Avalon commences 2,000 metre drilling program on Separation Rapids Lithium Project, Kenora, Ontario
NEWS RELEASE
April 5, 2017 No. 17-06
Avalon commences 2,000 metre drilling program on
Separation Rapids Lithium Project, Kenora, Ontario
Toronto, ON – Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSX: AVL and OTCQX: AVLNF) (“Avalon” or the
“Company”) is pleased to announce that it has commenced a 10 hole, 2,000 metre diamond drilling
program on its 100% owned Separation Rapids Lithium Project (the “Project”) near Kenora, Ontario.
The program is expected to be completed over the next 6-8 weeks, following which an updated
resource estimate will be prepared. The drilling pr ogram has a number of specific objectives
including:
• Expanding the existing mineral resource of lithium (petalite) pegmatite mineralization which
is open along strike and to depth;
• Quantifying the lithium mineralization in the resource model associated with lepidolite and
other lithium micas versus lithium mineralization associated with petalite;
• Testing an undrilled target area 1 kilometre west of the known resource where a showing of
petalite pegmatite sampled by the Company in 1997 yielded 1.56% Li 2O across 8.9 metres;
and
• Collecting geotechnical data for groundwater studies and mine planning in advance of
permitting for site development.
Previous exploration work by Avalon in the 1990’s focused only on recovering the lithium mineral
petalite as an industrial mineral product for glass-ceramics applications and consequently did not
fully account for the lepidolite mineralization in the development model. However, as disclosed in the
Company’s news release dated February 6, 2017 , recent testwork conducted by Lepidico Ltd. of
Perth, Australia (ASX:LPD, “Lepidico”) using its patented L-Max® hydrometallurgical process
technology has successfully produced a battery grade lithium carbonate product from lepidolite
sourced from the Separation Rapids property.
There are sub-zones in the Separation Rapids deposit where the lithium is dominantly contained in
lepidolite, which can be concentrated separately from the petalite. This offers the potential for
production of both a lithium carbonate product from a lepidolite concentrate as well as a lithium
hydroxide product from a petalite concentrate, the latter as contemplated in the Company’s
Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) , finalized in November, 2016. The current drilling
program will aid in differentiating petalite-dominant versus lepidolite-dominant resources in the block
model and contribute to a revised development model for the Project. An updated PEA reflecting the
new resource, as well as recent progress on process development work, is planned for this summer.
130 Adelaide St. W., Suite 1901, Toronto, ON M5H 3P5
Tel: (416) 364-4938 Fax: (416) 364-5162
www.AvalonAdvancedMaterials.com
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The technical information included in this news release has been reviewed and approved by the
Company’s Vice President, Exploration, Dr. William Mercer, a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.
About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. is a Canadian mineral development company specializing in niche
market metals and minerals with growing demand in new technology. The Company has three
advanced stage projects, all 100%-owned, providing investors with exposure to lithium, tin and
indium, as well as rare earth elements, tantalum, niobium, and zirconium. Avalon is currently
focusing on its Separation Rapids Lithium Project, Kenora, ON and its East Kemptville Tin-Indium
Project, Yarmouth, NS. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate
cornerstones.
For questions and feedback, please e-mail the Company at [email protected], or phone Don
Bubar, President & CEO at 416-364-4938.
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation R eform Act
of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities l egislation. Forward-looking statements in clude, but are not limited to, statements that the
drilling program is expected to be comple ted over the next 6-8 weeks following whic h an updated resource estimate will be prepa red, that
it will aid in differentiating petalite-dominant versus lepido lite-dominant resources in the block model and contribute to a re vised
development model for the Project, that there may be the potentia l for production of both a lithium carbonate product from a le pidolite
concentrate as well as a lithiu m hydroxide product from a petalite concentrate and that an updated PEA reflecting the new resou rce as
well as recent progress on process development is planned for this summer . Generally, these forward-looking statements can be
identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “potential”, “scheduled”, “anticipates”, “continues”, “expects” or “does not
expect”, “is expected”, “scheduled”, “targeted”, “planned”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state tha t certain
actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be” or “will not be” taken, reached or result, “will occur” or “be achieved”.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual re sults,
level of activity, performance or achievements of Avalon to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statement s
are made. Although Avalon has attempted to identify important fact ors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or i ntended.
Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially fr om expected results described in forward-looking statements includ e, but are
not limited to market conditions, Avalon’s ability to secure su fficient financing to advance and complete the Project, uncertai nties
associated with securing the necessary approvals and permits in a timely manner, assump tions used in the PEA proving to be inac curate,
uncertainties associated with Avalon’s resource and reserve estimates, uncertainti es regarding global supply and demand for lit hium and
feldspar and market and sales prices, uncertainties associated with securing off-take agreements and customer contracts, uncert ainties
with respect to social, community and envir onmental impacts, uncertainties with respec t to optimization opportunities for the P roject as
well as those risk factors set out in the Company’s current Annual Information Form, Management’s Discussion and Analysis and o ther
disclosure documents available under the Company’s profile at www.SEDAR.com. There can be no assurance that such statements will
prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could di ffer materially from those anticipated in such statements. Su ch forward-
looking statements have been provided for the purpose of assist ing investors in understanding the Company’s plans and objective s and
may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Avalon
does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that ar e contained herein, except in accordance with applicable sec urities
laws.