LAKEFIELD, ONTARIO and TORONTO,
ONTARIO - (May 2, 2008) - SGS SA (ZWX:SGSH), Noront Resources Ltd. (TSX
VENTURE:NOT) -
Pursuant to Noront's press release of April 25th, SGS and Noront would like
to provide this update and clarification regarding the status of the
analytical and quality program used for 774 samples from Noront's Double
Eagle project, located in the McFauld Lake area in north eastern Ontario.
These samples were received by SGS' Toronto laboratory in eight batches
over the period February 6th to March 31st, 2008.
The Company reaffirms that this quality control issue does not relate to
any assay results that have been previously released. In addition, the
delays in achieving acceptable results from the laboratory have no bearing
on the actual results that will be forthcoming.
Due to the ongoing high volume of samples processed at the SGS laboratory,
the first Noront samples were not addressed until mid-March. The first
batch of approximately 400 samples was processed for base and precious
metals during a 10 day period. These data were reported to Noront's Quality
Control QP, Ms. Tracey Armstrong, P. Geo., of P&E Mining Consultants
Inc. from April 7th through April 22nd, 2008. Upon reviewing Noront's
certified field reference standards in these batches, Ms. Armstrong
determined that the base metal data produced by SGS using a strong acid
digest ICP-OES method were biased significantly low and contacted SGS on
April 7th. A certified
reference sample is commonly referred to as a "standard" and is
purchased from an independent firm that certifies the assays for the
standard are accurate and repeatable. If the standard sample assays are
greater or less than the accepted range, then the entire batch of samples
would be re-run for a second set of assays.
As per the terms of Noront's Services Agreement, SGS investigated, defined
and addressed the problems from April 8th-11th and began the programmed
retesting of samples on April 14th . A delay between reporting to the lab
of the low bias standards and the results from the reanalysis can be
expected to take a minimum of 10 days. When this delay was exceeded, Noront
issued the Press Release of April 25th in order to explain to investors the
lack of forthcoming assay results.
SGS determined that, during the base metals analysis over the 10 day period
when the samples were first analysed, two breaches to SGS's global analytical
quality control program had occurred. The first was related to the choice
of certified reference material used to monitor the overall quality of the
base metal analyses and the second was related to an ICP-OES calibration
error. Both errors were human in nature and were not caught by subsequent
QC monitoring and data reviewers. In response to this issue, SGS has
reengineered the Toronto Lab Quality System as follows:
- The choice of certified reference material is now made by a senior
laboratory staff member on a sample-batch basis. SGS has also issued
stricter data acceptance criteria and now sample batches are rejected if
the contained certified reference material is not suitable in matrix and
concentration level when compared to the client samples.
- The calibration protocols for the ICP-OES group are also changed to
increase the frequency of the calibration verification. This will improve
the calibration monitoring process and prevent undetected calibration
failures.
SGS is processing the Noront requested retests and is planning to have all
remedial work completed by Friday May 2nd, 2008.
Upon receipt of the revised analytical reports from SGS, Noront will review
the results for QA/QC as before, apply them to the drill hole information
and release results in a timely manner.
SGS is a longstanding respected member of the North American exploration
community and is very aware of the implications of analytical data and the
need for quality and diligence. In response to the unprecedented boom in
exploration activity, SGS has invested heavily to ramp-up capacity, quality
and capability throughout our North American analytical network the last
three years. The SGS laboratory in Toronto processed over 8.5 million
analytical determinations in 2007 and is currently undergoing another
significant expansion that will boost the laboratory's capacity to in
excess of 17 million analytical determinations per annum. As well, one of
SGS' senior lab managers was transferred to the Toronto site in late 2007
in response to the significant growth in business experienced the last 2
years and in response to the 2008 capacity expansion.
SGS considers itself to be an industry leader in terms of quality systems
implementation - the Toronto lab has been certified to ISO/IEC 17025 for a
number of specific registered tests since 2003 and has been audited to this
Standard three times, the most recent being in April 2008. The Noront
incident has already resulted in changes in operational procedures and
protocols at the Toronto Lab site.
After the initial delay, Noront is impressed with SGS' professional
approach and their immediate attention to correcting the problem. Noront
expects to continue to use SGS as one of it's analytical laboratories.
All information contained in this release pertaining to SGS had been
supplied by SGS and Noront makes no representation expressed or implied as
the accuracy thereof.
SGS is the global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing
and certification services. Founded in 1878, SGS is recognized as the
global benchmark in quality and integrity. With over 50,000 employees, SGS
operates a network of over 1,000 offices and laboratories around the world.
This press release includes certain "Forward-Looking
Statements" within the meaning of the US Private Securities Reform Act
of 1995. other than statements of historical fact, all statements are
"Forward-Looking Statements" that involve such various known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance
that such statements will prove accurate. Results and future events could
differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers of
this press release are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
"Forward-Looking Statements".
Noront is a tier 2 junior resource company on the TSX Venture Exchange,
trading symbol NOT, with 128,568,083 shares issued to date.
Investors are invited to visit Noront's IR Hub at http://www.agoracom.com/IR/Noront
where they can post questions and receive answers already posted by other
investors. Alternatively, investors are able to e-mail all questions and correspondence
to NOT@agoracom.com where they can also request to be added to the investor
e-mail list to receive all future press releases and updates in real time.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
SGS Minerals Services
Russ Calow
VP Global Geochemistry
(705) 652-2018
Fax: (705) 652-6365
Email: russ.calow@sgs.com
or
Noront Resources Ltd
Richard Nemis
President and CEO
(416) 864-1456
Fax: (604) 367-5444
Email: info@norontresources.com