VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 13, 2021 /CNW/ - Defense Metals Corp.
("Defense Metals" or the "Company") (TSXV: DEFN)
(OTCQB: DFMTF) (FSE: 35D) is pleased to announce
that it has commissioned the Saskatchewan Research Council
("SRC") to complete an X-Ray Transmission ("XRT")
sorting amenability study with respect to mineralized feed sourced
from its 1,708 hectare (4,220 acre) Wicheeda Rare Earth Element
(REE) Property ("Wicheeda") located close to existing
infrastructure near Prince George,
British Columbia (BC).
Defense Metals and SRC have been awarded
National Research Council of Canada
Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) funding, a
Government of Canada funded
program mandated to provide financial support for technology
innovation. Funding awarded under the NRC IRAP will cover
approximately 70% of the estimated cost of the XRT amenability
study test-work.
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. Flotation pilot-plant processing of a
26-tonne bulk sample of Wicheeda REE material yielded a mineral
concentrate averaging 7.4% NdPr oxide (neodymium-praseodymium)
critical magnet metals2.
The objective of the SRC amenability study is to investigate XRT
sorting for the purpose of upgrading Wicheeda REE mineralization
prior to downstream processing. Sensor based sorting has
several advantages when applied to REE mining projects in that
beneficiation occurs without water and with reduced grinding
requirements. The investigation will assess how much gangue
can be removed from the head feed. The investigation will then
carry out an iterative study of different sorting sizes to process
in the XRT sorter assessing both the grade of the upgraded
concentrate and the grade of the waste for economic studies whereby
the optimum operational parameters can be determined.
XRT sorting has the potential to realize several significant
project benefits including:
- Relatively low-cost gangue (unmineralized waste) removal and
volume reduction at the front-end of the Wicheeda REE processing
stream;
- Potential to have a significant positive benefit on downstream
flotation and hydrometallurgical processes via reduced water,
heating, and reagent consumption costs; and
- Depending on the success of the test-work these reductions may
contribute to overall lower size / throughput and capital cost of
potential future commercial REE concentration and refining
facilities at Wicheeda.
Craig Taylor, CEO comments:
"Defense Metals looks forward to investigating the potential
of low-cost front-end upgrading of Wicheeda REE mineralization via
XRT sorting. We have already demonstrated the ability to produce a
greater than 50% REO concentrate during flotation pilot plant
test-work and we hope unlocking the benefits of XRT sorting will
yield downstream processing benefits of increased head grade,
flotation concentrate, and hydrometallurgical feed
streams".
Details of XRT Study Methodology
X-ray Transmission (XRT) Analysis:
The XRT investigation requires the selection of large samples
containing both gangue and REE mineralization for analysis. The
samples are analysed using:
- Dual energy X-ray transmission measurements (DE-CT), and
- QEMSCAN for calibration and mineral identification and modal
mineralogy.
Photographs of the polished QEMSCAN samples are used to verify
the atomic differences measured by DE-CT. The modal mineralogy is
used to determine REE grades.
Image Analysis:
The DE-CT images are analyzed using different sized grids to
determine how much gangue can be removed for a range of particle
sizes. This process determines the upgrading possibilities for
different sorting sizes, the grade of the concentrate and the grade
of the waste.
Wicheeda REE Project
The Wicheeda REE 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% LREO3.
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.
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
Company's plans for its Wicheeda project, XRT study and the
expected benefits and results therefrom, 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. 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.
_____________________
|
- 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)
- See Defense Metals News Release date
September 23, 2020
- 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)
|
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/defense-metals-corp-and-src-investigate-xrt-ammenability-of-wicheeda-rare-earth-element-mineralization-301207277.html
SOURCE Defense Metals Corp.