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Itronics Updates Stage 1 Silver Refinery Expansion Progress
Itronics Green Recycling Technology to Expand Growth Opportunities
| Source: Itronics Inc.
RENO, NV--(Marketwire - January 27, 2010) - Itronics Inc. (PINKSHEETS : ITRO ) (FRANKFURT : ITG )
(BERLIN : ITG ) reported today that its subsidiary, Itronics Metallurgical,
Inc., today provided a progress report on the Stage I silver refinery
expansion announced in October 2009.
Itronics Metallurgical has completed the preliminary engineering, including
specification of needed tanks and pumps. A tank list has been prepared and
tank selection is underway. Evaluation of operating changes that will be
needed to accommodate the new processing circuit is also underway. The
current goal is to be able to start testing the new circuit in the second
quarter.
"We are excited by the progress being made to advance this expansion
project," said Itronics President Dr. John Whitney. "Once operational,
this revolutionary technology will strengthen the company and open new
pathways to growth."
In 2008, Itronics announced plans for expansion of its silver refining
capacity in two stages from 24,000 ounces per year to 2.4 million ounces
per year. The Stage I expansion will increase nominal silver refining
capacity to 240,000 ounces per year by increasing the per melt capacity of
the refining operation by 10 times with no increase in per melt cost. This
produces a 90 percent decrease of the per melt cost of each ounce of silver
produced.
The increase in per melt capacity will be more than sufficient to
accommodate intermediate term growth, and will also provide the capacity
for acquisition of new silver-bearing sources to further expand growth. The
Stage 1 refinery expansion will produce two new fertilizer raw materials as
byproducts which are expected to improve GOLD'n GRO fertilizer quality and
profitability by replacing fertilizer ingredients which are presently
purchased from outside suppliers.
Itronics, through its subsidiary Itronics Metallurgical, is the inventor
and operator of
award-winning recycling technology that converts spent photographic liquids
into pure silver and GOLD'n GRO fertilizers. Commercialization of this
technology has created a "Green Consumer Option" for photo and X-ray
processors and "Green fertilizers" for horticulture and agriculture. The
fertilizers incorporate the "essence" of green because of how they are
sourced and because of their excellent performance in the field.
About Itronics
Headquartered in Reno, Nevada, Itronics Inc. is a "Creative Clean
Technology" Company that produces GOLD'n GRO liquid fertilizers and
pure silver bullion. Itronics, through its subsidiary,
Itronics Metallurgical, Inc., is the only company with a fully permitted
"Beneficial Use photochemical, Silver, and Water Recycling" plant in the
United States that converts spent photoliquids into pure silver and GOLD'n
GRO liquid fertilizers. The Company is developing environmentally
compatible mining technology, provides project planning and technical
services to the gold mining industry, and operates the popular
InsideMetals.com web site, http://www.insidemetals.com, which provides a
value-added WORLD VIEW of Gold Producer Stocks, Mineral Producer Stocks,
Junior Gold Stocks, and Junior Mineral Stocks.
Itronics has received numerous domestic and international awards that
recognize its ability to successfully create and implement new
environmentally clean recycling and fertilizer technologies.
The Company's environmentally friendly GOLD'n GRO liquid fertilizers, which
are extensively used in agriculture, can be used for lawns and houseplants,
and are available, along with liquid fertilizer injectors, at the Company's
"e-store" catalog at http://goldngro.com. The popular Silver Nevada Miner
bars are available at the Company's "e-store" catalog at
http://www.itromet.com.
VISIT OUR WEB SITE: http://www.itronics.com
("Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995: This press release contains or may contain forward-looking
statements such as statements regarding the Company's growth and
profitability, growth strategy, liquidity and access to public markets,
operating expense reduction, and trends in the industry in which the
Company operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press
release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those
more fully described in the Company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update these
forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in risks,
uncertainties or assumptions underlying or affecting such statements, or
for prospective events that may have a retroactive effect.)