VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Great Quest Fertilizer Ltd (TSXV:GQ) (“the Company”) is pleased to announce positive results from the cadmium and uranium contaminant analysis for our Tilemsi phosphate project.
As part of the in-process study to upgrade a portion of our large inferred phosphate resource, we analyzed our high-grade phosphate rock for cadmium and uranium, common contaminants found associated with phosphate production around the world. Results on assays performed by ALS on samples taken from our recent work at Tilemsi (see news release of March 8, 2018) returned a range for cadmium of 1 to 2.6 parts per million, with an average of 1.7 ppm (or 7.4 milligrams per kilogram of P2O5). For Uranium a range of 5 to 76 parts per million, at an average of 50 ppm was obtained.
Cadmium is considered to be the most problematic because it does not dissolve in runoff. It builds up in the soil and often finds its way into the food we eat. The strictest guidelines for cadmium content in fertilizer are those of the European Union (EU) which prohibit the use of fertilizer containing more than 60mg of cadmium per kilogram of P2O5 (Cd/kg P2O5). This cut-off level of 60mg Cd/kg P2O5 means that a lot of the phosphate mined around the world cannot be sold in Europe. Moreover, recommendations have been put forward in the EU to tighten restrictions to 20mg Cd/kg P2O5, a level which many consider would be safe, but at the same time would disqualify so much of the world’s current phosphate production.
| Cadmium (mg/kg P2O5) | Uranium (ppm) | |
| Tilemsi (Mali) | 7.4 | 5-76 |
| Morocco | 55 | 80-120 |
| Central Florida | 24 | 59-200 |
| Togo (West Africa) | 147 | 77-110 |
Source: Phosphate Resources and Production by Hari Tulsidas & International Atomic Energy Agency
Work from this recent program aims at upgrading small portions of our current inferred resource to indicated and measured resources by reducing the sample grid spacing (see release of March 8, 2018). The company recently completed a detailed topographical survey, the final field work required for the upgraded resource and mine plan.
Commenting, Jed Richardson, President and CEO, “The low cadmium and uranium results of our material, demonstrate the unique high quality of the Tilemsi deposit. The high phosphate grades and low contaminants, are a 'best-of-both-worlds' combination, which is very rare for a sedimentary resource. If we see stricter regulations to protect food production around the world from contaminants like cadmium, we expect that the Tilemsi rock is well poised to meet those stringent standards. Excellent news for the future of our project and company.”
The technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Jed Diner, MSc. P.Geol., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Diner, a consulting geologist to the Company, completed his MSc. in Applied Earth Science at Stanford University in 1983 and works internationally on mineral exploration and resource development projects. He has consulted on other Phosphate projects in Uzbekistan, Peru and Angola.
About Great Quest
Great Quest Fertilizer Ltd. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the development of African agricultural mineral projects for local production of farm ready fertilizers. The Company’s flagship asset is the Tilemsi Phosphate Project, encompassing 1,206 km² in northeastern Mali, containing high quality phosphate resources amenable to use as direct application fertilizer. Great Quest is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GQ, and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol GQM.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF GREAT QUEST FERTILIZER LTD.
“Jed Richardson”
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
For more information:
Please call Jed Richardson at 1-877-325-3838 or email info@greatquest.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The statements that are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements involving known and unknown risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to vary materially from the targeted results. We seek safe harbor.