Defense Metals Corp. Provides Operational Update
Defense Metals Corp. Provides Operational
Update
VANCOUVER
,
Feb. 25, 2019
/CNW/ - Defense Metals Corp. ("
Defense Metals
" or the "
Company
")
(TSX-V: DEFN/ DFMTF: OTCQB / 35D: FSE) is pleased to announce that Phase 1A metallurgical
testing on the Wicheeda bulk sample at SGS Labs is underway.
SGS Labs Phase 1A Timeline (CNW Group/Defense Metals Corp.)
Defense Metals Corp has been informed by SGS that the entire 30 tonne bulk sample has been
crushed to a nominal 1 inch size and a 400 kg subsample has been taken for batch and grindability
tests. Preparation is underway to prepare a grindability sample, flotation charges and head assays,
which is expected to be completed early this week. The subsample from the head will be submitted
for chemical and mineralogical analysis is also scheduled for early this week as well.
Chris Graf
, Technical Advisor comments "Building on the successful bench scale flotation testwork
conducted in 2012 by SGS on a 100 kg composite sample of Wicheeda drill core, the goal of the
Phase 1A testwork is to develop a robust flow sheet for producing high grade REE flotation
concentrates from a 200 kg sample of the 30 tonne Wicheeda REE deposit bulk sample. It is
anticipated that 20 kg of REE concentrate will be produced by Phase 1A."
Following a successful Phase 1A, Phase
1B
hydrometallugical testwork is to commence on the 20
kg sample of flotation concentrate once it has been produced, by the end of May. The goal of this
hydrometallurgical testwork will be to produce a purified, mixed REE concentrate and provide data
that can be used to design a hydrometallugical pilot plant.
The Phase 1A flow sheet will be used in a Phase 2 flotation concentrate pilot plant program where
the entire 30 tonne Wicheeda bulk sample will be processed with the goal of demonstrating that the
Phase 1 A flowsheet is capable of producing a high grade REE concentrate at an industrial scale. It
is expected that the Phase 2 pilot plant metallurgical testwork will produce approximately 3 tonnes of
REE concentrate that can be tested by a Phase 3 hydrometallurgical pilot plant.
About SGS Canada Inc.
By incorporating an integrated approach, SGS delivers testing and expertise throughout the entire
mining life cycle. With a network of over 450 commercial, multi-purpose and on-site laboratories
globally, SGS is uniquely positioned to provide fit-for-purpose solutions and testing capabilities from
early exploration to end-product certification and closure to the mining industry. SGS' services
encompass the skills of qualified geologists and mining professionals to provide accurate and timely
mineral evaluation and consulting services in a wide range of commodities including precious and
base metals, rare earth element minerals, uranium and naturally occurring radioactive material,
industrial minerals, iron ore and hydrocarbons. SGS Minerals Lakefield is an ISO/IEC 17025 and
ISO9001:2015 accredited metallurgical testing facility. SGS is independent of Defense Metals Corp.
About The Wicheeda Property
The property located approximately 80 km northwest of the city of
Prince George, British Columbia
,
is readily accessible by all-weather gravel roads and is close to major infrastructure including nearby
working power transmission lines, 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
and hosts several carbonatite and alkaline complexes
among which are the Aley (niobium), Rock Canyon (REE), and Wicheeda (REE) alkaline complexes
that contain the highest concentrations of Rare Earth Elements minerals.
The Property is underlain by Kechika Group metasedimentary rocks that are intruded by a
southeast-trending carbonatite. The Wicheeda carbonatite is a deformed plug or sill approximately
250 metres in diameter that hosts potentially economic REE mineralization. The intrusion comprises
a ferroan dolomite carbonatite core, which passes gradationally outward into calcite carbonatite.
The potentially economic REE mineralization is hosted by the dolomite carbonatite.
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release as it relates to the Wicheeda
Property has been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (BC) Principal and
Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of
Edmonton, AB
, a "Qualified Person" as defined in National
Instrument 43-101 –
Standards of Disclosure
for Mineral Projects
.
About Defense Metals Corp.
Defense Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and
development of minerals, metals and elements commonly used in the protection of our nation and
other nations abroad. Defense Metals Corp. trades under "DEFN" on the TSX Venture Exchange.
The Company owns (i) a 100% interest in prospective uranium claims in the
Athabasca
Basin,
Saskatchewan
totalling approximately 9,362.65 hectares; (ii) has an option to acquire 100% of the
Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project located in
Prince George, British Columbia
; and (iii) has an
option to acquire 100% of the Lac Burge gold property located approximately 215 km northeast of
Val d'Or, Quebec
.
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.
Forward Looking Information
This news release includes certain statements that constitute "forward-looking information" within the
meaning of applicable securities law, including without limitation, the Company's plans for its
properties/projects, bulk sample testing and results, metallurgical testing, other statements relating
to the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, and other matters.
Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and are necessarily based upon a
number of estimates and assumptions. These statements relate to analyses and other information
that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and
assumptions of management. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to
predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or
performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect",
"is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that
certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be
achieved), and variations of such words, and similar expressions are not statements of historical fact
and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statement are necessarily based upon a
number of factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of
the Company to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements express
or implied by such 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 metals, anticipated costs and the ability to
achieve 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, and that third
party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to
conduct the Company's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a
timely manner. 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.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, which could cause
actual events, level of activity, performance or results to differ materially from those reflected in the
forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: (i) risks related to gold, copper, uranium,
rare earth elements, and other commodity price fluctuations; (ii) risks and uncertainties relating to
the interpretation of exploration results; (iii) risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration
and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; (iv) that resource
exploration and development is a speculative business; (v) that the Company may lose or abandon
its property interests or may fail to receive necessary licences and permits; (vi) that environmental
laws and regulations may become more onerous; (vii) that the Company may not be able to raise
additional funds when necessary; (viii) the possibility that future exploration, development or mining
results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; (ix) exploration and development
risks, including risks related to accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes or other
unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration and development; * competition; (xi) the
potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of geologic reports or
studies; (xii) the uncertainty of profitability based upon the Company's history of losses; (xiii) risks
related to environmental regulation and liability; (xiv) risks associated with failure to maintain
community acceptance, agreements and permissions (generally referred to as "social licence"),
including local First Nations; (xv) risks relating to obtaining and maintaining all necessary government
permits, approvals and authorizations relating to the continued exploration and development of the
Company's projects; (xvi) risks related to the outcome of legal actions; (xvii) political and regulatory
risks associated with mining and exploration; (xix) risks related to current global financial conditions;
and (xx) other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business
strategy. These risks, as well as others, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly.
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, the loss of key directors, employees, advisors or consultants,
adverse weather conditions, increase in costs, equipment failures, litigation, failure of counterparties
to perform their contractual obligations and fees charged by service providers. Investors are
cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and,
accordingly are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the
inherent uncertainty of such statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news
release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation.
SOURCE
Defense Metals Corp.
View original content to download multimedia:
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2019/25/c5273.html
%SEDAR: 00042886E
For further information:
Todd Hanas, Bluesky Corporate Communications Ltd., Vice President,
Investor Relations, Tel: (778) 994 8072, Email: [email protected]
CO: Defense Metals Corp.
CNW 05:00e 25-FEB-19