VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 13, 2020
/CNW/ - Defense Metals Corp. ("Defense Metals")
(TSX-V:DEFN) (OTCQB:DFMTF) (FSE:35D) is pleased to provide an
additional update with respect to flotation pilot plant processing
of its Wicheeda Rare Earth Element (REE) Property
("Wicheeda") bulk sample at the SGS Canada Inc.
("SGS") Lakefield, ON
metallurgical test facility.
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.
To date a total of 20 pilot plant processing runs have been
completed since initiation of pilot plant testwork on June 11, 2020. The entirety of the Wicheeda bulk
sample has now been processed through the pilot plant. Mass balance
assay results for an additional five (5) pilot plant runs completed
since the previous news release dated August
4, 2020 are presented below (Table 1). Highlights of
the recently completed bulk sample flotation pilot plant are:
- 26 tonnes bulk sample feed processed over 178 hours
of operation
- Approximately 1,200 kg of high-grade REE flotation
concentrate produced (dry weight at ~15% moisture content)
- Process run concentrate grades ranging from 45.4% up
to 56.7% (averaging 51.6%) LREO (light rare earth oxide
expressed as the sum of light rare earth elements expressed as
oxides
Ce2O3+La2O3+Nd2O3+Pr2O3)
- Process recovery ranging from 53.8% up to 81.5% (averaging
72.4%) LREO
- Low average 6.4% mass yield to concentrate
Scaled-up flotation pilot plant results to date compare very
favourably, and with respect to concentrated grade exceed,
benchmark locked-cycle flotation tests that produced a
high grade 48.7% LREO flotation concentrate at 85.7% LREO recovery
(See Defense Metals News Release dated October 23, 2019). The results demonstrate
progressive LREO recovery improvement with successive tests
conducted under varying process conditions designed to improve the
circuit stability and metallurgical performance.
The final 5 (five) pilot plant runs, each having a duration of
approximately 12 hours of continuous operation, included three
tests (PP-15C, PP-16A, and PP-16C) conducted at reduced
conditioning temperature. The results of these lower operating
temperature tests returned comparable concentrate grade and
recoveries to earlier higher temperature tests. Defense Metals
believe the results are significant in that they demonstrate
opportunities for potential future process-cost savings due to
reduced energy input requirements.
Craig Taylor, CEO of Defense
Metals, stated; "With the processing of the remaining bulk
sample feed now complete we continue to be extremely pleased with
the results, which we believe demonstrate the viability of
large-scale bulk sample flotation processing of Wicheeda REE
Deposit material. We now look forward to beginning the data
analysis phase of the work that will in part examine opportunities
for further improvement of the already very successful Wicheeda
metallurgical flowsheet. We expect to release the final
results and a summary of all the testwork in the coming
months."
Figure 1: Wicheeda REE Deposit Flotation Pilot
Plant Mass Balance Results
Pilot
Run
|
Released
|
Weight
|
Assay
%
|
% Distribution
(Recovery)
|
|
Ce2O3
|
La2O3
|
Nd2O3
|
Pr2O3
|
LREO
Concentrate
Grade
|
Ce2O3
|
La2O3
|
Nd2O3
|
Pr2O3
|
LREO
|
|
%
|
|
PP-16C
|
Current
News
Release
|
7.1
|
25.73
|
19.98
|
5.74
|
2.03
|
53.47
|
76.97
|
78.27
|
77.03
|
78.12
|
77.60
|
|
PP-16A
|
7.4
|
24.22
|
18.58
|
5.41
|
1.90
|
50.11
|
77.39
|
78.19
|
76.44
|
83.81
|
78.96
|
|
PP-15D
|
7.3
|
23.90
|
18.36
|
5.28
|
1.84
|
49.38
|
79.90
|
81.26
|
81.95
|
82.71
|
81.46
|
|
PP-15C
|
6.8
|
26.40
|
20.15
|
5.80
|
2.03
|
54.39
|
78.72
|
80.44
|
81.40
|
75.98
|
79.13
|
|
PP-15B
|
6.3
|
24.75
|
18.88
|
5.43
|
1.94
|
51.00
|
69.27
|
70.86
|
69.92
|
68.53
|
69.64
|
|
PP-14
|
Aug. 4,
2020
News
Release
|
6.8
|
24.8
|
19.1
|
5.52
|
1.93
|
51.3
|
76.5
|
78.5
|
77.9
|
74.3
|
76.8
|
|
PP-13
|
4.2
|
24.5
|
18.8
|
5.40
|
1.92
|
50.6
|
54.0
|
55.2
|
55.2
|
50.9
|
53.8
|
|
PP-12
|
7.1
|
23.5
|
18.4
|
5.26
|
1.87
|
49.0
|
75.5
|
77.1
|
76.6
|
78.9
|
77.0
|
|
PP-11
|
7.3
|
25.5
|
19.9
|
5.66
|
2.02
|
53.1
|
74.3
|
75.7
|
75.7
|
64.3
|
72.5
|
|
PP-10
|
6.9
|
25.5
|
20.1
|
5.68
|
1.99
|
53.3
|
77.9
|
79.6
|
79.6
|
79.4
|
79.1
|
|
PP-9
|
6.0
|
22.2
|
17.0
|
4.87
|
1.74
|
45.8
|
65.2
|
66.7
|
66.2
|
63.3
|
65.4
|
|
PP-8
|
5.7
|
25.8
|
20.0
|
5.79
|
2.03
|
53.6
|
72.0
|
73.9
|
71.5
|
63.7
|
70.3
|
|
PP-7
|
5.4
|
27.4
|
21.2
|
6.04
|
2.10
|
56.7
|
73.4
|
74.1
|
74.9
|
69.6
|
73.0
|
|
PP-5
|
6.2
|
26.0
|
20.3
|
5.81
|
2.01
|
54.1
|
73.9
|
75.3
|
75.9
|
71.2
|
74.1
|
|
PP-4
|
4.7
|
25.9
|
20.6
|
5.84
|
2.02
|
54.4
|
57.3
|
60.3
|
59.7
|
59.9
|
59.3
|
|
PP-3
|
7.4
|
21.8
|
17.0
|
4.86
|
1.71
|
45.4
|
70.0
|
71.7
|
71.0
|
71.0
|
70.9
|
|
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
The Wicheeda flotation test charges were prepared by SGS from
the 30 tonne Wicheeda sample which was crushed to nominal 12.7 mm
(1/2") using a combination of jaw and cone crushers. The crushed
material was homogenized using a front-end loader over a period of
several hours.
Head grade, and concentrate products for cerium, lanthanum,
neodymium and praseodymium oxides were determined via
lithium-borate fusion of a 0.5 gram sample analyzed via wavelength
dispersion X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF).
The SGS analysis 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 sampling, recovery or other factors that could materially
affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein.
SGS Minerals Lakefield is an ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO9001:2015
accredited. 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".
About SGS
SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and
certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark
for quality and integrity. With more than 94,000 employees, we
operate a network of more than 2,600 offices and laboratories
around the world.
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.
Forward Looking Information
This news release includes certain statements that constitute
"forward-looking information or statements" within the meaning of
applicable securities law, including without limitation, Defense
Metals plans for its properties/projects, metallurgical testing and
results, completion of pilot plant testing, including, but not
limited to objectives, processes and results thereof, other
statements relating to the technical, financial and business
prospects of Defense Metals and its properties, and other
matters.
Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions
and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and
assumptions. These statements relate to analyses and other
information that are based on forecasts of future results,
estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of
management. Any statements that express or involve discussions with
respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections,
objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but
not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not
expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate",
"plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions,
events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be
taken, occur or be achieved), and variations of such words, and
similar expressions are not statements of historical fact and may
be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statement are
necessarily based upon a number of factors that, if untrue, could
cause the actual results, performances or achievements of Defense
Metals to be materially different from future results, performances
or achievements express or implied by such statements. Such
statements and information are based on numerous assumptions
regarding present and future business strategies and the
environment in which Defense Metals will operate in the future,
including the price of metals and elements, anticipated costs and
the ability to achieve 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, and that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and
governmental and other approvals required to conduct Defense Metals
planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable
terms and in a timely manner. While such estimates and assumptions
are considered reasonable by the management of Defense Metals, they
are inherently subject to significant business, economic,
competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and
uncertainties, which could cause actual events, level of activity,
performance or results to differ materially from those reflected in
the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: (i)
risks related to rare earth elements, and other commodity price
fluctuations; (ii) risks and uncertainties relating to the
interpretation of exploration results; (iii) risks related to the
inherent uncertainty of exploration and cost estimates and the
potential for unexpected costs and expenses; (iv) that resource
exploration and development is a speculative business; (v) that
Defense Metals may lose or abandon its property interests or may
fail to receive necessary licences and permits; (vi) that
environmental laws and regulations may become more onerous;
(vii) that Defense Metals may not be able to raise additional funds
when necessary; (viii) the possibility that future exploration,
development or mining results will not be consistent with Defense
Metals expectations; (ix) exploration and development risks,
including risks related to accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour
disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions
in exploration and development; * competition; (xi) the potential
for delays in exploration or development activities or the
completion of geologic reports or studies; (xii) the uncertainty of
profitability based upon Defense Metals history of losses; (xiii)
risks related to environmental regulation and liability; (xiv)
risks associated with failure to maintain community acceptance,
agreements and permissions (generally referred to as "social
licence"), including local First Nations; (xv) risks relating to
obtaining and maintaining all necessary government permits,
approvals and authorizations relating to the continued exploration
and development of Defense Metals projects; (xvi) risks related to
the outcome of legal actions; (xvii) political and regulatory risks
associated with mining and exploration; (xix) risks related to
current global financial conditions; and (xx) other risks and
uncertainties related to Defense Metals prospects, properties and
business strategy. These risks, as well as others, could cause
actual results and events to vary significantly.
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, the loss of key
directors, employees, advisors or consultants, adverse weather
conditions, increase in costs, equipment failures, the impact of
Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to
operate, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First
Nations), litigation, failure of counterparties to perform their
contractual obligations and fees charged by service providers.
Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly are
cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements
due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. The
forward-looking statements included in this news release are made
as of the date hereof and Defense Metals disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as expressly required by applicable securities
legislation.
_______________________________
|
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)
|
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SOURCE Defense Metals Corp.