SAGUENAY, QUEBEC - (March 25, 2009) - The management of
Arianne Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE:DAR) (FRANKFURT:JE9) (OTCBB:DARUF) ("Arianne" or "company") is pleased to announce the results of the resources estimate completed on its Lac a Paul phosphorus-titanium property, located in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, Quebec, Canada.
This 43-101 resources estimate was performed by SGS-Geostat Ltd on only three (3) of the numerous mineralized zones outlined on the Lac a Paul property. The results are, with a 2 % P2O5 cut-off grade:
- Paul Zone : 99.30 Million tons of inferred resources at 7.84 % P2O5 and 8.24 % TiO2
- Manouane Zone : 140.60 Million tons of inferred resources at 5.77 % P2O5 and 9.01 % TiO2
- Zone 2: 64.10 Million tons of inferred resources at 4.52 % P2O5 and 4.51 % TiO2
- Total of 3 Zones; 304 Million tons of inferred resources at 6.18 % P2O5 and 7.81 % TiO2The drill core assays were performed by ALS Chemex in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Assay controls (replica) were performed by SGS Group at their Lakefield, Ont, laboratory.
The phosphorus ore concentration tests done by SGS Group on these igneous deposits indicate an apatite recovery rate of nearly 90%. The resulting concentrate contains 39% P2O5 which is considered a higher grade when compared to most of the other concentrates on the market, that typically grade 30% P2O5 on average (mostly sedimentary deposits).
Titanium adds significant value to this deposit. Partial results from ongoing tests show that it is possible to obtain an ilmenite concentrate grading 45% TiO2 with a recovery rate of at least 50%.
- Location and infrastructureThe Lac a Paul deposits are located within a mining property comprising 265 designated claims (CDC) that covers an area of more than 14,500 hectares North of Lac St-Jean, 190 km from the city of Saguenay. An important lumber road provides easy access to the property. The Chutes des Passes hydroelectric central is located 40 km from the deposits.
Skilled workers and machinery is available nearby. The St-Ludger de Milot industrial park is located 160 km South of the deposits. Also, it is possible to have access within a radius of 235 km, to an existing rail network as well as to the Grande-Anse, Saguenay deep water port.
- World position and North American marketPrices for phosphorus concentrates went from $50US/t up to $400US/t from 2007 to 2008. Despite the current economic crisis, prices for concentrates remain high at around 200$US/t.
North American production of phosphorus concentrates decreases every year. It went from 38.4 Mt in 2006 to 36.9 Mt in 2007 and is expected to be around 34.7 Mt per year in 2017. This decline is essentially due to the closing of mines in Florida.. If North America wants to keep its autonomy regarding fertilizers (and for its food supply!), it is imperative that new deposits be discovered and exploited. The Lac a Paul deposits could produce more than 1 Mt per year of a concentrate of excellent quality. All this makes us very confident as for the future of these deposits and as for the possibility to find a buyer for this much demanded resource.
The Lac a Paul property has a high potential for increasing its current phosphorus-titanium resource. Indeed, previous prospection work identified many other promising zones where samples returned grades of up to 9.74% P2O5. (See September 12, 2008 press release).. Internal resources (non 43-101 compliant) of 20 Mt were estimated on Zone 1 (internal resource estimated then on Zone 2 were 18 Mt). Moreover, the Paul, Manouane and 2 Zones remain partially open at depth.
"We are confident to demonstrate that the Lac a Paul phosphorus deposit will become an exploitable world class deposit for this resource" concluded CEO, Mr. Bernard Lapointe, geo. The Company has an exploration budget of 1.5 M$ for 2009 and will be able to further advance the property with additional exploration.
The content of this press release was prepared and approved by Mr. Bernard Lapointe, geo., and Qualified Person under NI 43-101.
Arianne Resources is a Canadian exploration company with the primary mission to explore, find and develop gold, silver and phosphorus deposits in Canada and Mexico.
Investors are invited to visit Arianne's investor relations site at
http://www.agoracom.com/IR/Arianne in order to ask questions and get answers or read the questions and answers posted by investors. Also, investors can their questions or information requests to a DAR@agoracom.com and they can also ask to be included on the Company's e mail list in order to receive future news releases in real time.
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.For more information, please contactArianne Resources Inc.
Mr. Bernard Lapointe
CEO
418-549-7316
418-549-5750 (FAX)
bernard@arianne-inc.com
or
Arianne Resources Inc.
Mr. Norman Forrest
Vice-president - Corporate
450-736-0453
norman@arianne-inc.com
or
AGORACOM-Toronto
Investor relations
dar@agoracom.com
http://www.agoracom.com/ir/Arianne