VANCOUVER, BC, April 20, 2021
/CNW/ - Defense Metals Corp. ("Defense Metals") (TSXV:
DEFN) (OTCQB: DFMTF) (FSE: 35D) is pleased to announce that it has
received the formal Wicheeda Rare Earth Element ("REE")
Project continuous hydrometallurgical pilot plant proposal from SGS
Canada Inc. ("SGS").
Defense Metals is currently advancing the road accessible
Wicheeda Critical Rare Earth Element (REE) Property, which is
located close to infrastructure approximately 80 kilometres
northeast of Prince George, British
Columbia (BC). The Wicheeda project has indicated
mineral resources of 4,890,000 tonnes averaging 3.02% LREO (Light
Rare Earth Elements) and inferred mineral resources
of 12,100,000 tonnes averaging 2.90% LREO1.
The Company's highly successful 26-tonne flotation pilot plant
campaign, also completed at the SGS Lakefield, ON metallurgical test facility,
yielded approximately 1,200 kilograms of high grade REE mineral
concentrate. Initiation of the hydrometallurgical pilot plant test
program is the next step in establishing overall flowsheet
operability at scale.
The test program will utilize representative flotation
concentrate generated during the flotation pilot plant campaign and
is expected to be completed in stages comprising initial gangue
leach; caustic crack; primary acid leach; caustic re-crack;
impurity removal; and REE precipitation. Parallel investigations
into operability of acid and caustic regeneration; operability of
gangue leach and caustic crack and primary acid leach circuits
using recycled reagents; in addition to tailings neutralization
studies will also be completed.
Once initiated, subject to the Company securing sufficient
financing, completion of the various staged pilot campaigns is
expected to take approximately 6 months. Key objectives of the
planned hydrometallurgical pilot plant will be:
- To provide proof of operability of the proposed
hydrometallurgical flowsheet for treatment of flotation concentrate
under representative processing conditions including recycled
process streams;
- To produce sufficient purified mixed rare earth hydroxide
sample for downstream REE separation testing (leading to the
production of a saleable NdPr oxide product);
- To confirm final product purity;
- To generate representative samples for solid-liquid separation
testing, for use in the development of engineering cost estimates
for key equipment.
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1
Technical Report on the Wicheeda Property, British Columbia,
effective June 27, 2020 and prepared by APEX Geoscience Ltd.
(Steven J. Nicholls, B.A. Sc., MAIG and Kristopher J. Raffle,
B.Sc., P.Geo.) is available under Defense Metals Corp.'s profile on
SEDAR (www.sedar.com)
|
As previously announced SGS (see Defense Metals News Release
dated March 1, 2021) SGS is
nearing completion pre-pilot infill hydrometallurgical testwork,
initiated during late 2020, designed to assist in the finalization
of the pilot plant flowsheet. The Company expects SGS to complete
the remainder of pre-pilot testwork within 4-6 weeks time.
Craig Taylor, CEO of Defense
Metals, stated: "Since initiating its option to acquire
100% of the Wicheeda REE Project in late 2018 and subsequently
collecting a 26-tonne bulk sample, Defense Metals has rapidly
advanced Wicheeda from an attractive prospect to compelling
resource-stage project. Flotation and hydrometallurgical flowsheet
development was completed in parallel with our highly successful
2019 diamond drill campaign that led to an upgraded and expanded
mineral resource estimate. We are now excited to take the next step
in demonstrating scale-up operability of the Wicheeda REE
beneficiation process, leading to the production of a
saleable NdPr oxide product."
About the Wicheeda REE Property
The 1,708 hectare Wicheeda REE Property, located approximately
80 km northeast of the city of Prince
George, British Columbia, is readily accessible by
all-weather gravel roads and is nearby to infrastructure, including
power transmission lines, the CN railway and major highways.
Geologically, the property is situated in the Foreland Belt and
within the Rocky Mountain Trench, a major continental geologic
feature. The Foreland Belt contains part of a large alkaline
igneous province, stretching from the Canadian Cordillera to the
southwestern United States, which
includes several carbonatite and alkaline intrusive complexes
hosting the Aley (niobium), Rock Canyon (REE), and Wicheeda (REE)
deposits.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information contained in this news
release as it relates to the Wicheeda REE Property has been
reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (BC)
Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, AB, a director of Defense Metals and
a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 –
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr.
Raffle verified the data disclosed which includes a review of the
analytical and test data underlying the information and opinions
contained therein.
About Defense Metals Corp.
Defense Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on
the acquisition of mineral deposits containing metals and
elements commonly used in the electric power market, military,
national security and the production of "GREEN" energy
technologies, such as, high strength alloys and rare earth magnets.
Defense Metals has an option to acquire 100% of the 1,708 hectare
Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Property located near Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.
Defense Metals Corp. trades in Canada under the symbol "DEFN" on the TSX
Venture Exchange, in the United
States, under "DFMTF" on the OTCQB and in Germany on the Frankfurt Exchange under
"35D".
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this news release.
Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking"
Information
This news release contains "forward–looking information or
statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which
may include, without limitation, statements relating to the pilot
plant proposal from SGS, the completion of the pilot plant and the
expected outcomes, plans for its Wicheeda Property, the advancement
and development of the Wicheeda Property, expected demand for REE
products, the technical, financial and business prospects of the
Company, its project and other matters. All statements in this news
release, other than statements of historical facts, that address
events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are
forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the
expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based
on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of
future performance and actual results may differ materially from
those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and
information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and
future business strategies and the environment in which the Company
will operate in the future, including the price of rare earth
elements, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business
and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse
manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on
reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the
Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to
risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those filed under
the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. While such
estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the
management of the Company, they are inherently subject to
significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory
uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those in forward looking statements include,
but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and
financing and general economic, market or business conditions,
adverse weather conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all
necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure
to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations),
decrease in the price of rare earth elements, the impact of
Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to
operate increase in costs, litigation, and failure of
counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The
Company does not undertake to update forward–looking statements or
forward–looking information, except as required by law.
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SOURCE Defense Metals Corp.