Mantra Resources: Integrated pilot plant test work confirms Mkuju River
Project PFS flowsheet

PERTH, Western Australia, April 29 /CNW/ - Mantra Resources Limited ('Mantra' or 'the Company') (ASX: MRU, TSX: MRL) is pleased to announce that the results obtained from the first month of a two month test work program, at the fully integrated metallurgical pilot plant at ANSTO in Australia, have clearly confirmed the conceptual process flowsheet included in the Mkuju River Project ('MRP') Pre-Feasibility Study ('PFS') completed in February 2010.

The integrated pilot plant was operated for a period of 28 continuous days in March utilising feed material representing the first seven years of production. All parameters from the PFS were used as a base case operating scenario.

During this program the results indicated that the flowsheet could be considerably improved in various areas. These improvements were introduced during the pilot plant run and the plant consistently confirmed these initiatives. Notably:

    
    -  Acid consumption in the leach was maintained in the order of 6-8
       kg/tonne; well below the PFS parameter of 12 kg/tonne. The leach was
       operated at an ambient temperature leach with no addition of iron or
       oxidant. Average leach recoveries of 87% were consistent with the PFS,
       although a record recovery of 91% was achieved during testwork with
       high head grade feed;

    -  The resin absorption stage ran well with no resin fouling noted and a
       consistent 99.7 percent absorption rate was maintained throughout the
       campaign;

    -  The direct precipitation circuit produced a high quality yellow cake,
       thus confirming the elimination of the solvent extraction plant;

    -  The refining stage produced a final product yellow cake (UO4) within
       chemical and physical specification of major uranium off-take
       converters; and

    -  During the neutralisation stage a locally sourced Tanzanian limestone
       was used successfully which may result in considerable cost savings
       over the originally envisaged, imported product.
    

In light of these positive aspects, the Company will now commence a modified test work campaign focused on evaluating the potential to further reduce operating costs and improve overall uranium recoveries through a combination of:

    
    -  decreasing the temperature in the elution process;

    -  increasing resin loadings;

    -  Using a larger resin bead;

    -  optimization of the lime addition; and

    -  piloting the opportunity to leach the scatted material to recover
       uranium in the tailings stream.
    

The modified campaign will run for the entire month of May and will again be fed a composite of ore representing the first seven years of production. The results of this campaign will be released during June.

Regulatory Disclosures

This news release contains 'forward-looking information' that is based on the Company's expectations, estimates and projections as of the date on which the statements were made. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements with respect to pre-feasibility and definitive feasibility studies, the Company's business strategy, plans, development, objectives, performance, outlook, growth, cash flow, projections, targets and expectations, mineral reserves and resources, results of exploration and related expenses. Generally, this forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'outlook', 'anticipate', 'project', 'target', 'likely', 'believe', 'estimate', 'expect', 'intend', 'may', 'would', 'could', 'should', 'scheduled', 'will', 'plan', 'forecast', 'evolve' and similar expressions. Persons reading this news release are cautioned that such statements are only predictions, and that the Company's actual future results or performance may be materially different.

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein, including but not limited to the risk factors set out in the Company's Annual Information Form.

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect our forward-looking information. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. The Company disclaims any intent or obligations to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, estimates or options, future events or results or otherwise, unless required to do so by law.

For further information regarding the Mkuju River Project, including a description of Mantra's quality assurance program, quality control measures, the geology, samples collected and testing procedures in respect of the Mkuju River Project please refer to the technical reports prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 entitled "December, 2009 Resource Update - Mkuju River Project" dated 7 December 2009 and "Technical Report on the Mkuju River Project located in Tanzania, Africa" dated 18 September 2009, which are available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.

Competent Person / Qualified Person Statements:

The information in this release that relates to the Resin-In-Pulp metallurgical testwork results is based on information compiled by Mr Stuart Lawrence, who is a Metallurgist and a Fellow of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Lawrence is a Director of DRA's parent company, the EPCM contractor for the Mkuju River Project. Mr Lawrence has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (The JORC Code) and is a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 - 'Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects'. The Qualified Person has verified the data disclosed in this report, was satisfied with the verification process and consents to the disclosure in this release. Mr Lawrence consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

For further information: Peter Breese, Chief Executive Officer, Tel: [phone]