Search Minerals Completes Zirconium Recovery Testing at SGS Canada Inc.
January 12 2021 - 5:00AM
Search Minerals Inc. (TSXV: SMY)
(“
Search” or the “
Company”) is
pleased to report that SGS Canada Inc. (“
SGS”) has
reported on preliminary metallurgical testing on a channel sample
from
SILVER FOX for recovery of a zirconium
mineral concentrate
. SILVER FOX is the fourth
major mineralized zone in the Port Hope Simpson – St. Lewis
Critical Rare Earth Element (“CREE”) District and is enriched in
zirconium content in comparison to
FOXTROT and
DEEP FOX Resources (see Search Minerals new
release October 22, 2020).
HIGHLIGHTS – ZIRCONIUM RECOVERY
TESTING
- A SILVER FOX sample weighing approximately 17
kilograms was delivered to SGS from the channel sample
program;
- SGS completed chemical and
mineralogical analysis of the sample.○ The sample analyzed
4.26% ZrO2 and 0.08% HfO2 and 1.02% TREO ○
○ The zirconium mineral identified was Zircon (ZrSiO4) at a
grade of ~6.5% and a mineral particle size of 19 um
(P50)○ Zircon was analyzed by Electron Probe Micro Analysis
(EPMA) and showed the zircon was very clean of impurities with an
average ZrO2 content of 66.1%
- Mineral processing studies
indicated;○ The sample was ground to 100% passing 53 um to
ensure zircon liberation○ Iron oxides in the sample were
predominantly magnetite. Davis Tube and Low Intensity Magnetic
Separation (LIMS) removed iron as a high grade iron oxide
concentrate○ Wet High Intensity Magnetic Separation (WHIMS) at
a magnetic intensity of 15,000 Gauss successfully recovered 70-85%
of the light and heavy REEs into the magnetic concentrate in ~10%
of the feed mass with only 11% zircon loss.○ The WHIMS tails were
floated under different conditions in a series of 5 tests. A
fatty-acid collector was effective at zircon concentration while
addition of a benzohydroxamic acid collector improved rejection of
silica
- The combination of LIMS, WHIMS and Flotation yielded the
following results including float test 5. Float test 5 included 4
stages of open circuit cleaning.
Product |
Mass, % |
Analysis, % |
Distribution, % |
|
|
ZrO2 |
SiO2 |
Fe2O3 |
ZrO2 |
SiO2 |
Fe2O3 |
LIMS Mag Conc. |
8.7 |
1.09 |
10.9 |
87.4 |
2.2 |
1.3 |
73.7 |
WHIMS Mag Conc. |
8.3 |
4.82 |
42.4 |
22.0 |
9.4 |
4.7 |
17.8 |
Float Rougher Conc. |
14.4 |
22.2 |
62.1 |
2.26 |
74.6 |
12.1 |
3.2 |
Float 4th Clean Conc. |
3.1 |
43.0 |
36.4 |
1.14 |
31.3 |
1.5 |
0.3 |
Head (direct) |
|
4.26 |
73.0 |
9.80 |
|
|
|
- These results showed that (1) iron
could be rejected by LIMS, (2) the REE’s could be concentrated by
WHMIS and (3) the zircon could be floated to produce a 43% ZrO2
concentrate. This is equivalent to a 64% Zircon concentrate
(ZrSiO4)
- SGS commented in their report,
“Overall, the results obtained in this test work program were quite
promising and further test work is recommended to optimize the
flowsheet developed to produce zircon, REE, and magnetite
concentrates. Given that only five flotation tests were carried out
in this program, there remains significant potential to improve
flotation performance to reduce zircon losses to the cleaner
tailings and further increase concentrate zircon grade by
evaluating options to address the calcite and fluorite that appear
to report to this product.”
Greg Andrews, President/CEO states, “This test
work demonstrates the potential to produce a zirconium/hafnium
concentrate from the Silver Fox deposit. Furthermore, the use of
WHIMS to recover a REE concentrate represents a potential
breakthrough in processing. The treatment of a REE concentrate
would dramatically reduce the size of a Direct Extraction plant for
REE recovery. Similarly, the use of acids and bases and other
reagents would be significantly reduced. Search Minerals will
follow up on these results and test the processing method for
application at Foxtrot, Deep Fox and Fox Meadow mineralization.
Search Minerals appreciates and thanks ACOA and InnovateNL for
their continued support received to undertake this study.”
Qualified Person:
Dr. David Dreisinger, Ph.D., P.Eng, is the
Company's Vice President, Metallurgy, and Qualified Person (as
defined by National Instrument 43-101) who has supervised the
preparation of and approved the technical information reported
herein. The company will endeavour to meet high standards of
integrity, transparency, and consistency in reporting technical
content, including geological and assay (e.g., REE) data.
About Search Minerals Inc.
Led by a proven management team and board of
directors, Search is focused on finding and developing Critical
Rare Earths Elements (CREE), Zirconium (Zr) and Hafnium (Hf)
resources within the emerging Port Hope Simpson – St. Lewis CREE
District of South East Labrador. The Company controls a belt 63 km
long and 2 km wide and is road accessible, on tidewater, and
located within 3 local communities. Search has completed a
preliminary economic assessment report for
FOXTROT, and a resource estimate for DEEP
FOX. Search is also working on three exploration prospects
along the belt which include: FOX MEADOW, SILVER
FOX and AWESOME FOX.
Search has continued to optimize our patented
Direct Extraction Process technology with the generous support from
the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation,
Government of Newfoundland and
Labrador,(“InnovateNL”) and from the Atlantic
Canada Opportunity Agency (“ACOA”). We have
completed two pilot plant operations and produced highly purified
mixed rare earth carbonate concentrate and mixed REO concentrate
for separation and refining.
For further information, please
contact:
Greg AndrewsPresident and CEOTel:
604-998-3432E-mail: info@searchminerals.ca
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“Forward-Looking” Statements:
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