--(www.USEquityNews.com)-- 08/18/2008 - Uranium Exploration industry alert provided by U.S. Equity News. National Coal Corp. (NASDAQ: NCOC), a Central and Southern Appalachian coal producer, reports that for the period ended June 30, 2008, it achieved total revenues of $31.6 million based primarily on the sale of 458,245 tons of coal. In the same prior-year period, National Coal generated revenues of $18.9 million primarily through the sale of 372,341 tons of coal. For the three months ended June 30, 2008, National Coal reported a net loss of $9.9 million and a negative EBITDA of $2.1 million, versus a net loss of $6.5 million and a negative EBITDA of $1.0 million reported in the year-ago quarter. Daniel A. Roling, President and CEO of National Coal, said of the net loss, "These results were primarily attributable to the dragline breakdown, which impacted second quarter revenues by approximately $5.5 million and reduced production by about 80,000 tons. The full impact of the dragline being out of service for five months was a loss in production of about 110,000 tons, and an estimated impact on revenues of about $7.7 million. The dragline is the most cost efficient piece of equipment we use on our surface mines in Alabama. When it was taken out of service, the Company was forced to utilize more truck and loader equipment spreads in applications that are typically more appropriate for dragline operations."

Cameco Corporation (NYSE: CCJ) recently reported second quarter 2008 adjusted net earnings (1) of $142 million ($0.39 per share diluted), 30% lower than in the second quarter of 2007. This was due to lower earnings in the uranium, fuel services and electricity businesses. In our uranium business earnings were adversely affected by lower sales volumes, which more than offset higher realized selling prices. In addition, lower sales volumes in our fuel services business and reduced output at Bruce Power had a dampening effect. In the second quarter of 2007, uranium deliveries were unusually high, representing 35% of that year's total.

China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources, Inc. (AMEX: SHZ), a leading company engaged in the exploration, development, mining and processing of fluorite, zinc, lead, copper, and other non ferrous metals in China, recently announced its financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2008. Net revenues for the second quarter were $1.2 million, as compared to $4.9 million in the same period last year. Net loss for the quarter was $2.1 million, as compared to a profit of $1.3 million for same period last year. The decrease in net revenues is mainly attributed to Qianzhen Mining, whose zinc processing operations were materially impacted by a shortage of ore supplies.