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TORONTO,
ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 10, 2009) - Quest Uranium Corporation (TSX
VENTURE:QUC) is pleased to report that assay results from the remaining
diamond drilling of their B-Zone rare earth element (REE) deposit (see
Press Release : November 12, 2009, Figure 1) has fully-confirmed the
significant resource potential of the zone . Quest's drilling has now
returned strong REE drill assay grades over a minimum strike of 1.1 km.
The widths of the mineralized envelope have increased to at least 500 m
and the mineralized envelope is at least 135.2 m in vertical thickness.
Lab results for holes BZ-09-015 to 019 returned multiple, high rare
earth element oxide (TREO) grade intersections of between 1.03 % and
3.74% over vertical thicknesses of 3.0 m to 38.5 m. Heavy REE (HREE)
represents between 28.8% and 71.0% of the TREO content intersected in
the new drilling. Strong values of zirconium (Zr), niobium (Nb) and
hafnium (Hf) continue to characterize the REE intercepts and have the
potential to contribute important resource value to the mineralized
zone. Mineralization continues to be open to resource expansion at
depth and along strike towards the northeast. As reported for previous
drill holes, the 5 drillholes reported today all were stopped in
mineralization. Detailed assays from the reported drilling are
available and have been posted to Quest's website homepage at www.questuranium.com for viewing.
"To date, our B-Zone drilling results have strengthened our
confidence in the significant resource potential that the deposit
holds," said Peter Cashin, Quest's President & CEO. "The
mineralization grades, thicknesses and lateral continuity have, thus
far, been very consistent. All indications from our exploration work
point to our strong possibility of significantly expanding the Strange
Lake project's resource potential in 2010. Our exploration team is now
finalizing the compilation of all drilling data on the project in
preparation for handing it to our engineering contractor, Wardrop
Engineering, for Resource Estimation."
B-Zone
Definition Drill Program
Drill results have confirmed strong REE mineralization over 1.1 km of
strike, over widths of at least 500 m and over vertical thicknesses of
up to 135.2 m (see Figure 2). Drilling appears to define the
mineralization to be relatively flat-dipping and is exposed at the
outcrop surface (see Figure 3). Holes herein reported continue to
intersect strongly mineralized pegmatites and intensely altered and
mineralized granite. The surface footprint of the B-Zone mineralization
is manifested as a two km-long, northeast-trending airborne radiometric
anomaly northwest of the Strange Lake Main Deposit (historical resource
estimate, pre-National Instrument 43-101; Venkatswaran, 1983 - 52
million tonnes @ 3.25% ZrO2, 0.56% Nb2O5, 0.66% Y2O3, 0.12% BeO and
1.30% TREO). Holes reported here indicate that good resource potential
exists to the northwest of hole BZ-09-017 and BZ-09-019 in the
northeast projection of thickest and highest-grade part of the B-Zone
mineralized system (Figure 4 and 5). In addition, widely-spaced IOC
(historical) drilling indicates that mineralization continues further
towards the northeast, well past the limits of Quest drilling.
The best results returned from five additional vertical drillholes,
totaling 546.0 m, are:
Borehole # From (m) To (m) Length (m) TREO + Y(%) HREE(%) ------------------------------------------------------------- BZ-09-015 8.15 111.0 102.85 0.90 35.0 --------- including 94.03 95.1 1.07 1.54 58.6 and including 100.0 106.38 6.38 1.03 45.6 BZ-09-016 5.41 11.0 5.59 1.55 44.7 --------- 15.1 53.55 38.45 1.23 50.4 including 15.1 20.0 4.9 1.72 59.0 and including 27.0 32.7 5.7 1.22 55.1 and including 46.72 53.55 6.83 2.13 51.6 and including 48.0 51.0 3.0 3.35 59.6 BZ-09-017 24.08 43.0 18.92 1.03 38.5 --------- including 25.92 28.0 2.08 1.55 40.3 and including 41.44 43.0 1.51 1.65 55.9 65.53 82.28 16.75 1.45 43.4 including 65.53 68.68 3.15 3.74 38.8 and including 70.0 74.52 4.52 1.10 41.6 99.13 100.57 1.44 1.22 28.8 103.3 105.0 1.70 1.03 42.9 BZ-09-018 8.0 110.79 102.79 0.89 31.2 --------- including 71.79 77.05 5.26 1.34 59.9 and including 108.8 110.79 2.79 1.33 27.7 BZ-09-019 3.2 24.83 21.63 1.01 35.7 --------- including 21.0 24.83 3.83 1.20 43.8 63.3 97.37 34.07 1.27 45.2 including 66.42 77.12 10.7 1.89 47.5 and including 71.0 77.12 6.12 2.63 54.0 and including 87.9 97.37 9.47 1.12 45.8
Where:
Be equals beryllium, Zr equals zirconium, Y equals yttrium, Nb equals
niobium, La equals lanthanum, Ce equals cerium, Nd equals neodymium, Sm
equals samarium, Pr equals praseodymium, Eu equals europium, Gd equals
gadolinium, Tb equals terbium, Dy equals dysprosium, Lu equals
lutetium, Tm equals thulium, LREE equals light rare earth elements,
HREE equals heavy rare earth elements, TREE equals Total Rare Earth
metals, TREO equals Total Rare Earth Oxides.
The better grades of mineralization appear to be related to the
pegmatitic phases of the host granite (see Figures 4, 5). The
highly-altered granite hosting the pegmatites continues to carry
elevated grades of REE over the entire length of the drilling. Strong
bulk-grade intersections were returned from drillholes BZ-09-015 (0.9%
TREO over 102.85 m) and BZ-09-017 (0.98% TREO over 102.75 m). In
addition to REE, the mineralized zone has returned elevated
concentrations of zirconium, niobium and hafnium which could add to the
resource value of mineralization on the property. As an example, the
section on hole BZ-09-019 from 63.3 m to 101.0 m down the hole (37.7 m
core length) grades 0.391% niobium oxide (Nb2O5) and 2.48% zirconium
oxide (ZrO2)
A one-tonne bulk sample of the B-Zone mineralization has been received
by Hazen Research, Inc. of Golden, Colorado. Metallurgical work will
commence soon and is expected to be completed in four months. The
B-Zone rocks are characterized as highly hematite and
specularite-altered and fluorite-mineralized Strange Lake alkali
granite. The B-Zone appears to be mineralogically similar to the Main
IOC deposit to the southeast and may exhibit similar metallurgical
characteristics to the IOC REE zone. In addition, preliminary findings
of a Quest-supported McGill University research program indicates that
the greater intensity of the rock alteration observed at the B-Zone is
reflected in mineralogy that is being converted into carbonate species
REE minerals, in particular, Kainosite (Y, LREE carbonate) after
Allanite (LREE silicate). Such a mineral assemblage would be expected
to have very good REE liberation characteristics.
43-101 Preliminary Resource Estimate
An inferred resource estimate for the B- and Main zones will be
calculated once all of Quest's diamond drilling data from the 2009
program is compiled. The data will be handed over to Wardrop
Engineering Inc., of Toronto, Ontario, before year-end for commencement
of the work. It is anticipated that this resource estimate will be
completed sometimes in the Q2 2010.
Quality Control
Mr. Peter Cashin, P. Geo., is the qualified person on the Strange Lake
Project under National Instrument 43-101 and was responsible for this
news release. Material for analysis has been obtained from drill core
which was cut in half using a diamond saw. Half of the core was sent to
the lab for analysis, with the remaining half left on-site for future
reference. A strict QA/QC program is followed which includes the use of
elemental standards, duplicates and blanks. Analyses were performed by
Activation Laboratory Limited of Ancaster, Ontario.
The 1983 historical mineral resource estimate referred to in this press
release was prepared before the introduction of National Instrument
43-101. No qualified person has undertaken sufficient work to classify
this historical resource estimate as current mineral resources or
mineral reserves. Accordingly, Quest is not treating the historical
resource estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves, as
defined in National Instrument 43-101, and the historical resource
estimate referred to in this press release should not be relied upon.
About Quest Uranium
Quest Uranium Corporation is a Canadian-based, exploration company
focused on the identification and discovery of new world-class Rare
Earth deposit opportunities. The Company is publicly-listed on the TSX
Venture Exchange as "QUC" and is led by a highly-respected
management and technical team with a proven mine-finding track record.
Quest is currently advancing several high-potential projects in Canada's
premier exploration areas: the Strange Lake area of northeastern
Quebec, the Kenora area of northwestern Ontario and the Plaster Rock
area of northwestern New Brunswick. Quest continues to pursue
high-value project opportunities throughout North America.
This press release may contain "forward-looking statements".
Readers are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of
future performance and that actual developments or results may vary
materially from those in these "forward looking statements".
To view Figure 1, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/quc1210fig1.pdf
To view Figure 2, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/quc1210fig2.pdf
To view Figure 3, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/quc1210fig3.pdf
To view Figure 4, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/quc1210fig4.pdf
To view Figure 5, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/quc1210fig5.pdf
Neither 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 release
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