release relative to markets about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements even if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
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