UVN Uravan Minerals Inc

CALGARY, June 9, 2011 /CNW/ -- TSVX: UVN CALGARY, June 9, 2011 /CNW/ - Uravan Minerals Inc. (Uravan) has commenced diamond drilling operations on its Outer Ring (OR) project in the Pasfield Lake area of the Athabasca Basin. Drill hole OR11-001 is the first of a five (5) diamond drill-hole program totalling approximately 5000 meters of drilling [view map]. Drill depths to unconformity are estimated to be 850 meters. Completion of the drill program is estimated to be in early August 2011. The OR drill program is targeting selected surface geochemical signatures identified by Uravan's technical group and collaborative research partners(2) arising from a multifaceted surface sampling program completed over the property in 2010. This surface geochemical program capitalized on new innovative geochemical technologies developed from a pilot study conducted on the Cigar West uranium deposit (Cigar West Study)( 1). By using these exploration techniques, verified from the Cigar West Study, positive isotopic compositions and associated anomalous pathfinder elements were identified in certain soil components, vegetation and tree-core samples over the project area. These surface anomalies correlate positively with regional geophysical survey trends and other interpreted structural features, and potentially represent signatures of mobile elements derived directly from bedrock sources of unconformity-related uranium mineralization. The Athabasca Basin is the most significant uranium district in Canada, representing 28% of the world's primary uranium production. The interior of the Athabasca Basin, which includes the OR property, is under-explored relative to the high-grade unconformity-related uranium deposits currently being exploited near the eastern margin of the basin. The OR drill program will be the first significant exploration effort conducted in this more basin-ward region and even more significant considering the drilling is targeting surface geochemical anomalies versus conventional blind geophysical (EM) conductors. Mr. Larry Lahusen, CEO of Uravan believes, "The positioning of exploration drill-holes over surface geochemical signatures to test potential bedrock source of unconformity-related uranium mineralization is unique and could be an exploration 'game changer' with respect to how future uranium exploration is carried out in the Athabasca Basin". The OR drill program will be managed and directed by Uravan's technical group. Drilling operations are being performed by Bryson Drilling Ltd. from Archerwill, Saskatchewan. All whole-rock analytical work on core samples collected will be by multi-element ICP-MS for 52 elements plus all the REE and Pb isotopes at Acme Labs in Vancouver. The Queen's Facility for Isotope Research(2) (QFIR) will conduct further analytical techniques on core samples to determine the concentration of certain isotopic compositions using High-Resolution ICP-MS. Dr. Colin Dunn, P. Geo., technical advisor for Uravan, is the Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101 with respect to the technical information in this press release. (1)The Cigar Lake deposit is on the Waterbury/Cigar uranium property; a joint venture partnership between Cameco Corporation, AREVA, Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd., and Tokyo Electric Power Co. [TEPCO]) located in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan. Uravan thanks both AREVA and Cameco for their collaboration and gracious support for the Cigar West Study; and the support provided by the Cigar Lake facility during our field operations. The Cigar West Study was a collaborative applied research program conducted by Uravan and QFIR (Queen's Facility for Isotope Research) in 2009 over a known high-grade uranium deposit in the Athabasca Basin. The study was designed to develop new surface geochemical techniques that can better identify bedrock sources of uranium mineralization at depth.  This research clearly identified distinctive elements and isotopic compositions that have been mobilized from the deposit (geosphere) to the surface media (plants and soils) from depths 450 meters. (2)The Queen's Facility for Isotope Research (QFIR) at Queens's University, Ontario is a state-of-the-art research facility, comprising a group of highly experienced research geochemists. The QFIR lab contains some of the most technologically advanced analytical equipment in Canada. Under the direction of Dr. Kurt Kyser, the QFIR research team is working collaboratively with Uravan's technical group to develop new exploration technologies using applied research. (2)Dr. Colin Dunn, an independent specialist in biogeochemistry, is working closely with Uravan's technical group and QFIR to advance the interpretation of biogeochemical results. Dr. Kurt Kyser and Dr. Colin Dunn are key technical advisors for Uravan. Uravan is a Calgary Alberta based diversified mineral exploration company that utilizes applied research to develop new innovative exploration technologies to identify buried uranium, rare earth elements (REE) and nickel-copper-platinum group element (Ni-Cu-PGE) deposits in under-explored areas. Our exploration focus in uranium is for potential high-grade unconformity-related uranium deposits in the Athabasca and Thelon Basins in Canada and other basin environments globally. Uravan is expanding its acquisition efforts toward REE geological domains in North America and specific areas globally. The REE and uranium mineralization occur in related geological environments thereby complementing Uravan's uranium exploration efforts with a strategy to add diversification to its portfolio. Further, Uravan is pursuing the exploration of its advanced- stage Rottenstone Ni-Cu-PGE project supported by the development of new drill targets defined by recent geophysical re-interpretation.  Uravan is a publicly listed company on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol UVN. All of the mineral properties Uravan owns are considered in the exploration stage of development. This press release may contain forward looking statements including those describing Uravan's future plans and the expectations of management that a stated result or condition will occur. Any statement addressing future events or conditions necessarily involves inherent risk and uncertainty. Actual results can differ materially from those anticipated by management at the time of writing due to many factors, the majority of which are beyond the control of Uravan and its management. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.   To view this news release in HTML formatting, please use the following URL: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2011/09/c4534.html p Larry Lahusen, CEObr/ Uravan Minerals Inc.br/ Tel: 403-264-2630br/ Email: a href="mailto:llahusen@uravanminerals.com"llahusen@uravanminerals.com/a,br/ Website: a href="http://www.uravanminerals.com"www.uravanminerals.com/a /p

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