Thursday, July 28, 2011

Namibia Approves Infrastructure For Bannerman’s Etango Uranium Project

Published on Thursday July 28 2011

PERTH ASX- and TSX-listed Bannerman Resources has received environmental clearance from the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism for the linear infrastructure for its Etango uranium project.
The environmental clearances gave approval for a linear infrastructure corridor from the existing nearby public road to the project site, and included road, rail, power lines, telecommunications and a water pipeline.

“The grant of the environmental clearance for the linear infrastructure associated with the Etango uranium project, following an extensive documentation and public consultation programme, demonstrates the ongoing support of the Namibian government for the project,” said CEO Len Jubber.

Bannerman, which China’s Hanlong Mining Investments wants to buy, received the environmental clearance for the development of the Etango project last year, based on the configuration set in the 2009 environmental- and social-impact assessment (ESIA).

An updated ESIA and accompanying environmental and social management plan, incorporating the now expanded resource area and site layout refinements, would be lodged for public comment during the next quarter, following which it would be submitted to the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism for approval.

Jubber said that upon the receipt of an updated environmental clearance for the development of the Etango project, Bannerman would lodge supplementary information with the Ministry of Mines and Energy in further support of the existing Etango mining licence application.

The Etango project currently has a measured resource of around 62.7-million tons, grading 205 ppm for 28.3-million pounds of uranium oxide, an indicated resource of 120.4-million pounds, and an inferred resource of 63.9-million pounds.

On Monday, Extract Resources also announced that Namibia had granted it environmental approval for the linear infrastructure to service its Husab uranium mine.



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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Jorc Resource Up Black Range Minerals 51% Upgrade to 90.9 Million Pounds Of Uranium At Hansen/Taylor Ranch Uranium Project

Published on Wednesday July 20 2011

Black Range Minerals Limited (ASX:BLR) is very pleased to advise that it has completed a calculation of the resource for the combined Hansen/Taylor Ranch Uranium Project in Colorado, USA.
This resource calculation follows the execution, earlier this year, of agreements that provide the Company the exclusive right to acquire 100% of the Hansen Uranium Deposit, which was discovered in 1977 and fully permitted for mining in 1981, prior to the collapse of the global uranium market.



More than 1,000 holes were drilled and three feasibility studies completed to evaluate the Hansen Deposit previously. Information from these holes has been used to calculate a JORC Code compliant resource estimate for the areas covered by recent agreements. 

This resource estimate has been integrated with previously calculated JORC compliant resources from the series of deposits on the immediately adjacent Taylor Ranch Uranium Project, in which the Company also holds a 100% interest in the mineral rights.

When applying a 0.025% cut-off grade, the JORC Code compliant indicated and inferred resource for the combined Hansen/Taylor Ranch Uranium Project comprises:
68.9 Mt at 0.060% U3O8 for 90.9 million pounds of U3O8



This represents a 51% increase in the number of pounds of U3O8 previously reported for the Taylor Ranch Uranium Project.

44% of this resource is classified "Indicated", as summarised in Table 2 below (see link at the bottom of the release).

When applying a 0.075% cut-off grade, the JORC Code compliant indicated and inferred resource for the combined Hansen/Taylor Ranch Uranium Project comprises:
16.6 Mt at 0.120% U3O8 for 43.8 million pounds of U3O8



This represents a 58% increase in the number of pounds of U3O8 previously reported for the Taylor Ranch Uranium Project. It illustrates that there is a very robust resource at the Hansen/Taylor Ranch Uranium Project.

46% of this resource, at a 0.075% cut-off grade, is classified "Indicated", as summarised in Table 3 below (see link at the bottom of the release).

These statistics confirm that the combined Hansen/Taylor Ranch Uranium Project is one of the largest uranium projects within the USA - which is the largest consumer of uranium in the world.

With domestic mines within the USA producing less than 10% of the uranium consumed in the country on an annual basis, the development of such a large and strategic asset should be regarded highly.

Black Range continues to advance the Hansen/Taylor Ranch Uranium Project feasibility and environmental studies as quickly as possible.

The Company is currently undertaking a 10-12 hole (approximately 3,000 metre) drilling program at the Hansen Uranium Deposit to acquire additional geological, geotechnical, metallurgical and hydrological data required to update the historic feasibility studies.

The Company is simultaneously acquiring base line environmental data in order to streamline the mine permitting process.

For the complete Black Range Minerals announcement including tables and figures, please refer to the following link:



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7th Annual Australian Uranium Conference 20-21 July 2011

Published on Wednesday July 20 2011


The 7th Annual Uranium Conference

The Australian Uranium industry has consolidated in the past year and is looking forward to better times, with a surge in prices over the past few months.


With political pressure brought on to sell to new markets this year, along with the upcoming proposals to mine Uranium in Western Australia, this year could mark a cornerstone for the industry.

The 7th Australian Uranium Conference will again feature industry updates, company presentations, government information talks, and technical presentations. This makes the event the original and all encompassing venue for anyone wishing to keep themselves informed on the uranium industry and the issues associated with it.

The conference has proven itself to be the most influential and largest uranium event in Australia and the 7th Australian Uranium Conference will once again not disappoint.



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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Toro Energy Takes Stake In Nowthanna Uranium Project

Published on Tuesday July 19 2011

Toro Energy has increased its mid-west Western Australian uranium resource base by 25 per cent, with the acquisition of a large stake in another resource project.
The company has bought a 70 per cent stake in the Nowthanna uranium project, which lies 150 kilometres west of its Wiluna uranium mine.

It plans to start production at the Wiluna project by late 2013.

Toro's Managing Director, Greg Hall, says the purchase reinforces the company's position as a major player in the region.

"We think it's a good acquisition in difficult market times," he said.

"We certainly believe that by picking up these regional plays we are enhancing the potential value to our shareholders going forward, these sort of regional plays do take a lot more work but certainly it's giving us a much larger footprint."




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Friday, July 15, 2011

Strike Halts Production At Rossing Uranium Mine

Published on Friday July 15 2011

15 July 2011 - A strike at mining giant Rio Tinto's Rossing uranium mine in Namibia ‒ the third largest uranium mine in the world ‒ has brought production of the energy metal there to a complete standstill.

“Production came to a halt yesterday morning, but we have not yet made an assessment of the losses,” Rossing corporate affairs manager Jerome Mutumba confirmed here. Union officials could not be reached immediately for comment.

Some 500 to 600 workers went on strike, demanding a bonus payment and distribution of the pension fund surplus to employees, according to a letter sent by Rio Tinto to union officials and union papers seen by Reuters.

Rio Tinto said in the letter it considered the strike illegal and could lodge an action for damages against those responsible for the "substantial losses".

Rossing ‒ a large, low-grade open pit uranium mine ‒ is the world's third largest producer of uranium oxide globally. According to Rio Tinto, the mine accounts for around 3.85% of Namibia's gross domestic product.

It is 68.6% owned by Rio, with the remaining stake owned by Iran, South Africa's Industrial Development Corporation and the Namibian government. At the end of 2010, Rossing had 1,592 permanent employees.

Rio Tinto spokespeople in London could not be reached immediately for comment.


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Monday, July 11, 2011

Australian Uranium Developer Bannerman Gets A$143 Million Takeover Proposal From Hanlong

Published on Monday July 11 2011

China's Sichuan Hanlong Group has made a A$144 million ($154.9 million) "highly conditional" bid for Australia's Bannerman Resources Ltd , eyeing the group's uranium project in Namibia near key mines.
The bid at A$0.612 a share represents a 59 percent premium to Bannerman's Friday close, but Bannerman said privately owned Sichuan Hanlong was trying to take advantage of recent share price weakness in the wake of Japan's Fukushima nuclear crisis.

"The board of Bannerman believes that Hanlong recognises the strategic significance of controlling Bannerman's large-scale and low technical risk Etango Uranium Project in Namibia," the company said.

It has been trying to find a joint venture partner to help finance, develop and operate its 80 percent-owned Etango project, southwest of Rio Tinto's Rossing uranium mine and west of Paladin Energy's Langer-Heinrich mine.

Bannerman, being advised by Macquarie Capital and Cutfield Freeman & Co, said it will continue to talk with Hanlong though it will not grant it exclusivity, and will also continue discussions with others for a joint venture.

Hanlong's bid comes two months after state-owned China Guangdong Nuclear Power (CGNPC) was forced to withdraw an offer for UK-listed Kalahari Minerals after UK regulators blocked it from cutting its bid after the Fukushima disaster.

Kalahari's key asset is a 43 percent stake in Extract Resources , which owns the Husab uranium project in Namibia, potentially the second-largest uranium mine in the world.


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Friday, July 8, 2011

Lynas Corporation And Siemens In Rare-Earth Magnet Venture

Published on Friday July 08 2011

Lynas Corp will team up with Siemens in a joint venture that will help the German technology giant secure a long-term source of supply-constrained rare earth elements, coveted for their use in hybrid car engines, smartphones, iPads and other modern technologies.
The two companies have signed a letter of intent to form a joint venture, of which Siemens will own 55 per cent, that will specialise in the production of high-powered rare earth magnets used in energy-efficient engines and wind turbines.

‘‘This planned joint venture would be an important strategic pillar for us to pursue a long-term and stable supply with high performance magnets,’’ Ralf-Michael Franke, chief executive of Siemens’ drive technologies division, said.

The chief executive of Lynas, Nicholas Curtis, said the deal was part of its strategic objective to become integrated into the supply chains of its end customers.

‘‘It’s strategically, in my opinion, very significant in that it sets a direction to say that we are using our first-mover position to establish strategic alliances,’’ Mr Curtis said.

Mr Curtis said Siemens – and major Japanese investor Sojitz – were satisfied with the environmental credentials of Lynas, despite a large amount of negative publicity generated from its plans to build the world’s largest rare earth refinery in Malaysia.

‘‘[Siemens have] reviewed it fully, they understand and are comfortable with the reality of our operations, as are the Japanese,’’ Mr Curtis said.

‘‘You can’t go into the windfarm business based on an unsustainable environmental platform. It’s absolutely critical for them for this platform to be green.’’

Siemens employs 36,000 staff in its drive technologies division, which generated 7 billion euro ($9.34 billion) in sales and is a heavy innovator in energy efficient technologies.

China dominates 97 per cent of the world's rare earth production and has imposed export quotas in recent months, sparking a global rush to find alternative sources for the valuable elements.




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Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Jonesville Alaskan Coal Permit Awarded To Black Range Minerals

Published on Wednesday July 06 2011
On the Coal Front!


State renews Jonesville Coal Permit
By K.T. McKee
Frontiersman
Published on Monday, May 30, 2011 5:02 PM AKDT  



SUTTON The state renewal of an outside mining companys Jonesville coal mining permit earlier this month was so quiet, it wasnt even mentioned at the latest Sutton Community Council meeting.

Then again, only half of the eight-person council was present at the May 25 meeting at Sutton Elementary School, where about 25 residents filled metal folding chairs to hear other items on the SCC agenda.

Despite the lack of a quorum, council members Claudia Dolfi,
Jan Mulder, Gene Agnew and Jim McPherson discussed revenue sharing projects, a potential pedestrian/bike trail and a new child care center opening in town.

The council had previously voted 4 to 3 to issue a statement of support for coal mining in the area, causing an uproar in the small community between Miles 57 and 65 of the Glenn Highway.


The Frontiersman was alerted to the May 18 Jonesville permit renewal for Colorado-based Ranger Alaska by anti-coal activist Bonnie Zirkle, who owns 80 acres within one mile of the Wishbone Hill property off Buffalo Mine Road being explored by the Usibelli Coal Mine Co.

Ranger Alaska is a subsidiary of the Australian mining company Black Range Minerals.

Zirkle said last week she wasnt particularly surprised the Jonesville permit didnt come up for discussion at the May 25 SCC meeting.

Its probably better for the pro-coal people if the issue gets as little press as possible,Zirkle said.Theyd rather it quietly proceed in the hopes theres not much opposition to it until its too late to stop it.

The potential Jonesville coal mine is one of a few in the Sutton area that have sparked an array of heated debates within the past year over whether coal mining in the Matanuska Valley can be conducted again in a way that does not disturb the local ecosystem, air and water quality, and general quality of life north of Palmer.

Coal mining representatives and residents in favor of the mines for the economic boost and local jobs they would generate have argued mining can be done responsibly with little to no impact to the environment and quality of life in the area. Those against the mines argue they would generate cancer-causing toxins, pollute the local water table, disturb salmon and other wildlife habitat, damage nearby homes, generate dangerous truck traffic and decrease property values.

The Colorado-based Ranger Alaska LLC is considering a  
possible restart of the Jonesville Mine less than two miles from the heart of Sutton as Usibelli Coal Mine finishes up its exploration of its 8,000-acre Wishbone Hill property off Buffalo Mine Road.
http://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/mining/coal/2011Jonesvillepermit-renewal.pdf.
__________________________________


Here's a full summary of BLR's 
Jonesville Coal Project, Alaska, USA

In 2008 the rights to the mine, as well as two adjacent leases comprising 1,450 acres, were purchased by the Australian-based Black Range Minerals through a subsidiary called Ranger Alaska. This company holds a variety of permits related to exploration, testing, and the reprocessing of mine tailings from the Evans Coal Mine.

The Jonesville Coal Mine is considered to be a “low risk project…in close proximity to thermal dependent countries including South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and China” according to Black Range Minerals January 2009 press release.

The project comprises two leases covering 1,450 acres with coal measures found from surface through to around 800 meters depth. Twelve coal seams of thickness greater than one meter have been located at the Jonesville Coal Project mostly consisting of Highly Volatile Bituminous rank Coal.

Of these, seams #3 and #5 both reach a maximum thickness of 7Mtr's, with seam #5 averaging 6 Mtr's thickness & seam #3 averaging 4Mtr's thickness.

The thickness of the seven other Coal seams averages greater than 1.5Mtr's, with seams #7b & #6 and the lower Shaw bed locallt exibiting thicknesses of 6Mtr's, and 3Mtr's respectively.


Within the Jonesville Project the coal units are laterally extensive within a doubly plunging syncline. They are interbedded by Sandstone,Siltstone,Claystone and Carbonaceous Shales

BITUMINOUS
Bituminous coal is high-rank coal. It has high heat and low moisture contents and is harder than lower ranked coals. Bituminous coals are used in electricity generation and steel making processes, as well as, for industrial and municipal steam production applications. Bituminous coals are mined primarily in Appalachia, the Midwest and the West.

•Mined at Wishbone Hill - Sutton, Alaska
•Old coal - 50 million to 300 million years
•Very little moisture
•Low volatile matter - less than 10%
•High heat value
•Generation of steam to produce electricity
•Steel industry
Black Range Minerals speculates an inferred resource base of 130.7 million tons of coal (primarily south of the existing mine). Minor exploration occurred around the old mine site between 1990 and 1997, and in 2004, with no further mining undertaken. What came out of those years was the discovery of high quality coal resources south of the old mine site.

Black Range Minerals highlighted the access to great infrastructure: the Glenn Highway is only a little over a mile away, and the railroads are only 12.5 miles away with easy access to the port of Seward approximately 186 miles to the South, and Port Mackenzie 62 miles to the southwest and from there to the global market.

Black Range Minerals sees this as an “Opportunistic, very low cost acquisition” in which the current lease owners will get 2 percent royalty and the state of Alaska will receive 5 percent royalty on all production from the project.


Here's a brief description of what BLR's Jonesville Coal Project contains relative to Coal types.

BLR's Jonesville Project, contains Bituminous at around 12,000/12,500 BTUs-per-pound


Types of Coal

We use the term "coal" to describe a variety of fossilized plant materials, but no two coals are exactly alike. Heating value, ash melting temperature, sulfur and other impurities, mechanical strength, and many other chemical and physical properties must be considered when matching specific coals to a particular application.

Coal is classified into four general categories, or "ranks." They range from lignite through sub-bituminous and bituminous to anthracite, reflecting the progressive response of individual deposits of coal to increasing heat and pressure. The carbon content of coal supplies most of its heating value, but other factors also influence the amount of energy it contains per unit of weight. (The amount of energy in coal is expressed in British thermal units per pound. A BTU is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.)

About 90 percent of the coal in this country falls in the bituminous and sub-bituminous categories, which rank below anthracite and, for the most part, contain less energy per unit of weight. Bituminous coal predominates in the Eastern and Mid-continent coal fields, while sub-bituminous coal is generally found in the Western states and Alaska.

Lignite ranks the lowest and is the youngest of the coals. Most lignite is mined in Texas, but large deposits also are found in Montana, North Dakota, and some Gulf Coast states.


Anthracite

Anthracite is coal with the highest carbon content, between 86 and 98 percent, and a heat value of nearly 15,000 BTUs-per-pound. Most frequently associated with home heating, anthracite is a very small segment of the U.S. coal market. There are 7.3 billion tons of anthracite reserves in the United States, found mostly in 11 northeastern counties in Pennsylvania.

Bituminous

The most plentiful form of coal in the United States, bituminous coal is used primarily to generate electricity and make coke for the steel industry. The fastest growing market for coal, though still a small one, is supplying heat for industrial processes. Bituminous coal has a carbon content ranging from 45 to 86 percent carbon and a heat value of 10,500 to 15,500 BTUs-per-pound.


Sub-bituminous

Ranking below bituminous is sub-bituminous coal with 35-45 percent carbon content and a heat value between 8,300 and 13,000 BTUs-per-pound. Reserves are located mainly in a half-dozen Western states and Alaska. Although its heat value is lower, this coal generally has a lower sulfur content than other types, which makes it attractive for use because it is cleaner burning.
Lignite

Lignite is a geologically young coal which has the lowest carbon content, 25-35 percent, and a heat value ranging between 4,000 and 8,300 BTUs-per-pound. Sometimes called brown coal, it is mainly used for electric power generation.



For those Holders unaware of the proceedings currently in play "Read On" as we should be close to attaining an outcome.
___________________________________

Public Notice: Extension of comment period Jonesville Coal Mining Permit

by Sue Deyoe ~ October 11th, 2010


At the request of the local community, the Department of Natural Resources has extended the public comment period for the renewal of the Jonesville Coal Mining Permit Renewal.

The deadline to submit written comment closes at 5:00PM on Tuesday, October 19, 2010.

An application for the renewal of the Jonesville Coal Mine Permit (U-0201) has been filed with the State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land and Water (DMLW), on December 9, 2009, from Ranger Alaska, LLC, 110 N. Rubey Dr. Suite 201, Golden Colorado, 80403.
The Jonesville Coal Mine is located in the Matanuska Valley approximately 11 miles northeast of Palmer, Alaska.

The mining area is approximately 2 miles northwest of Sutton, Alaska near the southeast portion of Wishbone Hill. The mining area can be found on the USGS Anchorage C6 quad map. The mining permit area is in Township 19N Range 3E Sections 9, 16, 17, 19, 20, and 21, Seward Meridian.

This request is to renew the existing permit for an additional five-year term. There are no changes or modifications to the operation and reclamation plans which have been proposed which would significantly alter the previously approved permit. The originally approved permit met the requirements of AS 27.21 and 11 AAC 90 subject to the stipulations of the original permits.

The permit renewal procedure is part of the Alaska Surface Coal Mining Program (AS 27.21 and 11 AAC 90). Copies of the original permit, transfer and renewal application and the preliminary findings document are available for review at the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land and Water, 550 W. 7th Ave., Suite 920, Anchorage, AK 99501-3577. Inquiries should be sent to: Chuck White, at the Anchorage address listed above, by fax to (907) 269-8930, or by e-mail to chuck [dot] white [at] alaska [dot] gov.

Any person who is or may be adversely affected by the renewal of this permit may file written comments or objections and may include with an objection a request for an informal conference (AS 27.21.140). Comments may be filed by mail, fax, or e-mail at the address above, but must be received by the Department by 5:00 pm, October 19, 2010.

Outcome Pending




Russel Kirkham from Alaska's Dept. of Natural Resources points out where a new underground mine would enter the mountain if it were built. This proposed mine would require several new permits to happen.


Russel Kirkham from Alaska's Dept. of Natural Resources presents information on a permit renewal at Jonesville coal mine.


Photo taken during DNR's presentation at Jonesville mine.





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