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iMinerals Inc.
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iMinerals Inc.
All rights reserved.
July 28, 2015
Vancouver, B.C. (July 28, 2015) — I-Minerals Inc. (TSX.V: IMA; OTCQX: IMAHF) (“the Company” or “I-Minerals”)
is pleased to announce that it has received a report from a leading
academic halloysite researcher that covers the results of comparative
testing of I-Minerals’ HalloPure halloysite with commercially available
halloysite from NZ, China and Turkey as well as another development
stage US halloysite. Specific testing addressed the potential
applications that rely on a stable release of chemical solutions that
are important in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, agricultural and paint
products. Most of the comparative analysis focused on I-Minerals and
the other development stage US halloysite. Overall the analysis
concluded that I-Minerals’ halloysite has better tubule shapes than
commercial NZ and Turkish halloysite. The Chinese halloysite from Hunan
Province proved to be a quality product, but it is only available in
small amounts (kg). As compared with the other development stage US
halloysite, I-Minerals’ HalloPure halloysite demonstrated materially
longer nanotubes, which may provide better strength in polymeric
composites. Loading and release characteristics compare well, showing
some potential for better loading efficiency and potential for longer
release times.
Scanning Electron Microscope (“SEM”) work indicated that I-Minerals
halloysite nanotubes (“HNTs”) are much longer than any of the other HNTs
tested. Most of I-Minerals HNTs measured had a length range of
1.1-2.μm (75 %). 20 % of the tubes have length of 3.0-5.μm. The
remaining shorter HNTs were considered to be broken pieces off longer
tubes. In comparison, the HNTs of the other development stage US
producer measured only 0.5 ± 0.2µm, but this halloysite did demonstrate a
more uniform HNT size distribution. I-Minerals’ much longer HNTs are
believed better for stronger polymeric composites. The diameter of
I-Minerals HNTs was twice that of the other US halloysite providing
improved HNT loading capacity.
A release study was also undertaken wherein I-Minerals’ HalloPure HNTs
and the other US producer’s HNTs were loaded with different solutions
and the release time measured. In the first test benzotriazole (“BTA”)
was loaded into both HNTs simultaneously at the same conditions. A
release study in water was also performed simultaneously and the release
was measured (260 nm) using a UV-Visible spectrophotometer. Initial
burst release in both the cases was close to 70%. However, subsequent
release of BTA was slow and sustained with I-minerals’ halloysite. The
experiments were repeated at least 3 times to check the consistency of
the results, which confirmed the release from I-Minerals’ HNTs is
longer.
In a second test, Hydroxyquinoline (“HQ” an important antioxidant and
anticorrosion inhibitor) was loaded into I-Minerals’ HalloPure HNTs and
the other US producer’s HNTs simultaneously under the same conditions. A
release study in water was also performed simultaneously and the
release was measured (240 nm) using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Initial
burst release was lower in case of I-Minerals’ HalloPure HNTs (33 wt %)
when compared to the other US producer’s HNTs (43 %). The overall
release profiles were similar and HQ release extended up to 3 hours in
both cases.
Zeta potential is a key indicator of the stability of colloidal
suspensions. When the like ionic charge surrounding the tubes is high
such that the particles strongly repel, there is a low tendency to
recombine, form aggregates and settle out. Untreated HNTs from
I-Minerals were measured at -44±2 mV and when treated with Polystyrene
sulfonate (PSS) the zeta potential was modified to -55 mV. Zeta
potentials from 40 to 60 mV indicate good stability of colloidal
dispersions and above 61 mV are considered excellent. These results
indicate I-Minerals HalloPure halloysite is well suited for all sorts of
cosmetic, pharmaceutical, agriculture, polymers and paint products.
“These test results support our belief that we have one of the best
halloysite products that can be readily produced in commercial
quantities and supports much of the research we have undertaken in
Germany and elsewhere,” state Thomas Conway, President and CEO of
I-Minerals Inc. “We knew we had one of the highest aspect ratio
halloysites available that contained no cristobalite and limited other
deleterious heavy metals and now these results demonstrate our Ultra
Hallopure is probably the best halloysite available.”
A. Lamar Long, CPG, is a qualified person (“QP”) for I-Minerals Inc. and has reviewed and approved the contents of this release.
About I-Minerals Inc.
I-Minerals is developing multiple deposits of high purity, high value
halloysite, quartz, potassium feldspar and kaolin at its strategically
located Helmer-Bovill property in north central Idaho. A 2014
Prefeasibility Study on the Bovill Kaolin Deposit completed by SRK
Consulting (USA) Inc. highlights the potential of the Helmer-Bovill
property’s Bovill Kaolin deposit: after tax NPV6 of $212 million; 30.5%
IRR; 3 year payback and $72.7 million initial CAPEX; $84 million CAPEX
including life of mine sustaining capital over a 25 year mine life.
Ongoing development work is focused on moving project towards
production.
I-Minerals Inc.
per: “Thomas M. Conway”
Thomas M. Conway,
President & CEO
Contact: | |
---|---|
Barry Girling 877-303-6573 or 604-303-6573 ext. 102 Email: info@imineralsinc.com Or visit our website at www.imineralsinc.com |
Paul J. Searle, Investor Relations 877-303-6573 or 604-303-6573 ext. 113 Email: psearle@imineralsinc.com |
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
NEWS RELEASE.
This News Release includes certain “forward looking statements” within
the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Without limitation, statements regarding potential
mineralization and resources, exploration results, and future plans and
objectives of the Company are forward looking statements that involve
various risks. Actual results could differ materially from those
projected as a result of the following factors, among others: changes in
the world wide price of mineral market conditions, risks inherent in
mineral exploration, risk associated with development, construction and
mining operations, the uncertainty of future profitability and
uncertainty of access to additional capital.