MGX Minerals Receives Independent Confirmation of Rapid Lithium Extraction Process
April 20 2017 - 8:00AM
InvestorsHub NewsWire
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA / April 20, 2017 / -
InvestorsHub NewsWire - MGX Minerals Inc. (MGX or
the Company) (CSE: XMG / FKT: 1MG / OTC: MGXMF) is pleased to announce it has
received independent laboratory-testing results from the
Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) on the Companys patent-pending
Method for Extraction of Lithium from Salt Brine (U.S. Provisional
Patent #62/419,011).
As reported by SRC, the Companys proprietary design process was
successful in recovering up to 83.7% lithium (Li) and concentrating
461 ppm Li from a 71 ppm representative sample of formation brine
originating from the Sturgeon Lake oilfield.
The results of laboratory testing by SRC provide third-party
validation of our proprietary design process and its ability to
rapidly separate lithium and other valuable minerals from
wastewater brine, stated MGX President and CEO Jared Lazerson. We
have made many advancements since this original process design, but
this validation is important and we will continue to rely on SRC
for independent testing and improvements of both active and newly
developed passive filtration technologies.
Excerpts from the SRC Summary Report- Metallurgical Tests and
Executive Summary- are outlined verbatim below. Note that certain
portions of the report have been redacted to protect proprietary
information and data:
Table 1. Assay Results of the as Received Brine Sample
Element |
K |
Mg |
Na |
Cl |
Ca |
SO
2-4 |
Sr |
Er |
Li |
Assay (ppm) |
4212 |
2903 |
60747 |
116632 |
24753 |
186 |
1080 |
334 |
71 |
SRC independently carried out multi-stage evaporation tests
following the patent-pending design process as provided by MGX. As
reported by SRC in the executive summary:
- It was not feasible to remove 90% of the water in the primary
evaporation of the Formation brine because the formation of the
jel-like material made the filtration impossible. The maximum water
evaporation was 66% of the feed brine mass before the jel
formation. Approximately 97% of Na, 26% of K, 35% of Ca and 29% of
Mg were precipitated. The recovery of Li and Sr was 75.6% and
68.8%, respectively.
- The modified processes including magnesium precipitation by
lime followed by the primary evaporation to precipitate NaCl and
the secondary evaporation to precipitate CaCl2 and concentrate
lithium.
- The Mg removal was very effective and more than 99.99% of Mg
was removed. The residue Mg in the brine was less than 0.1 ppm.
The lithium recovery was 84.1% and the Sr recovery was
80.1%.
- In the primary evaporation process, 67% of the feed brine mass
was evaporated as water and more than 96% of Na was removed as
NaCl. There were almost no Li or Sr loss in this process. Li was
concentrated from 60 ppm to 321 ppm.
- In the secondary evaporation process, 26% of the feed brine
mass was evaporated as water and 12% of Ca was removed as CaCl2.
The lithium recovery was 94.1% and the Sr recovery was
94.6%. The sample turned to a jel-like material after
further evaporation to remove 40% of the brine mass as water.
- In the whole process, the estimated water evaporated was 72% of
the total feed brine mass. More than 99.99% of Mg, 99% of Na, 45%
of K and 25% of Ca were precipitated from the brine. The overall
recovery was 83.7% for Li and 77.2% for Sr. Lithium was
concentrated to 461 ppm from 71 ppm. However, the impurity
level, especially Ca, was still very high and further removal of Ca
through evaporation is not feasible.
SRC has provided the Company with several recommendations to
remove Ca impurity levels. The full report will be filed on SEDAR
within 45 days.
Qualified Person
The technical portions of this press release were prepared and
reviewed by Andris Kikauka (P. Geo.), Vice President of Exploration
for MGX Minerals. Mr. Kikauka is a non-independent Qualified Person
within the meaning of National Instrument (N.I.) 43-101
Standards.
MGX may decide to advance its petrolithium projects into
production without first establishing mineral resources supported
by an independent technical report or completing a feasibility
study. A production decision without the benefit of a technical
report independently establishing mineral resources or reserves and
any feasibility study demonstrating economic and technical
viability creates increased uncertainty and heightens economic and
technical risks of failure. Historically, such projects have a much
higher risk of economic or technical failure.
About MGX Minerals
MGX Minerals is a diversified Canadian mining company engaged in
the development of large-scale industrial mineral portfolios in
western Canada and the United States. The Company operates lithium,
magnesium and silicon projects throughout British Columbia and
Alberta as well as petrolithium exploration in Utah. Learn more at
www.mgxminerals.com.
About SRC
The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) is one of Canadas
leading providers of applied research, development and
demonstration (RD&D) and technology commercialization. With
more than 375 employees, $70 million in annual revenue and over 69
years of RD&D experience, SRC provides products and services to
its 1,500 clients in 20 countries around the world.
Contact Information
Jared Lazerson
President and CEO
Telephone: 1.604.681.7735
Web: www.mgxminerals.com
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation
Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the
Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking information or
forward-looking statements including the completion of the rights
offering (collectively "forward-looking information") within the
meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information
is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect",
"anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "potentially" and similar
expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future
events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking
information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future
results or performance, and that actual results may differ
materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of
various factors. The reader is referred to the Company's public
filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and
their potential effects which may be accessed through the Company's
profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
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