GREAT WESTERN MINERALS GROUP LTD.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TSX Venture Symbol: GWG CUSIP: 39141Y 10 3
USA Symbol: GWMGF
GREAT WESTERN TECHNOLOGIES INC RECEIVES DARPA CONTRACT TO DEVELOP ALUMINUM-BASED STRUCTURAL METAL ALLOYS
September 18, 2009 ? Saskatoon Saskatchewan and Troy Michigan - Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. (TSX:V - ?GWG?) is pleased to announce that its US-based, wholly-owned subsidiary, Great Western Technologies Inc, (?GWTI?) of Troy Michigan, has been awarded a US $110,000 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contract to develop a set of aluminum-based high strength alloys.
These alloys are a new class of materials that exploit the complex metal compounds that can be formed between rare earth elements and common metals such as aluminum and nickel. In the right circumstances and under good metallurgical control these alloys will produce miniscule precipitates that impart exceptional properties on aluminum alloys. These materials could eventually be used in applications that require low density and high strength such as fan blades or low pressure compressor blades in jet engines or for low-weight but high-strength automotive components. These applications are significant in improving power-to-weight ratios and therefore improving fuel efficiencies.
DARPA is the central research and development organization for the US Department of Defense. DARPA's mission is to maintain the technological superiority of the US Military and prevent technological surprise from harming national security. DARPA provides funding for researchers in industry, universities, government laboratories and elsewhere to conduct high-risk, high-reward research and development projects that will benefit US national security.
GWTI is a specialized production facility based in Troy MI which produces rare earth materials, powders, and custom vacuum-grade specialty alloys. GWTI provides research and development, process development, consulting, and innovative products and services to clients worldwide. By developing a customized approach to each client's processing needs, GWTI offers advanced solutions that lead to a better final product. GWTI has the capability to do Vacuum Induction Melting of special alloys containing reactive metals and in particular has experience of rare earth containing alloys that are sensitive to melting atmospheres.
Jim Engdahl, President and CEO of Great Western Minerals Group said, ?Great Western Technologies is pleased to be a participant in this project. This contract will further demonstrate the capability of our facilities in the USA to develop specialized alloys for a wide range of applications, particularly as they relate to the development of more fuel-efficient and greener technologies. We look forward to the possibility of participating in larger contracts for DARPA upon the successful completion of this one.?
Jim Engdahl
President and CEO
About Great Western Minerals Group Ltd.
Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. is a developer of rare earth projects and a manufacturer of specialized alloys in its facilities in the United States of America and the United Kingdom. The Company is developing six rare earth exploration and development properties in North America with an option on a sizable additional property in South Africa.. As part of the Company?s strategy to pursue a vertically-integrated business model, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries of Less Common Metals Limited located in Birkenhead UK, and Great Western Technologies Inc., located in Troy, Michigan, produce a variety of specialty alloys for use in the battery, magnet and aerospace industries. These "designer" alloys include those containing copper, nickel, cobalt and the rare earth elements.
For further information, please contact Ron Malashewski, Manager of Investor Relations at (306) 659-4516. Email inquiries should be made to info@gwmg.ca and the company website is located at www.gwmg.ca. Inquiries by direct mail should be addressed to Great Western Minerals Group Ltd., 226 Cardinal Crescent, Saskatoon, SK S7L 6H8.
Certain information set out in this News Release constitutes forward-looking information, including information. Forward-looking statements (often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "expect", "may", "could", "anticipate" or "will" and similar expressions) may describe expectations, opinions or guidance that are not statements of fact and which may be based upon information provided by third parties. Forward-looking statements are based upon the opinions, expectations and estimates of management of GWMG as at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or outcomes to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Those factors include, but are not limited to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are beyond the control of GWMG, risks associated with the industry in general, commodity prices and exchange rate changes, operational risks associated with exploration, development and production operations, delays or changes in plans, risks associated with the uncertainty of reserve estimates, health and safety risks and the uncertainty of estimates and projections of production, costs and expenses. In light of the risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking information. Although GWMG believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements set out in this press release or incorporated herein by reference are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. The forward-looking statements of GWMG contained in this press release, or incorporated herein by reference, are expressly qualified, in their entirety, by this cautionary statement.
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