ABN Newswire

FINANCE VIDEO: Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (CVE:UCU) VP of Business Development, Mark MacDonald speaks with ABN Newswire CEO Tim Mckinnon at New York Hard Assets 2012.

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Thu, 24 May 2012 08:46:15 GMT

FINANCE VIDEO: Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (CVE:UCU) Vice President of Business Development, Mark MacDonald speaks with ABN Newswire CEO Tim Mckinnon at New York Hard Assets 2012.

Ucore Rare Metals Inc. is a Canadian, publicly traded resource exploration company. Our purpose is to respond to the expanding need for technology metals primarily in Western markets. Our business is focused on exploration for rare metal ores, among the primary input materials of technology applications in the 21st century. Our specific objective is the discovery and exploration of properties with the potential to yield economic, world class deposits of technology and specialty metals, including rare earth elements, uranium, and associated collateral byproducts.
The guiding principles of our company are the maximization of shareholder value, the minimization of risk, and the systematic implementation of our exploration strategy.

View the video at:
http://www.abnnewswire.net/press/en/72722/ucore-rare

454 Voyageur Way
Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia
Canada B4B 2A7
Tel: (902) 482-5214
Fax: (902) 492-0197
Email: info@ucore.com

Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSE:AVL) Provides Nechalacho Project Update

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Tue, 8 May 2012 06:48:01 GMT

Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSE:AVL) (Amex:AVL) ("Avalon" or the "Company") is pleased to provide a progress update on its Nechalacho Rare Earth Element Project (the "Project"). The Project schedule has been revised to reflect additional time required to complete metallurgical process development work and, consequently, for SNC-Lavalin Inc. to complete the Feasibility Study it is preparing. The Feasibility Study is now targeted for completion in the second quarter of calendar 2013. The target date for initial production is now late 2016.

METALLURGICAL STUDIES

Metallurgical studies are ongoing to define the most efficient process for recovery of the rare earth elements. As disclosed in the Company's news release dated March 26, 2012, a full scale flotation pilot plant trial on a 40 tonne sample of mineralized material from the Basal Zone was completed in February 2012, which successfully produced six tonnes of concentrate for use in the hydrometallurgical pilot plant. Further optimization of the flotation plant design parameters is planned, and a follow-up flotation pilot plant trial on a two to three tonne ore sample is now scheduled for August 2012.

Planning for the hydrometallurgical process pilot plant is nearing completion. The hydrometallurgical process consists of two stages. The first stage is a sulphuric acid bake which liberates most of the light rare earths and 50% of the heavy rare earths. Bench scale testwork on this process is complete. The sulphuric acid bake is followed by a second stage, cracking process that liberates the balance of the heavy rare earths and the by-products zirconium, niobium and tantalum. Bench scale testwork on the cracking process is on-going. The pilot plant for the sulphuric acid bake process is scheduled for August 2012 once the evaluation of various equipment alternatives is completed.

Recent research work on an alternative to the "caustic" cracking process tested to date has identified a potentially more efficient cracking method and laboratory testwork to assess this alternative is underway. Once a decision is made on which is the best alternative, a pilot plant trial will be conducted. This pilot plant trial is not expected to begin until later in 2012 and as a result, the final design criteria for the cracking facility are not expected to be available until early 2013. This extends the target date for the completion of the Feasibility Study to the second quarter of calendar 2013.

The scope and timing of any testwork required for the separation plant process has yet to be determined and at this time it is assumed that it will run in parallel with the work on the cracking process. The Company currently has $48 million in cash resources, which is sufficient to complete the Feasibility Study and cover overhead expenses.

PROJECT SCHEDULE

The recognition that additional time will be required to complete the metallurgical testwork and the Feasibility Study motivated an internal review and formal risk assessment of the entire Project schedule. From this review, the Company concluded that the current (accelerated) Project schedule, which assumed pursuing several project development items in parallel to minimize the time to production start-up, presents an unacceptable level of risk. For example, the schedule contemplated ordering some long lead-time equipment items prior to completion of the Feasibility Study. The schedule also did not build in any contingency for unanticipated delays.

Accordingly, the revised Project schedule now contemplates pursuing the development program in a more sequential manner and includes some contingency for delays. The Company believes that this will result in a lower overall risk profile for the Project. The target date for production start-up is now late 2016, but a detailed schedule to production will not be known until the Feasibility Study is completed.

DRILLING AND RESOURCE UPDATE

An updated resource estimate incorporating all of the 2011 drilling results is currently in preparation and is now expected to be available in May 2012. This update has been delayed largely due to slow turnaround on assays and check assays, plus turnover in staff responsible for this work. Roscoe, Postle and Associates have been retained by the Company to finalize the resource update.

The Company completed a total of 10,725.4 metres of drilling in 47 holes using two drills during its 2012 winter drilling program (the "2012 Winter Drilling Program"), which commenced on January 16, 2012, and was concluded on April 26, 2012. The main objective of the program was to better define the geometry and continuity of the Nechalacho deposit in the areas to be mined in the first three years of production. The drills are equipped to recover large diameter (HQ and PQ) core to provide additional bulk sample material from the Basal Zone for on-going metallurgical pilot plant work. A summer drilling program is scheduled to begin in July 2012, with approximately 12,000 metres of additional definition drilling planned.

PERMITTING AND ABORIGINAL AGREEMENTS

The Company is currently undertaking an environmental assessment of the Project in compliance with regulations administered by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board ("MVEIRB"). As previously reported, the Company submitted its Developers Assessment Report ("DAR"), (otherwise known as an Environmental Impact Statement) in May 2011. In November 2011, the DAR was deemed by MVEIRB to be in conformity with the terms of reference. The process is now in the information request stage and the Company anticipates the environmental assessment will be completed by the end of 2012. Copies of all information submitted by the Company can be found on MVEIRB's public registry at www.reviewboard.ca. The Company is continuing positive negotiations with aboriginal groups and, at this stage, the discussions and negotiations towards reaching Accommodation Agreements remain on schedule.

STRATEGIC PARTNER / OFFTAKE AGREEMENTS

Avalon has entered into non-binding memorandums of understanding ("MOUs") with four Asian industrial companies seeking to participate in the Project as strategic investors or technology partners. Three of the MOUs contemplate an investment in the Project and off-take agreements, while the fourth is centred on technology support for the separation plant. Progress is being made with all four companies towards signing definitive agreements but no specific timelines are in place for concluding these negotiations. In addition, Avalon is continuing discussions with a number of potential strategic customers in Asia, Europe and the United States who have expressed an interest in entering into off-take agreements.

PROJECT FINANCING

The Company has commenced meetings with financial advisors regarding the proposed financing of the construction of the Project. The Company and its advisors have also held preliminary meetings with potential lenders, equipment financers and export development agencies which have expressed an interest in funding parts of the Project construction. The Company is moving forward with the selection of financial and legal advisors and the preparation of the financial models and other data that will be required to obtain the necessary debt financing.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Two employees of the drilling contractor retained by the Company for the 2012 Winter Drilling Program were injured during a fire on one of the contractor's drill rigs on March 23, 2012. Of these two employees, the driller has been cleared to return to work and the driller helper is recovering at home. After the fire all drilling activities at the Project were immediately stopped. External safety auditors were engaged along with the contractor's senior management and remedial actions have been implemented. Drilling resumed on April 2, 2012 and continued until April 26, 2012 when the drills were shut-down for the spring ice break-up period.

The qualified person for the purpose of this news release is Donald Bubar, P.Geo. (Ont), President.

Shares Outstanding: 103,186,986. Cash resources: approximately $48 million.

Avalon Rare Metals Inc.
Communications and Investor Relations
Virginia Morgan, Director
T: +1-416-364-4938
F: +1-416-364-5162
E: ir@avalonraremetals.com
WWW: www.avalonraremetals.com

TUC Resources Limited (ASX:TUC) Stromberg Metallurgical Testwork Results

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Tue, 1 May 2012 10:37:00 GMT

TUC Resources Limited (ASX:TUC) is very pleased to report recoveries of up to 85% from the latest leach tests on Heavy Rare Earth (HREE**) rich clays from the Stromberg Prospect. This is a 10% improvement on initial test work.

Metallurgical Information

Two composite samples have been tested using a multi-stage leach process involving initial caustic wash followed by acid leach at a range of concentrations. Up to 85% TREE recovery was achieved using leaching by sulphuric acid (one part acid to two parts water) after an initial caustic wash using sodium hydroxide.

Promisingly, work indicates that recovery from lower grade material is comparable to higher grade, with a 0.2% to 0.4% Total Rare Earth (TREO*) composite giving an 77% recovery of TREE. It appears from work that the caustic wash improves the amenability of the mineralised material to the leach process.

Leaching of the HREE directly into solution can result in a more direct processing route to an HREE intermediate/carbonate material, which would allow TUC to generate more competitively valued product, when compared to other concentration methods.

The leach tests also extracted up to 93% of uranium mineralisation, possibly creating a secondary revenue stream for the project, whilst simultaneously serving to boost marketability and exportability of any future HREE product.

Furthermore, all of the deleterious element Thorium was left behind in the residues, significantly upgrading the quality/marketability of any final product.

It should be noted, that although these results are impressive, test work is still at an early stage. To date 70% recovery of yttrium has been achieved with a respectable acid consumption of 371kg/t. Efforts are now being made to improve the efficiency of the process including; reducing reagent consumption by testing variation in leach times, acid to mineralised material mixes, and leach temperature.

*Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO's) have been calculated by addition of common oxide values for Ce, Dy, Er, Eu, Gd, Ho, La, Lu, Nd, Pr, Sm, Tb, Tm, Yb, Y. REO values have been calculated from rare earth element (REE) ppm grades after analysis by lithium-metaborate fusion and ICPMS , where possible, or by HF/multi acid digest and ICPMS. The total REO is calculated as the sum of all REE as REE2O3, with the exception of Ce, Pr and Tb; which are calculated as CeO2, Pr6O11, and Tb4O7 respectively, in accordance with geochemical conventions.

**Heavy Rare Earth Elements HREE's = Dy, Er, Ho, Lu, Tb, Tm, Yb, Y;
Medium Rare Earth Elements MREE's = Gd, Eu, Sm;
Light Rare Earths LREE's Ce, La, Pr, Nd.

TUC Resources Limited
Ian Bamborough, Managing Director
T: +61-8-8947-0944
E: ibamborough@tucresources.com.au
WWW: www.tucresources.com.au

TUC Resources Limited (ASX:TUC) Quarterly Activities Report

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:26:00 GMT

TUC Resources Ltd (ASX:TUC) provides its Exploration Activities Report for the quarter ending 31 March 2012.

Highlights

Stromberg Heavy Rare Earth (HREE) Prospect

Step Change in Processing Options

- Excellent results have been gained from the latest metallurgical test work with up to 77% HREE** recovered by a direct acid leach route of clay material. Leaching of HREEs directly into solution potentially gives a more direct processing route allowing TUC to develop a more competitively valued intermediate product when compared to other concentration methods.

- Xenotime has been identified by high detail microscopy as the dominant HREE bearing mineral in the clay material. Xenotime is known for its excellent recovery and processing characteristics and is therefore highly sought after by the rare earth processing industry.

- The presence of Xenotime in clay material at Stromberg has positive implications for TUC's exploration model allowing TUC to draw some geological comparison to some of the lower cost Southern Chinese Clay REE deposits.

REE Industry Cornerstone Investment Strategy

- Discussions are advancing with a number of rare earth industry parties with respect to cornerstone equity investment in TUC. Interest has been bolstered by attendance of a number of national and international conferences including PDAC 2012 in Toronto.

TUC considers early alignment with a major industry player as a valuable advantage, due to the downstream processing and marketing requirements associated with these metals.

New HREE Land Position

- TUC has recently strengthened its land position around the Stromberg area to 2330km2 by pegging new ground based on the Stromberg exploration model. In addition, EL28970 was granted in the quarter allowing new access to Stromberg HREE district targets.

Stromberg HREE District Stakeholder Engagement

- TUC has re-commenced discussions with the Traditional Owners, through the Northern Land Council, with respect to access to the important Stromberg district tenement ELA27151. It is hoped that if discussions are positive; access to this exploration ground will significantly increase the chances of finding additional HREE material.

To view the complete TUC Resources Quarterly Report, please refer to the following link below:
http://media.abnnewswire.net/media/en/docs/ASX-TUC-587185.pdf

TUC Resources Limited
Ian Bamborough, Managing Director
T: +61-8-8947-0944
E: ibamborough@tucresources.com.au
WWW: www.tucresources.com.au/

Strategic Elements Ltd (ASX:SOR) Seeks Strike Extension of Reefton Goldfields

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:39:38 GMT

Strategic Elements Ltd (ASX:SOR) is pleased to announce that Strategic Materials Pty Ltd (100% owned) has substantially extended the area of the Reefton South project. The project is located 3km along strike from the prolific Reefton goldfield, which historically produced approx. 2,100,000 ounces of gold. The project has potential for a strike extension of the Reefton Goldfield.

The Reefton goldfield is undergoing a significant resurgence with major mining company Oceana Gold Ltd developing the Globe Progress Open Pit mine with a JORC resource of 1,200,000 ounces of gold. Oceana Gold believes the Reefton goldfield to be "under-explored" with "excellent potential for further exploration success". They are seeking to reopen further old mines, such as the Blackwater mine, and make new discoveries through new exploration approaches.

Seeing Through Cover

The Company has extended its Reefton South application to cover an extensive area of ground south of the Reefton goldfield. A layer of gravel and glacial till covers the prospective gold bearing rocks. Old miners could not explore these prospective rocks beneath the cover. This has left the project area completely unexplored for hard rock gold, despite it being only a few kilometers along strike from southern end of the Reefton goldfield.

For some time, the Australian government has supplied airborne geophysics data to explorers to assist them to 'see through the cover'. Thus in Australia, an area with such close proximity to a major goldfield would have already been extensively explored. This year will see the very first release of New Zealand government airborne geophysics data over the Reefton goldfield and the Company's Reefton South project area. The Company is extremely appreciative of the efforts of the West Coast mining industry and government bodies that have organized and funded the critical airborne geophysical surveys currently being conducted.

Oceana Gold have also recently announced a new Reefton gold discovery (near Big River) by applying a new approach to exploration to explore under the thin layer of cover. They are using a wacker drill (modified jack hammer) to reach bedrock under cover. The company will also seek to apply this technique in its project area where depth of cover is appropriate.

Reefton is a very high-grade goldfield, Oceana Gold have announced new exploration drilling intercepts at Big River of 3m @ 18.5 g/t and at Blackwater of 1m @ 23.3 g/t, and the average grade of the historical mining was typically around 15g/t gold, ranging up to two ounces.

Managing Director Charles Murphy said "Modern exploration techniques enable exploration of rocks beneath cover and there is a global trend in new gold discoveries being made through these methods."

"It is an exciting thought to consider, that the Reefton South project is a few kilometers along strike from a significant producing goldfield, and modern 'under cover' exploration approaches mean its prospectivity is completely wide open".

"We are building a strategic position (>1200 sq km) across a number of rare (tungsten, rare earths, tin) and precious (gold) metal projects on the South Island of New Zealand. In a country such as New Zealand, we believe that new data, combined with a strategic ground holding underpinned by fundamental geological concepts, is the way forward to make new discoveries".

Project Area Contains Rock Type That Hosts Reefton Goldfield

The project contains a few areas where Ordovician Greenland Group rocks, which host the Reefton Goldfield to the north, outcrop from cover. The project area is mapped as mainly Quaternary river gravel, sand and till, which are inferred to cover an extensive area of Greenland Group rocks.

The northern permit boundary is approximately 5 km south of the historic Blackwater Mine at Waiuta, which was the biggest mine in the Reefton Goldfield. Historic mining extended south from the Blackwater Mine, where the Greenland Group rocks outcropped towards the Reefton South project area. However, mining stopped at the contact with overlying gravel, as historic mining methods could not locate mineralisation beneath gravel cover.

Line of Lode

The mines in the Reefton Goldfield are located in a zone known as the Reefton "Line of Lode", which comprises a zone of folding and shearing extending for a strike length of 30 km. The Reefton "Line of Lode" structures are also mapped southwards to the contact of the Greenland Group rocks with covering fluvioglacial sediments on the south side of the Snowy River. Further south, there is total cover of fluvioglacial gravel of unknown thickness, so structures have not been able to be mapped further south.

The Greenland Group rocks and the Reefton "Line of Lode" structures are inferred to extend further to the south in the Reefton South project area, but beneath gravel cover.

Reefton Mines - Blackwater Mine

The mine produced 733,000 oz of gold from the Birthday Reef from 1905 up to 1951, when the collapse of the Blackwater shaft forced the mine's closure. However Oceana Gold Ltd is currently undertaking a ten-hole deep drilling programme at the Blackwater Mine with a view to developing a decline to reopen underground mining of the Birthday Reef. The Birthday Reef at the Blackwater Mine was only discovered by chance as an exposed quartz vein in Greek Creek, as this area is also difficult to explore due to gravel cover. Oceana Gold recently announced that deep "drilling successfully intersected a high grade quartz reef approximately 650m down plunge below previously mined workings of the historic Blackwater mine" (ASX Announcement 19 April 2012).

Reefton Mines - Globe Progress Mine

The Globe Progress gold mine operated by Oceana Gold Ltd is 20 km to the north. The mine commenced production in March 2007 from an open pit mine. Production for 2011 was 77,648 ounces and total production to the end of 2011 was 364,862 oz.

Alluvial Gold Production

There has been considerable production of alluvial gold from the area: Blackwater River (>18,000 oz), Snowy River (>56,000 oz), Mossy Creek (>10,000 oz), Waipuna (>3,000 oz), Nelson Creek (>76,000 oz) and minor production from Upper Grey River, Orwell Creek and Ahaura River.

Prospecting Permit Information

The prospecting permit application 54152 Reefton South covers 276.3 sq. km and abuts prospecting permit 52704 Hohonu, also held by Strategic Materials Pty Ltd (100% owned) at its southern boundary.

For full Strategic Elements release including figures, please visit:
http://media.abnnewswire.net/media/en/docs/72398-ASX-SOR-20120426.pdf

Mr. Charles Murphy
Managing Director 
Telephone: +61-8-9278-2788
Email: admin@strategicelements.com.au
Web: www.strategicelements.com.au

Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSX:AVL) Releases Inaugural Sustainability Annual Report

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:49:40 GMT

Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSX:AVL) (AMEX:AVL) is pleased to announce that the Company has released its inaugural Corporate Sustainability Report 2011, entitled Journey to a Sustainable Future (the "Report").

The report is available for download on the Company's website at http://www.avalonraremetals.com/sustainability/

The Report has been prepared within the framework of the Global Reporting Initiative (the "GRI"), Version 3.1. The GRI sets out the principles and performance indicators that help organizations measure and report their economic, environmental and social performance. GRI is purported to be the most comprehensive sustainability reporting guidelines available today. The Report also incorporates a self assessment of 2011 performance and sets targets for 2012 against the Mining Association of Canada's 'Toward Sustainable Mining' indicators.

In January 2011, Avalon embarked upon its Corporate Social Responsibility ("CSR") reporting with its CSR Roadmap. The Roadmap introduced the Company's strategy for managing the business in a sustainable manner. In releasing this year's Report, Mark Wiseman, Avalon's Vice President Sustainability commented, "Producing a comprehensive sustainability report compliant with the GRI guidelines was a very ambitious undertaking for a relatively small company like Avalon. We are confident that all the time and effort that went into its preparation will clearly demonstrate the Company's strategic commitment to sustainability and provide a solid foundation for building a socially and environmentally responsible mineral production business."

Commenting on today's announcement, Don Bubar, President and CEO said, "We recognized some time ago that producing rare metals and minerals destined for clean technology applications in an unsustainable way made little sense. This report fulfills a promise we made to our stakeholders for transparency in how we will achieve our sustainability goals."

Shares Outstanding: 103,186,986. Cash resources: approximately CA$50 million.

Avalon Rare Metals Inc.
Communications and Investor Relations
Virginia Morgan, Director
T: +1-416-364-4938
F: +1-416-364-5162
E: ir@avalonraremetals.com
WWW: www.avalonraremetals.com

Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSE:AVL) Announces Results of Prefeasibility Study for a Separation Plant in the Southern United States, Land Option Agreements and Feasibility Study Budget Update

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 03:29:03 GMT

Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSE:AVL) (NYSE:AVL) ("Avalon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of a prefeasibility study for a rare earth elements separation plant to be located in the southern United States. The separation plant prefeasibility study was prepared by independent consultants SNC-Lavalin Inc. ("SNC-Lavalin"). The study was based on a site in Louisiana close to transportation infrastructure. The Company is actively pursuing land acquisition opportunities in the Gulf Coast region with two potential sites in the negotiation stage and others under consideration.

Don Bubar, Avalon's President and CEO commented, "The Gulf Coast region of the United States is an attractive potential location for our separation plant due to low-cost, bulk transportation alternatives, and proximity both to suppliers of the chemical reagents required for the separation process and to potential customers for the Company's rare earth products." Avalon is proceeding with due diligence investigations and negotiations with local landowners to determine the suitability of each property for the Company's needs. In addition, the Company continues to review potential alternative locations for the separation plant both in the U.S. and in Canada.

SEPARATION PLANT COST ESTIMATES
The separation plant prefeasibility study assumes that the plant will be located near sources of electrical power, natural gas, water, and in close proximity to third party chemical producers. Rail spurs connected to existing rail lines will accommodate shipment of concentrate feed stock and shipment of marketable product from the separation plant.

SNC-Lavalin estimated capital and operating costs for a separation plant with a capacity of 10,000 tonnes per annum. The cost estimates are based on fourth quarter 2011 price quotations and have an intended overall accuracy of +/-25%. The estimated capital cost for the separation plant is US$302 million, which includes a complete separation plant facility; infrastructure, utilities and ancillary services; indirect costs; and contingency. The largest capital expense is the solvent extraction circuit consisting of over 1,000 mixer-settlers, and makes up 33% of the total capital cost at US$101 million. SNC-Lavalin provided the cost estimates in United States Dollars at an exchange rate of US$1.00 = CAN$0.96.

The estimated operating cost is US$5,634 per tonne of rare earth oxide product, which includes labour, operating supplies, supplies and reagents, and maintenance costs. Reagent costs, with hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide being the two largest contributors, make up 70% of the total operating costs at US$3,934 per tonne of rare earth oxide product.

The separation plant is designed to treat chemical concentrates containing a blend of light and heavy rare earth elements originating from the Company's Nechalacho rare earth elements deposit, Thor Lake, NWT, Canada. These chemical concentrates will be produced from two hydrometallurgical facilities: a sulphuric acid bake plant planned for the Northwest Territories and a second cracking plant which is presently contemplated to be co-located with the separation plant, as it also requires hydrochloric acid and caustic soda. The separation plant is designed to produce ten different pure rare earth oxides and one pure mixed heavy rare earth carbonate for sale. The overall plant recovery is estimated at 98%. The following is the expected production rate for each rare earth oxide:

---------------------------------------------- 
Rare Earth         Production   Percentage 
Oxides                 Tonnes   (%) of Product
Production          Per Annum 
                  (10,000 tpa)	
----------------------------------------------
Lanthanum (La) Oxide    1,583   15.83
Cerium (Ce) Carbonate*  3,572   35.72
Praseodymium (Pr) Oxide 451     4.51
Neodymium (Nd) Oxide    1,783   17.83
Samarium (Sm) Oxide     391     3.91
Europium (Eu) Oxide     49      0.49
Gadolinium (Gd) Oxide   371     3.71
Terbium (Tb) Oxide      54      0.54
Dysprosium (Dy) Oxide   271     2.71
Yttrium (Y) Oxide       1,169   11.69
Holmium (Ho) Carbonate* 48      0.48
Erbium (Er) Oxide       126     1.26
Thulium / Ytterbium / 
Lutetium (Tm/Yb/Lu) 
Carbonate*              132     1.32
----------------------------------------------
Total                 10,000    100
----------------------------------------------
* Equivalent rare earth oxide	 	 
----------------------------------------------

FEASIBILTY STUDY BUDGET UPDATE
The separation plant design will now be incorporated into the development model for the Nechalacho project feasibility study, also being completed by SNC-Lavalin, and scheduled for completion by the end of 2012. The Company has increased its budget to complete the feasibility study, to reflect the expanded scope of work by including the separation plant in the development plan as well as an expansion of the pilot plant work and definition drilling programs. The increase in drilling is necessary to better define the geometry of the deposit as recent results demonstrate some subtle but significant irregularities in the shape of the deposit that require further detailing before the mine plan for the feasibility study can be finalized.

The Company now expects that the total cost of the feasibility study will be approximately $64 million, an increase of $18 million over the Company's previous budget estimate of $46 million. Of this total approximately $30 million has been spent to date and $34 million remains to be spent over the next eight to ten months. With $50 million in cash resources, the Company has sufficient funding available to complete the feasibility study and cover its overhead expenses, but will need to raise additional capital in order to begin funding pre-production development expenditures such as deposits for long lead time equipment items needed in the processing plant.

On July 7, 2011, Avalon announced updated economics on the Nechalacho prefeasibility study including a project capital cost estimate of CAN$902 million prepared by Roscoe Postle Associates ("RPA"). RPA's capital cost estimate included all aspects of project development, including mining, mineral concentration, and hydrometallurgical processing, but did not include costs for a separation plant. Including the separation plant in the development model brings the total estimated capital expenditures for the Nechalacho project to approximately $1.2 billion, as previously forecast. For more information on the Nechalacho prefeasibility study, please refer to the news release:
http://www.thepressreleasewire.com/client/avalon_rare_metals/release.jsp?actionFor=1469164.

The qualified person for the purpose of this news release is Donald Bubar, P.Geo. (Ont), President.

Shares Outstanding: 103,186,986. Cash resources: approximately C$50 million.

Avalon Rare Metals Inc.
Communications and Investor Relations
Virginia Morgan, Director
T: +1-416-364-4938
F: +1-416-364-5162
E: ir@avalonraremetals.com
WWW: www.avalonraremetals.com

Avalon Rare Metals (TSE:AVL) Announces New Senior Management Appointment and Provides Update on Nechalacho Feasibility Study

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 03:08:41 GMT

Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSE:AVL) (NYSE:AVL) is pleased to provide an update on progress on the Nechalacho rare earth elements feasibility study, Thor Lake, NWT, and to announce the appointment of Mr. Tim Butler as Vice President, Human Resources.

NECHALACHO FEASIBILITY STUDY UPDATE

Work on the Feasibility Study ("FS") on the Nechalacho rare earth elements project, being carried out by SNC-Lavalin, is progressing steadily and remains on target for completion at the end of 2012. Project permitting is also now proceeding on schedule and it is anticipated that the necessary permits will be in place to allow construction activities to begin in mid-2013. Negotiations toward reaching formal accommodation agreements with local Aboriginal groups are nearing completion.

The 40 tonne full scale pilot plant trial on Basal Zone ore was completed in February at SGS Minerals, Lakefield, Ontario. While final reports are pending, the two main objectives of the pilot plant were achieved. The primary objective was to produce a concentrate for the hydrometallurgical pilot plant and six tonnes of concentrate were successfully produced.

The second objective was to confirm previous flotation testwork results and identify opportunities for process optimization. Initial results indicate that the recoveries achieved were consistent with those achieved previously at the bench-scale, except for one sub-sample from the lowermost part of the Basal Zone where, as expected, observed textural differences in the ore resulted in reduced recoveries. Further work on the process flowsheet is required to optimize the recoveries from this material. The pilot plant trial also identified opportunities to simplify the reagent scheme and reduce costs.

A follow up flotation pilot plant trial on a two to three tonne sample has been scheduled for May 2012, with the objective of finalizing plant design parameters for the FS.

The results of the SNC-Lavalin prefeasibility study for the proposed separation plant are expected to be available in April 2012. The separation plant site selection process is also progressing.

The Mineral Resource update to incorporate all the 2011 Nechalacho drilling data is being carried out by Roscoe Postle Associates, Toronto, ON, and is also expected to be finalized in April 2012.

VICE PRESIDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES

Mr. Tim Butler has joined the Company as Vice-President, Human Resources to lead the resourcing requirements to advance the Nechalacho project through development, construction and operations. Mr. Butler is a senior human resources practitioner and has worked with some of the world's largest resource companies with international experience in Canada, USA, Australia and South America.

Mr. Butler was most recently the Vice President, Human Resources - Business Unit Operations with the Mosaic Company, the world's leading producer and marketer of concentrated phosphate and potash, where he provided executive oversight for the delivery and execution of all strategic HR initiatives within Operations.

Prior to Mosaic, Mr. Butler worked for the Iron Ore Company of Canada and for BHP Billiton where he was instrumental in staffing the Ekati operation in the Northwest Territories, Canada's first diamond mine. At Ekati, he negotiated and administered impact and benefits agreements with aboriginal organizations and governments, and established training and development plans to support a culture of excellence and safe performance at this world-class operation.

Mr. Butler has been the Employer representative on the Board of Directors of NWT and Nunavut Workers' Compensation Board serving also as Chairman of the Policy Committee and member of the Executive Committee. He holds Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Bachelor of Commerce degrees. He also has a Graduate Certificate in Human Resources from Royal Roads University.

Commenting on today's announcement, Don Bubar, President and CEO said, "We are pleased to add a professional of Tim's caliber to our management team. His prior experience in the Northwest Territories will be invaluable to Avalon as Tim thoroughly understands, and has worked through, the challenges in recruiting the required talent for a remote northern operation."

Shares Outstanding: 103,186,986. Cash resources: approximately CA$54 million.

Avalon Rare Metals Inc.
Communications and Investor Relations
Virginia Morgan, Director
T: +1-416-364-4938
F: +1-416-364-5162
E: ir@avalonraremetals.com
WWW: www.avalonraremetals.com

Strategic Elements (ASX:SOR) Lodges Entire Golden Blocks Goldfield in New Zealand

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:02:43 GMT

Strategic Elements (ASX:SOR) has lodged over the entire area of the historic Golden Blocks Goldfield on the South Island of New Zealand, which has had no modern exploration.

The 131 sq.km. project encompasses the Golden Blocks Goldfield, which comprises 7 historic mines that produced approximately 39,154 ounces of gold. The largest mine was the Aorangi gold mine, which reportedly produced approximately 30,688 ounces of gold at an average grade of 36g/t. Potential exists for further hidden gold discoveries outside of the old mines that would have not been visible to the old miners who were focused only on gold in quartz veins.

The project also includes 3 areas which have potential for intrusion-related gold similar to Oceana Gold's nearby Sam's Creek gold project with a JORC compliant 770,000 ounces of gold. These areas contain gold mineralised acid porphyry in float and outcrop samples.

Old Gold Mines Exploration

Historically gold in the Golden Blocks Goldfield was only produced from quartz veins. Grades in the upper levels were extremely high, up to approximately 100g/t, inferred to represent supergene enrichment. Old miners basically chased veins of quartz that contained visible gold and ignored any halo of gold mineralisation that potentially surrounds these areas. Production ended in 1913 and no modern exploration has been undertaken to explore for gold outside the veins in the surrounding rocks.

The Company is to follow a proven strategy to explore the area. Since Oceana Gold opened the Globe Progress mine in Reefton, they have produced over 250,000 ounces of gold with a significant amount from haloes of gold mineralisation surrounding the quartz veins that were mined historically. Mine workings at the modern open cast pit also indicate shoots with extensive down plunge extents not mined by early miners. Shallow faults could also mean mineralisation that may not be visible at surface. The company will follow the Oceana Gold approach to explore the Golden Blocks Goldfield for disseminated gold mineralisation.

In 1982, Lime and Marble Ltd reported pan concentrate samples including one sample from Sandhills creek assaying 22.4g/t which "may reflect masked mineralisation in the area". This shows potential for further discoveries in the Golden Blocks goldfield.

Sam's Creek Style Gold

CRA Exploration (now Rio Tinto Exploration) conducted regional exploration outside the area of the old mines but within the company's project area. CRA Exploration undertook regional reconnaissance sampling in 1986 and identified 14 geochemical anomalies of which 11 were recommended for further work. These 11 anomalies were followed up in 1988 with additional sampling. Results showed that 3 areas warranted further work: Anatori River / Frazer Stream, Kaituna and Buck Gully.

Follow up in the Frazer Stream area "identified several drainages with similar microgranite float and some outcrops with a true width of up to 20 metres. Assay values of these microgranites reached up to 0.99 g/t Au. In addition a float sample of quartz veined siltstone from the south of the anomaly returned 13.7 g/t Au.

Anatori River / Frazer Stream comprise three areas of gold-arsenic mineralisation that CRA Exploration (now Rio Tinto Exploration) believed had strong similarities to the mineralisation type that they discovered at Sam's Creek 20km to the east: "Although the microgranite float in the Frazer Stream area anomaly is only weakly gold-mineralised, its similarity to the Sam's Creek porphyry indicates there is considerable potential for significant gold mineralisation to occur in this anomaly." Sam's Creek has a JORC compliant inferred resource of 770,000 ounces of gold, and is currently being drilled by Oceana Gold's joint venture partners, the James Packer backed MOD Resources. The Company is highly encouraged by the reports of Sam's Creek style mineralization within its project area.

CRA Exploration pulled out of New Zealand in 1989 and follow up of these three targets was never undertaken, and there has been no subsequent exploration for hard rock gold since then.

Managing Director Mr Charles Murphy said "The project contains significant potential upside from two separate styles of gold mineralisation. We have applied for coverage over the entire historic Golden Blocks Goldfields and will use a proven exploration technique to search the old mining areas for a type of gold mineralisation not visible to old miners. We also have a second type of gold mineralisation in the south of the permit with strong similarities to Sam's Creek (as reported by the Company that discovered Sam's Creek). Importantly neither area has had any modern exploration. Once all permits have been received the company intends to conduct an aggressive exploration program of sampling, geophysics and drilling. The project will be progressed by the Company's tungsten/gold entity as described in the recently announced corporate update".

For the Full Announcement including Historical Pictures, please visit:
http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/J9816VIJ

Mr. Charles Murphy
Managing Director 
Telephone: +61-8-9278-2788
Email: admin@strategicelements.com.au
Web: www.strategicelements.com.au

Tabora Limited Offers An Exciting Investment Opportunity Into A Focused Explorer of Rare Earth Elements (REE) and Diamonds, Tanzania

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 05:01:46 GMT

Tabora Limited offers investors an exciting opportunity to invest in a focused explorer of Rare Earth Elements ("REE") and diamonds in Tanzania.

Tanzania is an immensely well endowed geological province with many examples of long term production companies and more recent exploration success stories - particularly with gold. However, Tanzania offers an abundance of other commercial commodities such as REE's and diamonds. Tabora is targeting the successful identification and delineation of these particularly sought after REE commodities.

Tabora has a specific advantage in its exploration strategy. Under a JV arrangement with Resolute Limited, a successful gold producer in Tanzania of over 15 years, Tabora has exclusive use of Resolute's extensive geological and geophysics database for all commodities other than gold. The net effect of this is that Tabora has a tremendous springboard in which to expedite its exploration strategy in terms of time and money through the already established and paid for data base.

Fundamental to any company success is the board and management. Tabora has assembled within its ranks an impressive team of technical and / or commercial individuals with exceptional track records in respect to exploration and production success as well as significant returns to shareholders through company growth and capital gains success.

The company is currently raising AUD $5million through an IPO of shares on the ASX which will enable them to take commercial advantage of an alliance with Resolute Limited to focus on their portfolio of selected tenements in a region of renowned for economic REE mineralization based on the recent commercial success of several neighboring explorers advancing to developer status.

Corporate Highlights:

- Exciting opportunity to explore for Rare Earth Elements ("REE") in Tanzania.

- Seeking a A$5m IPO on the ASX

- Alliance with Resolute (RSG) on key projects.

- Combined ground holding that covers over 753 km2 which is considered highly prospective for economic REE mineralisation.

- Although Tanzania has significant known REE deposits and carbonatites country remains under-explored.

- Prospectivity for diamonds retained for when market condition return.

For further information, you can visit the Tabora website at:
http://www.tabora.com.au.

Tabora Limited
T: +618-9388-6069
F: +618-6380-1026
E: infor@tabora.com.au
http://www.tabora.com.au