Defense Metals Flotation Pilot Plant Achieves Initial Positive Results
Defense Metals Flotation Pilot Plant
Achieves Initial Positive Results
News Release - Vancouver, British Columbia – August 4 , 2020 : Defense Metals Corp.
(“Defense Metals ”) (TSX-V:DEFN / OTCQB:DFMTF / FSE:35D) is pleased to provide an
update with respect to ongoing flotation pilot plant processing of its 30 tonne Wicheeda Rare
Earth Element (REE) Property (“Wicheeda”) bulk sample underway at the SGS Canada Inc.
(“SGS”) Lakefield, ON metallurgical test facility.
To date a total of 14 pilot plant processing runs have been completed since initiation of pilot plant
testwork on June 11, 2020. Mass balance results for completed pilot plant runs are presented
below (Table 1). Highlights of the recently completed bulk sample flotation pilot plant are:
• 16 tonnes bulk sample feed processed over 118 hours of operation to date
• Approximately 750 kg of flotation concentrate produced (dry weight at ~15% moisture
content)
• Process run concentrate grades ranging from 45.4% up to 56.7% (averaging 51.6%)
LREO (light rare earth oxide expressed as the sum of light rare earth elements expressed
as oxides Ce2O3+La2O3+Nd2O3+Pr2O3)
• Process recovery ranging from 53.8% up to 79.1% (averaging 70.2%) LREO
• Low average 6.2% mass yield to concentrate
Scaled-up flotation pilot plant results to date compare very favourably, and with respect to
concentrated grade exceed, benchmark locked-cycle flotation tests that produced a high grade
48.7% LREO flotation concentrate at 85.7% LREO recovery ( See Defense Metals News Release
dated October 23, 2019). The results demonstrate progressive LREO recovery improvement with
successive tests conducted under varying process conditions designed to improve the circuit
stability and metallurgical performance.
A long 30 hour continuous operation test run (PP-15) was completed last week based on PP -14,
and mass balance results are currently pending. SGS has informed Defense Meta ls that the
balance of the bulk sample material will be processed this week during a final 30 hour
continuous operation run designed to test circuit stability at lower temperature.
Craig Taylor, CEO of Defense Metals, stated; “We are exceedingly pleased w ith these initial
flotation pilot plant test results. The Wicheeda REE Deposit mineralization continues to deliver
exceptional metallurgical performance. We have shown that in a pilot plant setting we are able to
exceed concentrate grades achieved during b ench-scale flowsheet development. Defense Metals
believes the results released today demonstrate the viability of large -scale bulk sample flotation
processing of Wicheeda REE Deposit material. We look forward to completion of the balance of
flotation pilot plant testwork this week. We expect to release the final results and a summary of all
the testwork in the coming months.”
Figure 1: Wicheeda REE Deposit Flotation Pilot Plant Mass Balance Results
Pilot
Run
Wt.
%
Assay % % Distribution
Ce2O3 La2O3 Nd2O3 Pr2O3
LREO
Concentrate
Grade
Ce2O3 La2O3 Nd2O3 Pr2O3 LREO
Recovery
PP-14 6.8 24.8 19.1 5.52 1.93 51.3 76.5 78.5 77.9 74.3 76.8
PP-13 4.2 24.5 18.8 5.40 1.92 50.6 54.0 55.2 55.2 50.9 53.8
PP-12 7.1 23.5 18.4 5.26 1.87 49.0 75.5 77.1 76.6 78.9 77.0
PP-11 7.3 25.5 19.9 5.66 2.02 53.1 74.3 75.7 75.7 64.3 72.5
PP-10 6.9 25.5 20.1 5.68 1.99 53.3 77.9 79.6 79.6 79.4 79.1
PP-9 6.0 22.2 17.0 4.87 1.74 45.8 65.2 66.7 66.2 63.3 65.4
PP-8 5.7 25.8 20.0 5.79 2.03 53.6 72.0 73.9 71.5 63.7 70.3
PP-7 5.4 27.4 21.2 6.04 2.10 56.7 73.4 74.1 74.9 69.6 73.0
PP-5 6.2 26.0 20.3 5.81 2.01 54.1 73.9 75.3 75.9 71.2 74.1
PP-4 4.7 25.9 20.6 5.84 2.02 54.4 57.3 60.3 59.7 59.9 59.3
PP-3 7.4 21.8 17.0 4.86 1.71 45.4 70.0 71.7 71.0 71.0 70.9
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 o f 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 Edm onton, 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
The Wicheeda flotation test charges were prepared by SGS from the 30 tonne Wicheeda sample
which was crushed to nominal 12.7 mm (1/2”) using a combination of jaw and cone crushers. The
crushed material was homogenized using a front-end loader over a period of several hours.
Head grade, and concentrate products for cerium, lanthanum, neodymium and praseodymium
oxides were determined via lithium -borate fusion of a 0.5 gram sa mple analyzed via wavelength
dispersion X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF).
The SGS analysis 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 sampling, recovery
or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to
herein. SGS Minerals Lakefield is an ISO/IEC 17025 and IS O9001:2015 accredited. SGS is
independent of Defense Metals Corp.
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”.
About SGS
SGS is the world ’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. We are
recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 94,000 employees,
we operate a network of more than 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.
For further information, please contact:
Todd Hanas, Bluesky Corporate Communications Ltd.
Vice President, Investor Relations
Tel: (778) 994 8072
Email: [email protected]
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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 or statements” within the
meaning of applicable securities law, including without limitation, Defense Metals plans for its properties/projects,
metallurgical testing and results, completion of pilot plant testing, including, but not limited to objectives , processes
and results thereof, other statements relating to the technical, financial and business prospects of Defense Metals and
its properties, and other matters.
Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and are necessarily based upon a numbe r of
estimates and assumptions. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of
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assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “expects” or
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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 Defense Metals 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 wh ich Defense Metals
will operate in the future, including the price of metals and elements , 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 Defense Metals 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 Defense Metals , 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 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 Defense Metals 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 Defense Metals 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 Defense Metals 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; (x) 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 Defense Metals 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
Defense Metals projects; (xvi) risks related to the outcome of legal actions; (xvii) political and regulatory risks
associated with mining and exploration; (xix) risks related to c urrent global financial conditions; and (xx) other risks
and uncertainties related to Defense Metals prospects, properties and business strategy. These risks, as well as others,
could cause actual results and events to vary significantly.
Factors that co uld 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, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company’s ability to operate , failure to maintain
community acceptance (including First Nations), 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 Defense Metals 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.