Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSX:AVL) and (OTCQX:AVLNF)
(“Avalon” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide a progress report
on process development work for its Separation Rapids Lithium
Project, Kenora Ontario (the “Project”). Pilot processing of a bulk
sample of the ore has successfully produced one tonne of high
purity lithium mineral concentrate (petalite) that meets target
specifications. Approximately 300kg will be used for further
process development work toward defining a flowsheet for production
of a high purity lithium chemical for battery applications.
Preliminary work is already underway and scheduled for completion
in June, 2016 with further piloting of the process planned for
later in 2016. The remainder of the concentrate will be shipped to
potential customers in the glass industry who have requested
product samples for evaluation in glass-ceramic applications.
The bulk sample pilot plant was conducted at
metallurgical facilities in Germany under the direction of Dorfner
Anzaplan GmbH, Germany (“Anzaplan”), a specialist in industrial
minerals process development. The flow sheet employs magnetic
separation and froth flotation processes that are a significant
improvement on the process originally developed and patented by
Avalon in 1998-99 to produce a petalite concentrate for
glass-ceramics. The concentrate produced meets customer
expectations on lithium content and purity, assaying 4.0% Li2O and
less than 0.01% Fe2O3. The work was supervised by Avalon’s Senior
Vice President, Metallurgy and Technology Development, Mr. David
Marsh.
The lithium chemical process development work
will test a hydrometallurgical flowsheet conceived by Avalon for
the production of battery grade lithium hydroxide, (the product now
preferred by many battery manufacturers) directly from petalite.
The proposed process results in efficient use of reagents through
re-cycling and generates minimal waste material. The results from
this work will be used to generate a Preliminary Economic
Assessment (“PEA”) scheduled for completion this summer. The
ability to produce battery grade lithium carbonate was previously
demonstrated during initial testwork carried out in 2015 (See the
Company’s News Release dated October 8, 2015).
Future PlansThe PEA is
currently being compiled based on the resource as defined during
the original drilling programs conducted by Avalon in 1997-2001. At
currently anticipated production rates this would provide
sufficient resources for a minimum 10 year operating life. The
resource remains open to depth and along strike for expansion and a
summer exploration drilling program is currently being planned to
delineate additional lithium resources.
Following the completion of the PEA this summer,
Avalon intends to proceed into a full feasibility study along with
environmental assessment work with a target date for completion in
Q2 2017.
In the meantime, the Company is studying
alternatives for delivery of clean, low-cost power to the project
site and alternative locations for the hydrometallurgical plant to
produce the proposed lithium hydroxide product for the battery
industry.
Potential By-ProductsBecause of
the unique composition of the Project’s lithium ore, the deposit
has the potential for recovery of several valuable by-products
including high purity silica, feldspar and tantalum. Testwork at
Anzaplan to define precise by-product specifications and the
required process flowsheets to produce them is ongoing. By-product
recovery has the potential to significantly increase revenues and
decrease the amount of waste material produced.
Recent work has resulted in the discovery that a
high quality silica product can be recovered from the petalite
flotation tailings. Investigations are currently underway to
determine the viability of upgrading such a product to potential
semi-conductor applications, telecommunications and
microelectronics, with a current market price in the range of
US$4,000 to $8,000 per tonne. Results of these investigations are
expected by late June.
Further, the feldspars in the ore, when finely
ground, exhibits similar properties to nepheline syenite which is
widely used as paint filler, a flux in the glass making industry,
ceramic glazes and as an anti-block agent in clear waste disposal
bags. Initial testwork has yielded a feldspar product that compares
favourably to nepheline syenite products currently available in the
market. Lastly, the magnetics fraction offers potential for further
treatment to recover tantalum, niobium and additional lithium for
the hydrometallurgical plant, which is also being investigated.
The technical information included in this news
release has been reviewed and approved by the Company’s Senior Vice
President, Metallurgy and Technology Development, Mr. David Marsh,
FAusIMM (CP), who is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.
About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. Avalon
Advanced Materials Inc. (formerly Avalon Rare Metals Inc.) is
a Canadian mineral development company specializing in niche market
metals and minerals with growing demand in new technology. The
Company has three advanced stage projects, all 100%-owned,
providing investors with exposure to lithium, tin and indium, as
well as rare earth elements, tantalum, niobium, and zirconium.
Avalon is currently focusing on its Separation Rapids Lithium
Project, Kenora, ON and its East Kemptville Tin-Indium Project,
Yarmouth, NS. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship
are corporate cornerstones.
For questions and feedback, please e-mail the
Company at ir@AvalonAM.com, or phone Don Bubar, President & CEO
at 416-364-4938.
This news release contains “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian
securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to, statements that approximately 300kg [of petalite]
will be used for further process development work toward defining a
flowsheet for production of a high purity lithium chemical for
battery applications, that preliminary work is scheduled for
completion in June, 2016 with further piloting of the process
planned for later in 2016, that the remainder of the concentrate
will be shipped to potential customers, that the flow sheet employs
magnetic separation and froth flotation processes that are a
significant improvement on the process originally developed and
patented by Avalon in 1998-99, that the lithium chemical process
development work will test a hydrometallurgical flowsheet conceived
by Avalon, that the results from this work will be used to
generate a Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) scheduled for
completion this summer, that a summer exploration drilling
program is currently being planned to delineate additional lithium
resources, that following the completion of the PEA this summer,
Avalon intends to proceed into a full feasibility study along with
environmental assessment work with a target date for completion in
Q2 2017, that the deposit has the potential for recovery of several
valuable by-products including high purity silica, feldspar and
tantalum, that by-product recovery has the potential to
significantly increase revenues and decrease the amount of waste
material produced, that the results of [the silica] investigations
are expected by late June and that the magnetics fraction offers
potential for further treatment to recover tantalum, niobium and
additional lithium for the hydrometallurgical plant.
Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by
the use of forward-looking terminology such as “potential”,
“scheduled”, “anticipates”, “continues”, “expects” or “does not
expect”, “is expected”, “scheduled”, “targeted”, “planned”, or
“believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that
certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”
or “will be” or “will not be” taken, reached or result, “will
occur” or “be achieved”. Forward-looking statements are subject to
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may
cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or
achievements of Avalon to be materially different from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management
believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made.
Although Avalon has attempted to identify important factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those
contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors
that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.
Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from
expected results described in forward-looking statements include,
but are not limited to market conditions, and the possibility of
cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses as well as those
risk factors set out in the Company’s current Annual Information
Form, Management’s Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure
documents available under the Company’s profile at www.SEDAR.com.
There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be
accurate, as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such
forward-looking statements have been provided for the purpose of
assisting investors in understanding the Company’s plans and
objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements. Avalon does not undertake to update any
forward-looking statements that are contained herein, except in
accordance with applicable securities laws.
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