VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 16, 2021 /CNW/ - Defense Metals Corp.
("Defense Metals") (TSX-V: DEFN) (OTCQB: DFMTF) (FSE: 35D)
is pleased to announce that it has received additional pre-pilot
hydrometallurgical test work utilizing high-grade rare earth
element (REE) mineral concentrate produced during Defense
Metals' 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 the additional infill hydrometallurgical test
results conducted at SGS Canada Inc. ("SGS") Lakefield Site are as
follows:
- Increased REE extraction from 91.5% to 97.3% from flotation
concentrate (~75% from bulk sample feed) into a chloride-based
leach solution compared to initial testing3 (CC-21,
Table 1)
- Decreased REE losses via milder gangue leach compared to
the base-case flowsheet[3]
- Simplification of flowsheet by removing re-grind step
and reducing caustic dosage on re-crack (CC-20) yielded comparable
REE extraction of 95.8% from flotation concentrate (~74% from bulk
sample feed)
Craig Taylor, CEO of Defense
Metals, stated: "Our decision to conduct additional
infill hydrometallurgical test-work has yielded significant REE
recovery gains approaching 100% REE extraction from the flotation
concentrate. Perhaps more importantly, this additional testing has
advanced the Wicheeda REE separation flowsheet such that we able to
"tune" process variables (chiefly: grind size, acid, and caustic
concentrations) to achieve a balance of minimizing REE leach losses
and maximizing impurity removal. This level of process control will
de-risk our planned hydrometallurgical pilot plant and contribute
to greater flexibility in design of a future commercial-scale
hydrometallurgical plant."
|
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)
|
3
|
See Defense Metals
News Release dated February 18, 2020
|
Table 1. Comparison of 2019/2020 and 2021 Hydrometallurgical
Nd Recoveries
Initial Bench
Program
(2019-2020)
|
Stage Extraction
(Nd)
|
Nd Recovery from
Bulk Sample Feed
|
Nd Recovery from
Conc.
|
Ore
|
|
|
|
Flotation
Conc.
|
86%
|
85.7%
|
100%
|
Gangue
Leach
|
8%
|
|
|
Caustic Crack
1
|
100%
|
|
|
Acid Leach
1
|
91%
|
71.7%
|
83.7%
|
Caustic Crack
2
|
100%
|
|
|
Acid Leach
2
|
86%
|
77.8%
|
91.5%
|
Second Bench
Program
(2020-2021)
CC21 Data Set
|
Stage Extraction
(Nd)
|
Nd Recovery from
Bulk Sample Feed
|
Nd Recovery from
Conc.
|
Ore
|
|
|
|
Flotation
Conc.
|
77%
|
77.3%
|
100%
|
Gangue
Leach
|
0%
|
|
|
Caustic Crack
1
|
0%
|
|
|
Acid Leach
1
|
89%
|
68.6%
|
88.7%
|
Caustic Crack
2
|
0%
|
|
|
Acid Leach
2
|
76%
|
75.2%
|
97.3%
|
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. and the
Qualified Person.
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 planned
hydrometallurgical pilot plant and the expected outcomes therefrom,
a future commercial-scale hydrometallurgical 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.