#Metals/ #GreenEnergy News -Defense
Metals (TSX-V: $DEFN.V) (OTCQB: $DFMTF) Pre-Pilot
Hydrometallurgy Testing Yields 97.3% Rare Earth Element Extraction From
Wicheeda Flotation Concentrate; @DefenseMetals
Vancouver, British Columbia – February 16, 2021: Investorideas.com Newswire, MiningSectorStocks.com and RenewableEnergyStocks.com -Mining/Metals/ Green Energy Stock News- Defense Metals Corp. (“Defense Metals”) (TSX-V:DEFN / OTCQB:DFMTF/ 35D: FSE) 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].
Read this news featuring DEFN in full
at https://www.investorideas.com/news/2021/mining/02161DEFN-Pre-Pilot-Hydrometallurgy.asp
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% LREO[2].
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.”
Table
1. Comparison of 2019/2020 and 2021 Hydrometallurgical Nd Recoveries
|
Initial Bench Program |
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 |
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”.
For
further information, please contact:
Todd Hanas, Bluesky
Corporate Communications Ltd.
Vice President, Investor
Relations
Tel: (778) 994 8072
Email: todd@blueskycorp.ca
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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[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
