Defense Metals Variability Flotation Tests Yield High Rare Earth Recoveries to High Grade Concentrates
Defense Metals Variability Flotation Tests Yield High Rare Earth
Recoveries to High Grade Concentrates
VANCOUVER, BC
,
Feb. 14, 2023
/CNW/ - Defense Metals Corp. ("
Defense Metals
" or the "
Company
") (TSXV: DEFN) (OTCQB: DFMTF) (FSE:35D)
announces the completion of flotation tests on variability samples and a master composite ("Master Composite" or "MC") prepared from drill core obtained from
its 100% owned Wicheeda Rare Earth Element (REE) deposit located in
British Columbia, Canada
.
John Goode
, Defense Metals' metallurgical advisor, stated:
"Flotation tests on variability samples from the dominant lithological unit of the Wicheeda REE deposit gave an average of 81% recovery to a
concentrate assaying 45% rare earth oxide. Wicheeda is one of the few rare earth deposits under development from which a high-grade mineral
flotation concentrate can be produced at recovery rates similar to those obtained by current rare earth producers. High-grade concentrates at high
recoveries are a critical requirement for positive production economics. These successful flotation results help to position Defense Metals' Wicheeda
deposit as one of the best in
North America
."
Defense Metals completed flotation tests on variability samples that are representative of the three key REE-bearing lithologies in the Wicheeda deposit: 1) the
higher-grade dolomite carbonatite ("DC") which makes up 73% of the deposit, 2) the xenolithic carbonatite ("XE") that represents 24%; and 3) the syenite
("SYN"). The primary rare earths minerals are monazite, bastnäsite and synchysite/parisite. Figure 1 shows the mine plan as presented in the Independent
Preliminary Economic Assessment issued in 2022
1
.
Figure 1
. Wicheeda REE Deposit Lithologies During Mine Life
Figure 1. Wicheeda REE Deposit Lithologies During Mine Life (CNW Group/Defense Metals Corp.)
Key Highlights:
Table 1 results show that if the flotation plant is fed DC material at an average grade of 3.3% Total Rare Earth Oxide ("TREO") and is operated to produce
a flotation concentrate containing 45% TREO, an average 81% recovery will be observed. If 50% TREO were targeted, recovery would be expected to be
77%. The DC mineralized material will be essentially the only lithology fed to the flotation plant in the first eight years as shown in Figure 1.
Table 1:
Recovery rates at concentrates of specified grades - DC samples
Table 1: Recovery rates at concentrates of specified grades - DC samples (CNW Group/Defense Metals Corp.)
Note to Table 1: DC Comp is a blend of all DC variability samples.
If the flotation plant is fed DC material mixed with other lithological types, as planned for later in the mine life, recoveries at different target concentrate
grades will be as shown in Table 2. Of the four blends tested, when producing a 40% TREO flotation concentrate the recovery rate averaged 80% with
higher recoveries when the DC content was higher.
Table 2:
Recovery rates at concentrates of specified grades - DC blends
Table 2: Recovery rates at concentrates of specified grades - DC blends (CNW Group/Defense Metals Corp.)
Notes to Table 2: DC-XE2 and DC-XE3 are 1:2 and 2:1 blends of DC and XE Comp, respectively. DC-SYN2 is 2:1 blend of DC Comp and SYN2. MC is a blend of DC (73.4%), XE (22.5%), and SYN (3.8%).
Table 3 shows the testwork results for the variability samples comprising pure XE and SYN lithologies. The flotation plant is expected to only see such
lithologies when they are blended with DC. However, the data show that if the lower grade XE and SYN material are processed alone, at a target flotation
concentrate grade of 40% TREO, the average recovery rate will be 59%.
Table 3:
Recovery rates at concentrates of specified grades - SYN and XE samples
Table 3: Recovery rates at concentrates of specified grades - SYN and XE samples (CNW Group/Defense Metals Corp.)
Notes to Table 3: SYN Comp and XE Comp are composites of respective variability samples. DC01 was mis-identified as being DC, but assays and mineralogy showed it to be XE and it was treated as such. N/A indicates insufficient data for meaningful average.
As noted above, in the first 8 years of the mine life, over 90% of the flotation plant feed will be DC material, with higher rare earth grade, with the later years
being mostly DC and XE material at relatively lower grades (see Figure 1).
The grade-recovery-concentrate data provided above will support the upcoming preliminary feasibility study (PFS) and allow the development of an updated and
enhanced mine plan incorporating drilling completed following the PEA that identifies lithology and feed grades to arrive at estimates of the concentrate and REO
production rates in each year.
Methodology and QA/QC
Defense Metals prepared 17 variability samples covering different lithologies, areas of the deposit, and head grades using drill core material. The average mass
of each sample was 31 kg, with the Total Rare Earth Oxide ("TREO") assays ranging from 1.07% to 4.52% with an average of 2.34% TREO. Drill core
material was also used to make a 260 kg Master Composite sample containing each of the three lithologies in their respective life-of-mine proportions. The MC
sample had a head grade assay of 2.49% TREO.
All variability samples and the MC sample were shipped to SGS,
Lakefield, Ontario
where they were checked, crushed, and composited. A total of 87 flotation
tests were completed to investigate the impact of collector type and dosage, depressant type and dosage, pulp temperature, pulp density, pulp pH, and flotation
feed size.
Bulk flotation and other operations continue at SGS in order to prepare concentrate samples for continuing hydrometallurgical test work and planned
hydrometallurgical pilot plant testing.
Feed samples were analyzed by Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and flotation products were analyzed by SGS using wavelength
dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF) following lithium borate fusion of the sample. 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 sampling, recovery or other factors that
could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein. SGS
Lakefield
is an ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO9001:2015 accredited laboratory.
SGS is independent of Defense Metals Corp.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release, as it relates to the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project, has been reviewed and
approved by
John Goode
, P. Eng., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has provided the technical information relating to
metallurgy in this news release. Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (BC), a director of the Company, is the Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101
for the information relating to resources in this news release.
About the Wicheeda REE Project
Defense Metals 100% owned, 4,262-hectare (~10,532-acre) Wicheeda REE property is located approximately 80 km northeast of the city of
Prince George,
British Columbia
; population 77,000. The Wicheeda REE Project 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
.
The 2021 Wicheeda REE Project Preliminary Economic Assessment technical report ("PEA") outlined a robust after-tax net present value (NPV@8%) of
$517
million
and an 18%
IRR1
. This PEA contemplated an open pit mining operation with a 1.75:1 (waste:mill feed) strip ratio providing a 1.8 Mtpa ("million tonnes per
year") mill throughput producing an average of 25,423 tonnes REO annually over a 16 year mine life. A Phase 1 initial pit strip ratio of 0.63:1 (waste:mill feed)
would yield rapid access to higher grade surface mineralization in year 1 and payback of
$440 million
initial capital within 5 years.
About
Defense Metals Corp.
Defense Metals Corp. is a company focused on the development of its 100% owned Wicheeda Rare Earth Element mineral deposit, located near
Prince George,
British Columbia
, Canada, that contains metals and elements commonly used in in green energy, aerospace, automotive and defense technologies. Rare earth
elements are especially important in the production of magnets used in wind turbines and in permanent magnet motors for electric vehicles. 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".
For further information, please 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 continuing hydrometallurgical test work and planned hydrometallurgical pilot plant testing,
completing the planned PFS, the Company's plans for its Wicheeda REE Project, the expected results and outcomes, 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,
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 and metallurgy results, risks related to the inherent
uncertainty of exploration and cost estimates, the potential for unexpected costs and expenses and those other risks filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR
at
www.sedar.com
. 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 on the business of the Company, including but not
limited to, the effects of COVID-19 on 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 drilling 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.
View original content to download multimedia:
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/defense-metals-variability-flotation-tests-yield-high-rare-earth-recoveries-to-high-grade-concentrates-301746013.html
SOURCE
Defense Metals Corp.
View original content to download multimedia:
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2023/14/c2644.html
%SEDAR: 00042886E
CO: Defense Metals Corp.
CNW 03:01e 14-FEB-23