Defense Metals Hydrometallurgy Test Program Achieves ~90% Rare Earth Element Extraction From Wicheeda Flotation Concentrate
Defense Metals Hydrometallurgy Test
Program Achieves ~90% Rare Earth Element
Extraction From Wicheeda Flotation
Concentrate
VANCOUVER
,
Feb. 18, 2020
/CNW/ - Defense Metals Corp. ("
Defense Metals
") (TSX-V:DEFN /
OTCQB:DFMTF / FSE:35D) is pleased to announce that it has received final bench-scale
hydrometallurgical test program results for the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Property
("
Wicheeda
") from SGS Canada Inc. ("
SGS
"). Samples of Wicheeda flotation concentrate used in a
hydrometallurgical test program led to the successful development of a flowsheet capable of
processing the concentrate to a high grade mixed REE hydroxide precipitate. Highlights of the
recently completed hydrometallurgical test program include:
Initial processing via mild hydrochloric acid leach
to extract gangue minerals while leaving
REE (Rare Earth Elements) in the leach residue.
High REE extraction from flotation concentrate of ~ 90%
into a chloride based leach
solution with opportunities identified to increase recoveries even further.
Simple treatment of the leach solution with limestone
achieved high (94-100%) removal of
impurities
such as iron, phosphorous, and thorium
with only minor (2-4 %) REE losses.
Simple treatment of purified liquor
with hydrated lime led to the production of
a high grade
67.5% TREE
(Total REE, see
Table 1 for detailed composition
) mixed REE hydroxide
precipitate at high (99-100%) Critical REE recovery from solution.
Overall recoveries of 70-75% TREE from bulk sample
to a high grade mixed REE hydroxide
precipitate,
and up to 76-78% TREE with reprocessing
of the final leach residue
.
Regeneration of 20% (w/w) hydrochloric acid from final process liquors for re-use in the
leaching operation.
As noted above, flowsheet improvement options have been identified that will be investigated
through further testing including: locked cycle testing to investigate effect of recycling regenerated
hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide; optimization of the gangue leach circuit to limit REE losses;
reprocessing of leach residue back to the caustic crack stage to improve overall REE extraction;
adoption of two-stage impurity removal process to limit the overall extent of REE co-precipitation;
and inclusion of hydrochloric acid and caustic regeneration to reduce overall reagent consumption.
Once optimized, continuous hydrometallurgical pilot plant testing is required to confirm overall circuit
operability, to confirm product recoveries, product grades, and reagent consumptions under
continuous conditions and to produce bulk quantities of purified mixed REE product for further
separation testing.
Details of the process development testwork carried out at SGS will be included in a joint Defense
Metals / SGS paper, which will be presented at the "Processing of Critical Materials" Symposium
(part of the Conference Of Metallurgists) in
August 2020
in
Toronto
.
Craig Taylor
, CEO of Defense Metals, stated;
"These hydrometallurgical test results which showed
REE extractions of ~90% from flotation concentrate, in conjunction with our recently released
locked cycle flotation tests that produced a high grade 48.7% TREO concentrate, conclude a very
successful yearlong metallurgical flowsheet optimization process. Defense Metals believes these
are exceptional results that show the Wicheeda REE Deposit mineralization is readily amenable to
processing via well-established flotation, and hydrochloric acid leach / caustic crack REE
extraction methods. Based on these positive results we expect to finalize our plans to commence
continuous pilot plant testing in the near future."
Table 1
: Final REE Hydroxide Product Assay
Table 1: Final REE Hydroxide Product Assay (CNW Group/Defense Metals Corp.)
Technical Details
The overall hydrometallurgical flowsheet is chloride based and uses hydrochloric acid to dissolve
gangue minerals away from the REE carrying minerals. The REE containing leach residue is
subsequently processed in a caustic treatment step to convert REE phosphates and fluorides into
acid soluble REE hydroxides. The REE hydroxides are leached in hydrochloric acid and the leach
solution is treated to remove impurities such as iron, aluminium, phosphorous and thorium. A purified
and mixed REE product suitable for further REE separation can be produced either by hydroxide or
oxalate precipitation. Final filtrates from gangue leaching and REE precipitation are combined and
reacted with sulphuric acid to produce 20% (w/w) hydrochloric acid for re-use
(Figure 1)
.
Figure 1: Simplified Wicheeda Hydrometallurgical Flowsheet
Figure 1: Simplified Wicheeda Hydrometallurgical Flowsheet (CNW Group/Defense Metals Corp.)
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.
The Wicheeda REE Property is underlain by Kechika Group metasedimentary rocks that are
intruded by the southeast-trending Wicheeda carbonatite; a deformed plug or sill approximately 250
metres in diameter that hosts significant REE mineralization. This intrusion comprises a ferroan
dolomite carbonatite core, which passes gradationally outward into calcite carbonatite. The REE
mineralization is primarily hosted by the dolomitic carbonatite.
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
Head grade, batch and locked-cycle flotation, and hydrometallurgical product assays for cerium,
lanthanum, neodymium and praseodymium oxides were 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.
About
Defense Metals Corp.
Defense Metals Corp. is an advanced 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".
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 or
statements" within the meaning of applicable securities law, including without limitation, Defense
Metals plans for its properties/ projects, metallurgical testing and results, commence pilot plant
testing, 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
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
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 which 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 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 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; * 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 current 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 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 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.
SOURCE
Defense Metals Corp.
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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 10:02e 18-FEB-20