VANCOUVER, BC, May 11, 2021 /CNW/ - Defense Metals Corp.
("Defense Metals" or the "Company") (TSXV: DEFN)
(OTCQB: DFMTF) (FSE: 35D) is pleased to provide an update regarding
its ongoing pre-pilot hydrometallurgical test work utilizing
high-grade rare earth element (REE) mineral concentrate produced
during the Company's highly successful 26-tonne flotation
pilot-plant that yielded
a mineral concentrate averaging 7.4%
NdPr oxide (neodymium-praseodymium)1.
The road accessible Wicheeda REE Property 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% LREO2.
Highlights of ongoing infill hydrometallurgical test results,
which centred around optimizing caustic crack-acid leach
conditions, and leach liquor impurity removal conducted at SGS
Canada Inc. ("SGS") Lakefield,
Ontario Site are as follows:
- High REE extraction (using neodymium as a proxy, Figure 1) for
base case bench and bulk (3 kg) caustic crack across the range of
test conditions in comparison to initial 2019/2020 bench test work
(see Defense Metals News Release dated February 16, 2021).
- Comparable REE extraction via direct crack of mineral
concentrate shows promise with calculated neodymium extraction
within a 5% range of the base case.
- The success of direct crack test results opens up the potential
of future optimization work to reduce circuit complexity though
potential elimination of gangue leaching and associated
solid-liquid separation steps.
- Primary impurity removal tests on leach liquor at terminal pH
yield very efficient Th and Fe removal (>99% Th and >95% Fe)
at negligible Nd losses (Figure 2).
Ongoing hydrometallurgical optimisation test work being
conducted at SGS Lakefield is expected to be completed over the
next 4-6 weeks resulting in finalization of a base-case flowsheet
to inform operation of a future hydrometallurgical pilot plant.
Final test work is expected to focus on secondary impurity
removal and the production of a purified mixed REE precipitate and
on the regeneration of hydrochloric acid.
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1 See Defense Metals News Release
dated September 23, 2020
|
2 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)
|
Craig Taylor, CEO of Defense
Metals, stated: "Defense Metals continues to be
extremely pleased with its ongoing pre-pilot hydrometallurgical
test work campaign. These latest results establish that stable REE
extractions are achievable across a range of test conditions
bracketing our emerging base case flowsheet. Significantly, direct
crack REE extractions were similarly high opening up the door for
potential circuit complexity and future capital cost reductions.
Primary impurity removal test show that at the bench scale we can
produce a high quality REE leach liquor suitable for conversion to
mixed REE oxide end 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.
Methodology and QA/QC
Hydrometallurgical product assays for neodymium was determined
via lithium-borate fusion of a 0.5-gram sample analyzed via
wavelength dispersion X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF). The remaining
rare earth elements for the head sample were determined via
0.5-gram sodium-peroxide fusion multi-element ICP-MS.
The SGS analyses included a quality assurance / quality control
(QA/QC) program including the insertion of rare earth element
standard and blank samples. Defense Metals detected no significant
QA/QC issues during review of the data. Defense Metals is not aware
of any drilling, sampling, recovery or other factors that could
materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred
to herein. SGS is an ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO9001:2015 accredited
laboratory. SGS is independent of Defense Metals Corp.
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 ongoing
optimization test work and the expected outcomes, operation of a
future hydrometallurgical pilot plant, plans for its Wicheeda
Property, the advancement and development of the Wicheeda Property,
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.