| Aldridge Minerals Inc.
Aldridge Receives Positive Results on First Gravity Preconcentration Study of Yenipazar Ore
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. March 13, 2007. Aldridge Minerals Inc. (Frankfurt WKN: A0CAPB, TSX.V: AGM) ("Aldridge") is pleased to announce that first results from a gravity pre-concentration study indicate that the sulphide ore at Yenipazar (central Turkey) is amenable to gravity-enrichment before it enters a fine grinding circuit. Gravity-concentration has the potential to enrich the ore at an early stage in the ore processing scheme, and to reduce the size and cost for fine grinding capacities (usually among the highest cost factors in ore processing plants) and flotation cells. Aldridge's target is to produce a concentrate of all sulphide minerals for reduction of the feed mass to fine grinding and flotation circuits to about one third. After extraction of the copper, lead, and zinc sulphides in flotation, a fine ground pyrite concentrate would remain, potentially marketable to sulphuric acid producers.
Preliminary gravity-enrichment studies were carried out with laboratory shaking tables at the Middle East Technical University of Ankara (METU). Resulting concentrates and rejects were assayed by ALSChemex in Vancouver. 20 pulp samples from reverse circulation hammer (RC) drilling were united to produce one composite and homogenized sample that roughly reflects the deposit average grade and mineral characteristics. The assayed grade of this composite sample is 1.48 g/t Au, 33.1 g/t Ag, 0.42 % Cu, 1.27 % Pb, 1.85 % Zn. 18 gravity-concentration shaking table tests were conducted for a number of grain size fractions, including 0.5-0.212 mm and 0.212-0.106 mm with the following results:
Grain Size Product Weight-% Au g/t Ag g/t Cu% Pb% Zn% S%
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-500+212 µ Concentrate 32.3 2.6 43.7 0.79 1.56 3.46 37
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Waste 67.7 0.28 6.6 0.13 0.22 0.31 1.02
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Recovery% 81.58 75.94 74.28 77.19 84.19
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-212+106 µ Concentrate 35.39 3.81 73.7 0.97 2.67 5.35 35.4
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Waste 64.61 0.27 7.1 0.10 0.27 0.27 0.95
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Recovery% 85.54 84.99 84.49 84.46 91.00
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Further tests with a grain size of 0.79-0.5 mm yielded similar recoveries, but the much higher concentrate mass indicates that recovered sulphide aggregates must have light waste minerals attached. This suggests, together with the other results, that the sulphide aggregates are largely liberated at probably about 0.5-0.6 mm.
Grain Size Product Weight-% Au g/t Ag g/t Cu% Pb% Zn% S%
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-790-500 µ Concentrate 48.23 2.43 28 0.55 1.00 1.81 22
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Waste 51.77 0.27 7 0.11 0.22 0.37 1.04
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Recovery% 89.34 78.84 81.96 80.90 82.00
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These results, obtained from simple shaking table testing, form a pre-stage to further testing with more sophisticated gravity-concentration equipment. These are test-scale versions of industrial devices with capacities of 100 t/h, and more, suitable for a potential mining operation at Yenipazar. Aldridge has contacted several providers with different gravity-concentration technologies to conduct according tests. Results shall be used for a 43-101-compliant Preliminary Economic Assessment on Yenipazar, scheduled for Fall 2007.
Martin S. Oczlon, PhD Geo, a director of Aldridge and Qualified Person as such term is defined in NI 43-101, has reviewed and verified the technical content of this release. Aldridge is active in the exploration and development of gold and base metal projects in Turkey.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of risk factors beyond its control, and actual results may differ materially from the expected results. Additional testwork is required to confirm the efficiency of gravity pre-enrichment for the Yenipazar deposit. Although the testwork results are encouraging, there is no certainty that the ores will respond as well in a mine scale operation, and considerable additional testwork is necessary to confirm this and other metallurgical characteristics of the ores.
For further information, please contact:
Aldridge Minerals Inc.
Hikmet Akin
President, Director
Tel. +1 (604) 737 2743
15th Floor - 1040 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 4H8, Canada
info@aldridgeminerals.com
http://www.aldridgeminerals.com/
Advice Portfolio Management GmbH
Hartmut Thome, Investor Relations
Josef-Reiert-Str. 4
69190 Walldorf
Germany
Tel. +49 (6227) 8395-0
Fax +49 (6227) 8395-70
info@advice-pm.de
http://www.advice-pm.de/
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