Tasman Begins Drilling Otanmaki Rare Earth Element
Project, Finland
t
Tasman Metals Ltd. ("Tasman") (TSXV - TSM)
(Frankfurt - T61) (Pinksheets - TASXF).
Mr Mark Saxon, President and CEO, announces that
a first phase drilling program is now underway at the Company's Otanm�ki rare earth element (REE) and niobium (Nb) project in Finland. The Otanm�ki
project lies in a historic mining district 450 km north of the capital Helsinki
with excellent infrastructure including railway access within 2 km of the claim
boundary. Tasman holds a 100% interest in claim applications and claim
reservations at Otanm�ki totaling 10,954 hectares in
size.
This program of approximately 1000m of drilling is anticipated to take 4 weeks,
and is designed to confirm the quality and extent of mineralization encountered
in historical drilling, and test a range of new targets identified by deep till
and rock chip sampling, and Tasman's 2010 magnetic/radiometric survey (see
Tasman press release dated Oct 5 2010). Drilling is being completed by Finnish
contractor Suomen Malmi Oy and the first assay results are expected to be available
during May 2011.
The Otanm�ki project covers two REE - Nb prospects named Katajakangas
and Kontioaho. REE's at Katajakangas
and Kontioaho are present as fergusonite,
allanite and lesser columbite
and xenotime within a metasomatically altered alkaline quartz-feldspar
schist.
Better drill intersections at Katajakangas include:
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R-14:
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1.40m @
2.95% TREO, 0.87% Nb2O5 , 1.28% ZrO2 from
57.4m;
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R-20:
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0.60m @
3.60% TREO, 1.01% Nb2O5 , 0.98% ZrO2 from
79.0m;
|
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R-20:
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0.80m @
2.93% TREO, 0.86% Nb2O5 , 1.01% ZrO2 from
121.6m;
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Better drill intersections at Kontioaho include:
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R-9:
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6.90m @
0.65% TREO, 0.10% Nb2O5 , 3.39% ZrO2 from
3.4m;
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R-4:
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12.00m @
0.51% TREO, 0.09% Nb2O5 , 2.45% ZrO2 from
79.8m;
|
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R-3:
|
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11.30m @
0.64% TREO, 0.15% Nb2O5 , 2.33% ZrO2 , from
188.2m;
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"We are very pleased to be underway on our first drilling program in
Finland" said Mark Saxon, Tasman's President &
CEO. "This first phase program will give us a new look at mineralization
on the project, allowing us to better understand the mineralogy and
distribution of the REE's. Otanm�ki's wealth of
infrastructure, the tremendous support we receive from the local community, and
the high REE grades encountered in surface boulder sampling, encourages us for
our ongoing work in the area".
Following a review of historic exploration and in light of the Company's focus
on other projects, Tasman has chosen not to renew its option over the Bastn�s project in Sweden, and consequently the project has
been returned to its owner.
About Tasman Metals Ltd.
Tasman Metals Ltd is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company
focused on Rare Earth Elements (REE's) in the European region and is listed on
the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "TSM". REE demand is
increasing, due to the metals unique properties that make them essential for
high technology and environmentally-beneficial applications. Since over 95% of
REE supply is sourced from China, the European Union is actively supporting
policy to promote domestic supply of REE's, to ensure the security of high-tech
industry. Tasman's exploration portfolio is uniquely placed, with the capacity
to deliver "high-tech" metals from politically stable, mining
friendly jurisdictions with developed infrastructure.
The Company's Norra Karr project in Sweden is one of
the most significant heavy REE resources in the world, and the only NI43-101
compliant REE resource in mainland Europe. With a TREO (total rare earth oxide)
cut off of 0.4%, the Inferred Mineral Resource comprises 60.5 million tonnes grading 0.54% TREO and 1.72% ZrO2 (zirconium oxide),
with 53.7% of the TREO being the higher value HREO (heavy rare earth oxide).
The resource is unusually low in radioactive metals relative to peer projects,
with less than 15 ppm each of uranium and thorium.
On behalf of the Board,
"Mark Saxon"
Mark Saxon, President & CEO
Investor Information
www.tasmanmetals.com
1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7
Company Contact: Mariana Bermudez +1 (604) 685 9316
Investor Relation Consultants - Mining Interactive
Nick Nicolaas +1 (604) 657 4058
Email: info@tasmanmetals.com