Noront test shows 92.50% Au recovery at Eagle's Nest

2011-07-07 10:24 ET - News Release

Mr. Wes Hanson reports

NORONT VERIFIES EXCELLENT RECOVERIES AT EAGLES NEST

Noront Resources Ltd. has released initial metallurgical results for the Eagle's Nest deposit, part of the Company's McFaulds Lake Project in the James Bay Lowlands, Ontario.

During the 2010 drill program, a series of holes were drilled into the Eagle's Nest nickel, copper and PGM deposit in order to obtain samples for metallurgical testwork. The metallurgical samples were shipped to SGS's Lakefield's independent metallurgical test facility where all testwork has been completed. Upon arrival at SGS Lakefield, the samples were composited into the following two main sample types deemed to be representative of the deposit:

Upper Blend: 75% net textured 25% massive material

Lower Blend: 90% net textured 10% massive material

The Upper Blend comprised samples representing mineral resources above the 275 meter level and the Lower Blend represented mineral resources below this level.

The objective of the flotation testwork was to produce a bulk copper-nickel PGM concentrate that met the specifications of conventional nickel smelters. The metallurgical composites were used in number of initial batch tests to define preliminary process criteria such as reagent consumption, grind size and flotation grade/recovery relationships. Once basic parameters were determined in the batch tests, the flowsheet was to be modeled in a series of locked-cycle flotation tests designed to simulate actual closed circuit operation. For the Lower Blend tests an additional batch test was completed to evaluate the impact of additional reagents on improving the concentrate grades. The Locked Cycle test results for the Upper Blend are summarized below:

Concentrate Grade and Recovery Upper Blend
         Feed Sample Concentrate Recovery 
Wt%         100%        22.40%       -    
                                          
Grades                                    
   Ni       3.40%       13.10%    86.40%  
   Cu       1.74%       7.47%     96.10%  
   Pt      1.8 gpt     6.22 gpt   77.40%  
   Pd     5.83 gpt     23.5 gpt   90.30%  
   Au     0.37 gpt     1.53 gpt   92.50%  
   Ag     3.56 gpt     13.1 gpt   82.50%  

The Lower Blend was tested in both a locked cycle test and subsequent batch test to improve concentrate grade by utilizing additional reagents. The batch test showed similar nickel recoveries but improved the bulk concentrate by depressing the flotation of talc. The Lower Blend sample test results are summarized below:

Concentrate Grade and Recovery Lower Blend
         Feed Sample Concentrate Recovery 
Wt%         100%        16.50%       -    
                                          
Grades                                    
   Ni       2.22%       12.90%    83.70%  
   Cu       0.98%       6.14%     87.30%  
   Pt     1.13 gpt     4.84 gpt   71.00%  
   Pd      5.2 gpt     17.2 gpt   74.30%  
   Au     0.27 gpt     0.55 gpt   33.10%  
   Ag     3.25 gpt     12.4 gpt   63.20%  

Mr. Paul Semple, P.Eng and Noront's Chief Operating Officer noted "These positive results confirm the metallurgical assumptions made during the NI 43-101 Preliminary Assessment report and the metallurgical characteristics are similar to most other Canadian nickel copper deposits. Further testwork will focus on finalizing equipment sizes and the optimization of grade/recovery relationships based on further discussions with interested smelters."

This press release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Richard Gowans, P.Eng. President of Micon International, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Gowans is a professional metallurgist and also is Micon's Project Manager leading the technical studies.

We seek Safe Harbor.