Uranium Properties Obtained

Vane Minerals PLC 3 May 2005 VANE Minerals plc (AIM: VML) Uranium Properties obtained in Northern Arizona VANE Minerals plc ('VANE' or 'the Company') has obtained exploration rights to 16 properties in the breccia pipe uranium district of Northern Arizona, in line with its planned uranium programme, as previously announced on 7 March and 11 April 2005. One of the properties contains a breccia pipe with a drill intercept containing 1.78% equivalent U3O8 ('eU3O8'). Several of the remaining 15 properties have been explored by drilling and are believed to hold breccia pipes, while others that have not been drilled exhibit surface features similar to breccia pipes that have been mined or are known to contain uranium resources. VANE is in the process of compiling all available data on the properties. The 16 properties are located on Federal lands that have been claimed, or on State lands on which exploration permits have been granted. The breccia pipe uranium district of Northern Arizona is a relatively new district that produced approximately 23 million pounds of eU3O8 prior to the decline of uranium prices in the early 1990's. Uranium occurs in compact, high-grade deposits, formed in solution-collapse breccia pipes originating in the Mississippian Redwall Limestone. Breccia pipes occupy relatively small surface areas and in most cases can be covered by one to four 20-acre claims. For this reason land acquisition costs are minimal, as is surface disturbance related to exploration and mining activity. Breccia pipes have been known to contain more than 5 million pounds of eU3O8 at an average grade in excess of 1% eU3O8. Most of the uranium ore produced from breccia pipes in the Arizona district was processed at the White Mesa Mill located in Blanding, Utah. Processing at White Mesa restarted on March 21, 2005. There is currently an estimated resource of 13 million pounds of eU3O8 in several breccia pipes in Northern Arizona awaiting production at favourable prices. In addition to these 16 properties, VANE continues to identify and investigate other opportunities for acquisitions within the uranium sector. Michael Spriggs, Chairman of VANE commented, 'We are very pleased to report the acquisition of the exploration rights on these uranium assets, which we have been investigating over the last few months. These 16 properties show great potential and we are delighted to add them to the VANE portfolio. We will announce further data on these properties as soon as they become available.' Enquiries: VANE Minerals plc Seymour Pierce Limited Parkgreen Communications Matthew Idiens Sarah Wharry Justine Howarth / Cathy Malins 020 7667 6322 020 7107 8000 020 7493 3713 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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