Defense Metals Completes Geotechnical Field Data Collection for Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project Preliminary Feasibility Study
Defense Metals Completes Geotechnical Field Data Collection for
Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project Preliminary Feasibility Study
VANCOUVER, BC
,
Dec. 27, 2023
/CNW/ - Defense Metals Corp. ("
Defense Metals
" or the "
Company
"; (TSXV: DEFN) (OTCQB: DFMTF) (FSE: 35D)
announces that it has completed all infrastructure geotechnical field data collection in support of the preliminary feasibility study ("
PFS
") for its 100% owned
Wicheeda Rare Earth Element ("
REE
") Project located near
Prince George, B.C.
,
Canada
.
Craig Taylor
, CEO of Defense Metals, commented:
"We are very excited to have completed our 2023 Phase 3 geotechnical program. I would like to congratulate the APEX and SRK teams for their safe
and professional execution of this work. These multi-phase programs started in early summer and we now have all field geotechnical data in hand
necessary for the completion of our PFS study which we expect to be finished in Q2 2024."
Highlights of the 2023 Wicheeda REE Project infrastructure geotechnical programs include:
16 helicopter and track sonic overburden geotechnical drill holes totalling 225.5 metres (
Image 1and Image 2
);
20 excavated overburden geotechnical test pits totalling 76.8 metres (
Image 3
);
6 diamond drill holes totalling 1,182 metres within the Wicheeda REE deposit pit shell; inclusive of 4 open pit geochemical drill holes totalling 920 metres, and
in pit exploration holes totalling 262 metres;
Shipment of a 2,700 kg metallurgical sample, collected from drill core, to SGS
Lakefield, Ontario
for continued flotation and hydrometallurgical optimization
test-work;
Initiation of humidity cell testwork on 17 samples, and 250 kg sample selection for on-site kinetic leach (barrel) testing of samples representative of
anticipated mine waste rock to assess metal leaching and acid rock drainage potential in support of environmental assessment.
The geotechnical work was completed by SRK Consulting (
Canada
) Inc. ("
SRK
") with the support of APEX Geoscience Ltd. ("
APEX
").
Image 1: Heli-Sonic Overburden Drilling in PFS Tailings Option Study Area (CNW Group/Defense Metals Corp.)
Image 1: Heli-Sonic Overburden Drilling in PFS Tailings Option Study Area
Image 2: Temporary Bridge Installation to Access Tailings Study Area (CNW Group/Defense Metals Corp.)
Image 2: Temporary Bridge Installation to Access Tailings Study Area
Image 3: Excavated Overburden Test Pits Underway in Tailings Study Area (CNW Group/Defense Metals Corp.)
Image 3: Excavated Overburden Test Pits Underway in Tailings Study Area
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release as it relates to the Wicheeda REE Project has been reviewed and approved by Kristopher
J. Raffle, P.Geo. (B.C.), Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of
Edmonton, Alberta
, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101.
About the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project
Defense Metals' 100% owned, 8,301-hectare (~20,534-acre) Wicheeda REE Project is located approximately 80 km northeast of the city of
Prince George,
British Columbia
; population 77,000. Wicheeda is readily accessible by all-weather gravel roads and is near infrastructure, including hydro power transmission
lines and gas pipelines. The nearby Canadian National Railway and major highways allow easy access to the port facilities at
Prince Rupert
, the closest major
North American port to
Asia
.
About
Defense Metals Corp.
Defense Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on the development of its 100% owned Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Deposit
located near
Prince George, British Columbia
, Canada. Defense Metals Corp. trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "DEFN", in
the United
States
, trading symbol "DFMTF" on the OTCQB and in
Germany
on the Frankfurt Exchange under "35D".
Defense Metals is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit:
http://www.discoverygroup.ca/
For further information, please visit
www.defensemetals.com
or contact:
Todd Hanas
, Bluesky Corporate Communications Ltd.
Vice President, Investor Relations
Tel: (778) 994 8072
Email:
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 advancing the Wicheeda REE Project, the expected completion of the PFS and the expected timeline, the receipt of assays from drilling,
continued optimization test-work, 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 anticipated costs and expenditures, accuracy of assay results, performance of available laboratory and other related
services, future operating costs, interpretation of geological, engineering and metallurgical data, 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 the risks and
uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration, engineering and metallurgical results, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration, metallurgy
and development and cost estimates, the potential for unexpected costs and expenses and those other risks filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at
www.sedarplus.ca
. 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 and climate conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain community
acceptance (including First Nations), risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance
with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of personnel, materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government
approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters), risks relating to inaccurate
geological, metallurgical and engineering assumptions, 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, an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 and other viruses and diseases on the business of the Company, the
price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains, loss of key employees, consultants, or directors,
increase in costs, delayed results, 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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CNW 05:00e 27-DEC-23