BAC News - February 15, 2011
First....thanks to StoneMan45 for posting it on the BAC Bullboard!!
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BACTECH SUBMITS PROPOSAL TO CLEAN UP SNOW LAKE ARSENOPYRITE
STOCKPILE
Toronto, Canada, February 15, 2011
BacTech Environmental Corporation (“BacTech” or the
“Company”, CNSX: BAC) today announced that it has tendered a proposal for the remediation
of an arsenopyrite stockpile at Snow Lake under a request for proposals from Manitoba
Innovation, Energy and Mines. A decision on the proposal is expected within 60 days.
The arsenopyrite stockpile, situated at Snow Lake, Manitoba, was created from gold production
in the 1950s from the Nor Acme Mine. Given the refractory nature of the ore and the high levels
of contained arsenic, the material was stockpiled at the time of production. The material was
subjected to treatment with cyanide at the time, but the refractory gold associated with
arsenopyrite was not extracted. The deleterious elements in the stockpile include arsenic at
23% and high levels of thiocyanate, both of which have been leaching from the stockpile into the
local environment.
A 1996 government study reported that this 250,000 tonne stockpile contained a gold grade of
8.7 grams per tonne. BacTech has not verified the classification of this historic estimate and is
not treating it as a resource or reserve pursuant to National Instrument 43-101. The historic
estimate has not been verified by a Qualified Person. However, based on the limited sampling
program completed by BacTech in 2010, the Company believes that this historic estimate is
relevant and reliable.
BacTech considers this opportunity to be of particular interest because of the Company's
extensive knowledge and experience in working with arsenopyrite. All three of BacTech’s
commercial bioleach plants commissioned to date have focused on the treatment and
stabilization of arsenopyrite. Bioleaching is particularly adept at stabilizing arsenic contained in
arsenopyrite, reducing future monitoring and treatment costs.
BacTech completed some initial test work at its own expense in 2010 with encouraging results.
The Company envisions the construction of a bioleach plant in Snow Lake to treat 150 tonnes of
stockpiled material per day or 52,500 tonnes per year. The 5-6 year project would be the first
operating bioleach plant of its kind in North America and could possibly be adapted, after
completion of the Snow Lake clean up, to treat additional tailings issues in central Canada.
BacTech’s proposal includes a “no-cost” to the government approach whereby BacTech will
fund the operation through the recovery of the contained gold.
Ross Orr, President & CEO of BacTech, said: “We are pleased to tender a proposal for the
clean up of the Snow Lake stockpile and look forward to working with all levels of government
and local partners to solve this long standing problem should our proposal be accepted. More
importantly, we look forward to establishing North America’s first bioleach plant in Manitoba and
establishing a home base for our environmental remediation technology.”