ABN Newswire

Astur Gold Corp. (CVE:AST) To Exhibit at PDAC 2012 in Toronto, 4-7 March

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Sat, 3 Mar 2012 09:43:41 GMT

Astur Gold Corp. (CVE:AST) (FRA:CDC) is pleased to announce that it will be exhibiting at the 2012 Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) International Convention, Trade Show & Investors Exchange.

Astur Gold invites all interested parties to visit us at Booth #2541 to meet the management and ask any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you there!

PDAC 2012 takes place from March 4 to March 7 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building. For more information, visit:
http://www.pdac.ca

Vadim Dubchak
Tel: 604-694-1600 
Fax: 604-694-1663 
info@asturgold.com 
www.asturgold.com

Athabasca Uranium Inc. (CVE:UAX) To Exhibit at PDAC 2012, March 4-7 in Toronto

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Fri, 2 Mar 2012 10:12:40 GMT

Athabasca Uranium Inc.: Following Hathor's Steps. The following is an excerpt from the Streetwise Reports interview with GoldStock Trades editor Jeb Handwerger, "Nuclear Power Is on an Upswing."

"I look at Athabasca Uranium Inc. as an exploration company in the midst of an upswing. . .if you're looking for a company with a proven exploration model that is trying to replicate the Hathor, Denison and Cameco model, then Athabasca Uranium is one that you are going to keep a close eye on. It's using leading-edge technology, including airborne surveys and seismic data to precisely designate it's drilling targets. . ."

Athabasca Uranium will be attending PDAC March 4 - 7 in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building. Booth Number #2816.

Athabasca Uranium Inc.
WEB: www.athabascauranium.com
email: info@athabascauranium.com
1040 - 885 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3E8 
TEL: +1-866-869-8072

Yellowhead Mining Inc. (CVE:YMI) Exhibiting at PDAC 2012 in Canada, 4-7 March

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Thu, 1 Mar 2012 09:44:53 GMT

Yellowhead Mining Inc. (CVE:YMI) will be exhibiting at PDAC 2012 taking place in Toronto from March 4 to 7 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre -- South Building. PDAC International Convention, Trade Show & Investors Exchange is the world's leading Convention for people, companies and organizations in, or connected with, mineral exploration.

Everyone is welcome to stop by booth #2440 to meet:
- Greg Hawkins, Chair of the Board
- Ian Smith, President & Chief Executive Officer
- Ron Handford, Executive Vice President, Corporate Development
- Saurabh Handa, Chief Financial Officer
- Alastair Tiver, Vice President, Operations

Visit for more information on this conference and registration:
http://www.pdac.ca/pdac/conv/index.aspx

For more information, please contact:
Ronald Handford
Executive Vice President
Corporate Development:
E: rhandford@yellowheadmining.com
Tel. +1-604-681-1709 ext. 204

New Pacific Metals Corp. (TSE:NUX) Enters Into an MOU to Acquire a 75% Interest in the Longmenchang Silver-Gold-Lead-Zinc Property

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:10:38 GMT

New Pacific Metals Corp. (TSE:NUX) is pleased to announce it has entered into an arm's length non-binding Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Fujian Henyuan Mining Co., Ltd. ("Fujian Henyuan" ) to acquire a 75% interest in the LMC silver-gold-lead-zinc Property, Fujian Province, China (the "Property"). The Property is located approximately 100 kilometres to the west of Fuzhou, the capital city of Fujian Province, China, and consists of an exploration permit for an area of 1.54 square kilometres and a 300 ton-per-day flotation mill plant. An area of 1.03 square kilometres has been approved for mining by the local government within the current exploration permit. The applicable mining license for the Property is expected in the near future.

Terms of the MOU

Pursuant to the terms of the MOU, the Company will pay, upon signing of a definitive agreement, a total of RMB210 million to acquire a 75% interest of the Property. The RMB210 million payment consists of an upfront cash payment by the Company of RMB80 million and the issuance of Company shares (the "Shares") equivalent of RMB100 million to Fujian Henyuan. The issue price of the Shares will be based on the date the definitive agreement is executed between the parties, but will not exceed $1.20/Share. In addition, the first RMB30 million in profits from commercial operations at the Property will be paid to Fujian Henyuan. For reference as of February 27, 2012 one RMB = 0.158 Canadian dollars.

Any definitive agreement between the parties (and any payment of cash or issuance of Shares) is subject to the Company completing a confirmation drill program to verify historical drill data and the geological model of the Property mineralization. Also, the definitive agreement is further subject to Fujian Henyuan completing a consolidation for 100% ownership of the Property and obtaining the applicable mining license. The issuance of any Shares and the definitive agreement may be subject to TSX and other regulatory approvals.

To note, the owners of the Fujian Henyuan also operate several other silver polymetallic properties in Fujian Province which the Company is currently reviewing. The parties have orally agreed that the Company be granted a right to acquire any of these properties at the Company's discretion.

Property information

The Property is situated at the southeast margin of the Wuyi mineralization belt, which is one of the 16 prominent metallogeny belts in China. Silver-gold-lead-zinc mineralization is hosted in a sequence of Permian marine clastic sediments and limestone which are overlain by a Jurassic terrestrial sedimentary sequence and underlain by Proterozoic metasedimentary rocks. Numerous porphyritic rhyolite dykes intrude into these sequences. Based on historical Property exploration reports, economic mineralization of the Property is the oxidized silver-gold-lead-zinc mineralization associated with multiple prominent gossanous zones developed in the upper clastic sediments of the Permian sequence close to the unconformity surface with the overlying Jurassic sediments. The oxidized mineralization zones are near surface, sub-horizontal, and stratiform. Exploration of the Property began in the 1980's, and included geological mapping, trenching, diamond drilling, and aditing. 39 holes totalling 6,880 meters were drilled and 379 meters of underground adits were completed.

Advanced Explorations Inc. (CVE:AXI) to Exhibit at PDAC 2012 in Toronto Canada

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:49:15 GMT

Advanced Explorations Inc. (CVE:AXI) is pleased to provide an update on the development of its iron ore assets in Nunavut. As per AEI's Framework Agreement with XinXing Pipes Group ("XXP") the Company is in the process of restructuring its holdings to facilitate the assignment of its interests in the East Melville iron ore assets into a new enterprise controlled by AEI. The details of the enterprise structure will be announced once a preferred structure is approved by the Board of Directors of the AEI.

The Company's new business structure will also address the potential for shared facilities at Roche Bay, that integrates both the recent developments at the Tuktu Iron Project (located 60 km to the north) and its Copper-Nickel properties (located 80-100 km to the west of Roche Bay).

John Gingerich, President & CEO, commented:
"We are very pleased with the progress on all our Nunavut properties. Not only do we have our flagship Roche Bay Project moving towards production, both Tuktu and our Ni-Cu projects have potential to be standalone company makers. The Company's restructuring plans will lay the foundation for maximizing shareholder value in anticipation of this year's developments."

The Company would also like to report that its strategic partner, XinXing Ductile Iron Pipes Co. Ltd. ("XDIP") a subsidiary of XXP, has advised that it has received all the necessary government and regulatory approvals to complete the previously announced $5,000,000 convertible debenture financing.

Advanced Explorations will be exhibiting at the PDAC 2012 International Convention, Trade Show & Investors Exchange - Mining Investment Show from March 4-7 at booth 3342, Metro Toronto Convention Centre and also present at the Canada-China Investment Forum on March 8th at the Intercontinental Hotel Toronto.

For further information: 
Advanced Explorations Inc.
TEL: +1-416-203-0057 x226

Metals Economics Group Adds Expertise to Upcoming PDAC 2012 International Convention

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:42:47 GMT

Metals Economics Group (MEG) is pleased to add its mining industry expertise to the PDAC 2012 international convention, trade show, and investors exchange in Toronto, March 4-7, 2012. MEG's involvement includes a keynote address, a Mexico Mining Day presentation, and distribution of its annual special report on world exploration trends.

Michael Chender, MEG's founder and CEO, will present the keynote address: "Predicting the future development cycle," March 5, 9:45 a.m. The address will suggest ways to improve our ability to foresee future supply pipeline developments by examining what changing patterns of discovery and spending signal about the likely successes of current and future exploration, and what developments in risk, financing, personnel availability, and technology tell us about future development cycles. Mr. Chender's presentation will draw on MEG's unparalleled history of closely following exploration and development to take a detailed look at more than two decades of historical data and at currently unfolding developments.

Benjamin Moore, MEG Director for Latin America, will take part in the Mexico Day Conference, March 6. As part of the Mexican Mining Competitiveness session, Moore's presentation will explore Mexico's successful track record in attracting mining investment, including an overview of global and regional exploration trends, and discussing the effects of recent investment and exploration activity on the country's project pipeline.

MEG is pleased to partner with the PDAC to make the World Exploration Trends report available to PDAC members and convention delegates. The report is drawn from MEG's Industry Monitor, and Corporate Exploration Strategies (CES), the industry's benchmark for exploration trends and strategic analysis, and the only comprehensive source of global mining exploration budgets. Published annually, the World Exploration Trends report highlights global mining exploration including a regional overview, gold and base metals activity, and financing activity. To request a copy please complete the form at:
http://www.metalseconomics.com/join-our-distribution-list

To arrange an interview with Mr. Chender or Mr. Moore, contact Nadine Tanner at ntanner@metalseconomics.com; +1-902-429-2880 ext 34.

Visit MEG at booth 115 during the PDAC International Trade Show or visit our web site at:
http://www.metalseconomics.com
Email: sales@metalseconomics.com
or call +1 902-429-2880.

About Metals Economics Group (www.metalseconomics.com)

Metals Economics Group (MEG) is the most trusted source of global mining industry information and analysis. We draw on three decades of comprehensive information and analysis, with an unsurpassed level of experience and historical data. To help our clients reach better decisions more quickly, we supply raw data and sophisticated analysis based on unbiased research and reporting. From worldwide exploration, development, and production to strategic planning and acquisitions activity—our databases and analytical studies help you make confident decisions and, ultimately, improve results.

Avalon Rare Metals (TSE:AVL) Staff to Actively Participate in PDAC 2012

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:32:59 GMT

Avalon Rare Metals (TSE:AVL) is pleased to invite shareholders and other interested delegates to the 2012 PDAC International Convention, Trade Show and Investor Exchanges, Toronto, ON, March 4 - 7, 2012 with the following list of all the exhibits, events, and speaking engagements featuring Avalon management and staff. All events take place in the South Metropolitan Toronto Convention Centre, unless noted otherwise.

INVESTORS EXCHANGE - Mining Investment Show

Avalon Rare Metals, Booth #2303, Level 800, South Building
Sunday, March 4 to Tuesday, March 6 from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
Wednesday, March 7 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Click here to access the floor plan search.
http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/05PHF1U0

Virginia Morgan, Director of Communications and Investor Relations, and Ron Malashewski, Manager of Investor Relations, along with other members of the Avalon management team will be available at the booth throughout the event to meet with shareholders and other interested delegates. Don Bubar, President & CEO, plans to be available at the booth on Sunday afternoon March 4, between 3:30 pm and 5:00 pm.

WORKSHOPS, EXHIBITS, FORUMS and PRESENTATIONS

Saturday March 3
Dr. Bill Mercer, VP Exploration, will be chairing the Introduction to Health and Safety for Explorationists workshop from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Dr. Mercer and Mark Wiseman, VP Sustainability, will be giving lectures during the workshop. Registration is required to attend this workshop. The cost for this workshop is $599 for PDAC members, $699 for non-members, and $199 for students.

Monday, March 5
Don Bubar will be co-chairing the annual Aboriginal Forum: Exploring Opportunities and Building Relationships from 2:00 to 5:30 pm in Room 701.

Tuesday, March 6
Don Bubar will be presenting a brief Corporate Update and some thoughts on rare earths investment criteria during the REE and Lithium session at the Investors Exchange Forumat 10:20 am in Room 801B.

At 4:00 pm until 5:00 pm in Room 718, Don Bubar will be participating on the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) CEO Panel on sustainable development activities in the mineral industry, which will be discussing the topic Linking Strategy to Sustainability.

At 5:00 pm, Dr. Bill Mercer will be introducing David Giles, the recipient of the 2012 Thayer Lindsley Award Winner, and Mr Giles' presentation on Exploration in Mexico. Room 716

Wednesday, March 7
Don Bubar co-chairs a Technical Session on Specialty Metals and Minerals from 09:00 am to 12:00 pm in Room 715. Topics of discussion include Rare Earths, Graphite, Vanadium, Tungsten, Niobium and Potash.

Dr. Bill Mercer co-chairs a Technical Sessionon New Discoveries and Developments from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in Room 716. Presentations include new discoveries and developments in the gold and precious metals sectors.

CORE SHACK

Session B, Level 700
Tuesday, March 6 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Wednesday, March 7, 2012 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Senior Geologist Chris Pedersen, VP, Exploration Dr. Bill Mercer, and Junior Resource Geologist Ali Habibi will be available at the Core Shack to discuss the geology, display drill core and other technical information from the Nechalacho deposit during Session B.

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


PDAC
T: +416-362-1969
F: +416-362-0101
WWW: www.pdac.ca

ASD Inc., a Global Leader Analytical Instrumentation to Exhibit at PDAC

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:23:25 GMT

ASD Inc., a global leader in high-performance analytical instrumentation and materials analysis solutions, announced today a software license partnership with AusSpec International, an industry-standard spectral analysis solutions provider. The two companies will co-market and sell The Spectral Geologist (TSG) Pro software package for geological exploration data interpretation alongside ASD's new TerraSpec(R) 4 line for mineral analysis in the mining industry.

This is a natural partnership in that 80 percent of TSG Pro licenses have been sold to TerraSpec mineral analyzer users over the past several years. The TerraSpec line of mineral analyzers provides the highest quality mineralogical data available in a spectrometer, and allow for fast, precise sample measurement. TerraSpec data is then interpreted and manipulated by the powerful TSG Pro software resulting in actionable information for mining exploration and production organizations. Mineralogical information provided by the combined TSG-TerraSpec solution is widely used to guide exploration programs and map economic deposits.
The newest TerraSpec 4 mineral analyzers use near-infrared technology to produce cleaner, higher quality spectra for the determination of mineralogical and metallurgical properties than ever before.

Developed by the Commonwealth Scientific Industry Research Organization (CSIRO) in Australia, the TSG Pro software interface has been designed specifically for geological applications. The analysis techniques available in TSG Pro focus on the applications of using spectral reflectance data for mineral analysis of outcrops, hand samples, drill cores, chips and pulps. Project data sets can be combined and organized together to easily analyze using methods such as mapping mineral assemblages, applications of spectral parameters for automated logging/mapping, deposit characterization and developing vectors to mineralization.

"The Spectral Geologist Pro software is specifically developed for geologists looking for an easier way to analyze spectral data in the context of their own geological project," said Dr. Sasha Pontual, Director and Principal Geologist at AusSpec International. "The TerraSpec mineral analyzers offer increased performance in spectral response so we know that using both of these tools together — the TerraSpec spectrometer with TSG Pro software — will give exploration outfits and mining operators the right data they need to optimize exploration activities and mining production processes."

ASD TerraSpec Hi-Res Mineral Analyzer with The Spectral Geologist Pro for Optimizing Mining Exploration Efforts

Designed to assist users to quickly and accurately identify key minerals in a deposit, The Spectral Geologist Pro software uses the high quality spectra data captured using the TerraSpec 4 mineral analyzer to easily sort and analyze mineral data. In addition to the software's intuitive flow and visual presentation of complex data, it offers:

- Highly visual interpretation of spectral data, with a variety of visualization options
- The ability to turn thousands of spectra into mineralogical indices for plotting mineral characteristics (such as composition)
- Tools to assist with automatic mineral interpretation, such as The Spectral Assistant (TSA) and the Aux Match function
- The capacity to analyze and visualize the mineralogy of large core-logging data sets
- The capability to see and plot your results down hole, or as sections, maps and scatterplots
- Simple export of critical data which can be used in other software programs for further processing

"Within the mining industry, AusSpec International is the most trusted company for geologic mineral analysis. The Spectral Geologist Pro software's ability to rapidly analyze thousands of measurements, the simplicity of the interface and versatile display options convinced us this was the best complement to our advanced TerraSpec mineral analyzers," said Dr. Brian Curtiss, CTO of ASD.

About ASD

Established in 1990 in Boulder, ASD Inc. is the global leader in high-performance analytical instrumentation solutions, solving some of the most challenging real-world materials measurement problems. ASD spectrometers, unparalleled in providing laboratory-grade results in the field or on-site, are the instruments of choice for remote sensing, environmental sciences, agricultural and mining industry applications, where results drive paradigm-changing insights, efficiency and profit. ASD's collaborative culture and world-class customer service put the best, fastest and most accurate spectroscopic instruments to work for industry and science in more than 70 countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.asdi.com.

About AusSpec International

AusSpec International is a key player in the global exploration and mining environment delivering expertise in the processing of geological spectral data from field based, lab based and airborne systems. Since 1992, AusSpec has delivered innovative products and services that have changed the way the mining and exploration industry processes spectral data.
The company has played a vital role in changing the way the mining and exploration industry processes spectral data by the co-development of the TSG Pro software and the creation of innovative products such as the GMEX Spectral libraries, and flexible services targeted at improving the way spectral data are handled by the user.
Putting the user first, AusSpec has delivered these products through training systems that have allowed large corporations worldwide to trust the technology and software and understand the role these kinds of data play in the exploration and mining environment.

For more information about AusSpec, please visit:
http://www.ausspec.com

Marie Rotter
Metzger Associates
TEL: +1-720-833-5925
Email: mrotter@metzger.com

Mining Industry's Leading Investment Show Open to Public, Admission is Free

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 08:09:48 GMT

The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada's (PDAC) Investors Exchange—the leading investment show dedicated solely to the mineral industry—takes place in Toronto, March 4 - 7, 2012, and is open to the general public.

The Investors Exchange features over 600 exhibitors including junior exploration companies, mid-size producers, major mining companies, stock exchanges, brokers and financial institutions with mining interests, and prospectors.

"The PDAC Investors Exchange gives an insider's look at opportunities for business development, joint ventures, property acquisitions and financing within the mineral sector," says PDAC President Scott Jobin-Bevans. "We see a steady flow of banking executives, brokers and analysts, fund managers, government representatives, retail and institutional investors, senior mining executives, and students attending the Exchange. It's really a not-to-be-missed event for anyone interested in the sector."

The Corporate Presentation Forum for Investors, a series of presentations made by a select group of Investors Exchange exhibitors, provides up-to-the-minute information on the investment potential of companies in the mineral industry. Over 130 presenters, including Rob McEwen of McEwen Mining and Jonathan Goodman of Dundee Precious Metals, are scheduled to speak at this year's forum.

The Investors Exchange, which runs concurrently with the PDAC Convention's Trade Show, also includes the Prospectors Tent featuring maps, samples and claim results of independent prospectors, and the Core Shack featuring core samples from the latest mineral discoveries from around the world. For more information and a full list of exhibitors, visit mininginvestmentshow.com. The Investor's Exchange is held in the South Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Admission is free to the Investors Exchange, but attendees must register—either online or at the door.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Carolyn Foster
Communications Specialist
Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC)
TEL: +1-416-362-1969 x233
Email: cfoster@pdac.ca

Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada's Convention Pumps CA$72 Million Into Toronto Economy

newsroom@abnnewswire.net — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 11:19:05 GMT

According to a recent report generated by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada's (PDAC) Convention contributed nearly CA$72 million to Toronto's economy in 2011.

If the convention's growth trend continues—attendance has been climbing since 2009 and early registration figures are up from last year—the economic impact on the city will increase in 2012.

PDAC president Scott Jobin-Bevans says growth is likely. "The convention has really hit its stride in terms of its place in the global mineral industry. In 2011, we had over 27,000 participants from 120 different countries—we're seeing very strong interest again this year, both at home and internationally. Early registration numbers are up from last year, reflecting both the health of the mineral industry and the tremendous networking and educational opportunities the convention offers."

The convergence of investors, analysts, mining executives, geologists, prospectors and international government delegations takes place March 4 - 7 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. For more information, visit:
http://pdac.ca

The Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture's report provides an estimate of the economic impact of the 2011 PDAC Convention on the local economy in terms of GDP, employment and taxes generated. The analysis is based on information the PDAC provided to the Ministry's Tourism Regional Economic Impact Model (TREIM).

For media inquiries, please contact:
Carolyn Foster
Communications Specialist
Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC)
TEL: +1-416-362-1969 x233
EMAIL: cfoster@pdac.ca