Unico, Inc.
Announces Alternative Testing of Gold and Silver Content from Concentrates at
the Deer Trail Mine
Issued Wednesday February 25, 10:46 am ET
SAN DIEGO, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--Feb. 25, 2009--Unico, Incorporated (OTC BB:
UNCO), a natural resource company in the precious metals mining sector, today
announced testing of alternative methods for the recovery of gold and silver
from the recently produced concentrates at the Deer Trail Mine in Marysvale,
Utah.
Due to the continued strength in gold and silver markets, Unico�s wholly owned
Deer Trail Mining Company subsidiary has explored different lixiative leaching
technologies for the recovery of gold and silver from the company�s recently
produced concentrates. Several tests have been conducted in the Deer
Trail metallurgical facility to determine the economics of the use of thiourea
and thiosulfate lixatives, both of which can be used as leaching agents for
gold leaching and silver.
Samples of the Deer Trail concentrate were also sent to an outside laboratory
for leachablity test work. The results of the testing suggested that as
much as 91% of the gold and 88% of the silver contained in the concentrate may
be extractable within the first two hours of agitated leaching. The sample used
in this test work represents an average of our concentrate product produced
thus far in the floatation circuit at the Deer Trail Mill Facility. The
procedure was conducted by fire assay and yielded 0.43 oz/ton gold (Au) and 71
oz/ton silver (Ag).
In house testing at the Deer Trail Lab has shown that the tellurium content was
split between the leach solution and the remaining tailings. Unico
recently announced that due to interest in the tellurium content at the Deer
Trail Mine, the company is conducting in-house evaluation of geochemical data
from a previous underground exploration program at the mine and that additional
test work is expected to be conducted on methods for the extraction of
tellurium directly from the concentrates for marketing directly to end
users. Tellurium, which is used in metal alloys and as a semi-conductor,
has experienced increased demand in recent years in applications including
optical discs, memory chips and solar panels.
The leaching test also found that a majority of the base metals were
retained in the concentrate tailings.
�The information received from the gold and silver recovery testing will be
helpful as we evaluate our opportunities for the sale of concentrates produced
at the Deer Trail Mine,� stated Mark A. Lopez, chief executive officer of
Unico, Inc. �Given the current prices for gold and silver, we expect
there to be continued interest in the Deer Trail concentrates that include
these metals, as well as the tellurium and additional resources of value found
to be in the concentrates.�
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About Unico, Inc.
Unico, Inc. (OTC BB: UNCO) is a publicly traded natural resource company in the
precious metals mining sector that is focused on the exploration, development
and production of gold, silver, lead, zinc, and copper concentrates at its two
mine properties: the Deer Trail Mine and the Silver Bell Mine. The
company has also announced agreements to acquire over 70 additional mining
claims including the Clyde and Crown Point mining claims. In August 2007,
Unico announced that its wholly owned Deer Trail Mining Company subsidiary had
completed the purchase of the Deer Trail Mine from Crown Mines, LLC. For
more information, please visit
www.unicomining.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and such Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements are subject to
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from
those projected in the forward-looking statements. The company may experience
significant fluctuations in operating results due to a number of economic,
competitive and other factors. These factors could cause operation results to
vary significantly from those in prior periods, and those projected in
forward-looking statements. Information with respect to these factors, which
could materially affect the company and its operations, are included on certain
forms the company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contacts:
Gemini Financial Communications, Inc.
A. Beyer
951-677-8073
investors@unicomining.com
.
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