A mapping and sampling program by Avalon Ventures Ltd. on the recently-staked Lilypad Lakes rare metals prospect, located northeast of Pickle Lake, Ontario, has resulted in the discovery of high grade cesium mineralization, assaying up to 3.84% Cs2O in composite samples. The high cesium values are associated with the rare cesium ore mineral pollucite, which occurs as coarse aggregates in a pegmatite dyke measuring 12 meters in width.

Additionally, significant tantalum values have been obtained from analyses of drill core samples of shallow-dipping rare metal pegmatites on the Raleigh Lake property, located near Ignace, Ontario. The best individual sample assayed 0.039% Ta2O5 over 0.7 meters. The largest pegmatite intersected, Pegmatite #1, ranges from 5.0 to 8.5 meters in thickness and is a continuous down-dip for over 450 meters, where it remains open. Further exploration is planned to delineate thicker and higher-grade extensions to Pegmatite #1 and evaluate numerous other rare metal occurrences on the property.

Recent flotation work on the Big Whopper petalite ore has resulted in improved recoveries of feldspars from the petalite flotation tailings. In particular, recovery of Rb-K feldspar into a saleable mineral concentrate has increased by 42% to 6.7% of the head grade. The concentrate exhibits an excellent K2O content of 11.7% with approximately 1% Rb2O.

For further information contact Donald S. Bubar at (416) 364-4938.