Calcine Testing

Calcining tests were completed on the Middle Quarry Unit, MQU, on core from three drill holes:  one from 1996 and two from the recent drill program. The tests were completed successfully, giving an average lime (calcium oxide) content of 93.29%. The calcining tests were carried out in the research laboratory of kiln manufacturer FFE Minerals USA Inc. (FFE), Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. FFE concluded that the limestone was, " ...a fairly high grade limestone, which can be characterized as an easy-normal burning limestone." Slaking tests indicated that, "The calcined product has very good reactivity characteristics." FFE noted that the limestone, "...was of low normal hardness index [...] and [produced] a very soft lime product, as would be expected." Individual results were as follows:

FFE also conducted one additional calcining test of a near-surface limestone unit, yielding a lime product containing 90.65 % calcium oxide.

Core samples from the six hole drill program completed in early 2003, and from one hole drilled in 1996, were prepared by Birch Mountain personnel and submitted for whole rock geochemical analyses and/or calcining tests. The target Middle Quarry Unit (MQU) was intersected in all holes, with an average thickness of 4.44 m. Whole rock geochemical analyses indicate that the MQU is a high calcium limestone. The average calcium carbonate content is 95.15%, excluding one hole where the MQU immediately underlies the pre-Cretaceous unconformity and alteration has reduced its calcium carbonate content. The geochemical data also confirm the presence of other potentially calcinable limestone units. Whole rock analyses were performed by Acme Analytical Laboratories Ltd. (ISO 9002 accredited), North Vancouver, British Columbia, using their Group 4A analytical method. Replicate analyses were run and varied within an acceptable range.

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