Athabasca Minerals Reports Record Quarter 1 2012 Aggregate Tonneage Sales
EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - May 1, 2012) - Athabasca Minerals Inc. (the "Corporation" or "Athabasca") (TSX VENTURE:ABM) is pleased to announce its aggregate tonneage sales for the first quarter of fiscal year ended February 29, 2012.
During Q1 2012, Athabasca had aggregate sales totaling 1,966,979 tonnes, of which 1,768,326 tonnes were sourced from the Susan Lake Gravel Pit and 198,653 tonnes (78% completion of a 253,500 tonnes asphalt aggregates sales contract) was supplied from the House River Pit. This compares to 879,613 tonnes of aggregate sales during Q1 2011, representing a 123.6% increase in the first quarter of 2012. The House River Pit delivery is the first aggregate sale from a Corporation owned pit. Athabasca owns additional aggregate pits located near major oil sands activities and infrastructure projects, including the Kearl, Logan and Pelican Hill pits.
"Fiscal 2012 sales have begun at an extremely exciting pace." said Dom Kriangkum, President and CEO. "We anticipate that aggregates sales quantity for this fiscal year will surpass the 7,758,612 tonnes sold in fiscal 2011. Expansion plans of various oil sands projects and other infrastructure needs in the City of Fort McMurray and surrounding area could result in increasing demand for aggregates from the Susan Lake Gravel Pit." The Corporation advised that there are currently 10 gravel crushers working in the Susan Lake Gravel Pit, and there are two wash plants that have been set up for use once the weather is warmer.
The Corporation also announced it is receiving price quotations from contractors for gravel crushing at the Kearl Pit to begin early in the Corporation's third quarter. Mr. Kriangkum commented "We anticipate the availability of processed and stockpiled aggregates at this strategic location will result in aggregates sales from the Kearl Pit."
About Athabasca Minerals:
Athabasca Minerals Inc. is a resource company involved in the management, exploration and development of aggregate projects in Canada. These activities include contracts works, aggregate pit management, new aggregate development and acquisitions of sand and gravel operations. The Corporation also has industrial mineral land holdings in the vicinity of Fort McMurray. Its Firebag property north of Fort McMurray contains silica sand resources that have been independently tested and have been found to comply favorably with specifications and technical standards used in the fracking industry. The Corporation's aim is to find and develop local sources of industrial minerals and aggregates essential to high growth economic development.
