New Rio Tinto Plant in Utah Points to Growing Demand for Tellurium
New Rio Tinto Plant in Utah Points to Growing Demand for Tellurium
Vancouver, BC, Canada, March 31, 2021 – Deer Horn Capital Inc. (CSE: DHC , OTCBB: GODYF ) (or “Deer
Horn ”) reports that a new tellurium recovery plant under construction by Rio Tinto in Utah points to
growing tellurium demand for solar panels and other applications such as next-generation lithium-
tellurium (Li-Te) batteries. The new plant will be part of Rio Tinto’s Kennecott copper mine near Salt Lake
City.
A recent article in U.S. News & World Report notes that “Rio Tinto is diving into the growing market for
solar energy generation, which increased by 22% on a global scale in 2019. About 20% of U.S. electrical
generation is from renewable energy, including solar.”
Rio Tinto is investing $2.9 million to set up the plant, which will recover tellurium as a byproduct of
copper smelting. The plant will have a capacity to produce approximately 20 tonnes of tellurium per year.
Most of the world’s tellurium is produced as a by-product of copper smelting. However, solar panel
manufacturers such as First Solar Inc. and other end users have long sought primary sources of tellurium
(rather than as a by-product) to help balance the supply chain and its dependence on copper refining.
A March 9, 2021 article in PV Magazine noted that First Solar is in talks with Rio Tinto to procure the
tellurium at Kennecott for its cadmium telluride (CadTel) semiconductor processing in the United States.
Deer Horn President and CEO Tyrone Docherty stated: “For several years, we have been in discussions
with primary users of tellurium to potentially supply the metal from our Deer Horn property in north-
central British Columbia. The signs are there that tellurium demand is growing, and they will continue to
grow as the need for alternative energy and new green technology expands. Uses for tellurium are
expanding, and research is ongoing worldwide to exploit its unique properties.”
First Solar has described the Deer Horn property as one of the world’s most important primary tellurium
properties, as Deer Horn hosts one of the world’s few NI 43-101 certified tellurium resources. Further
exploration of the gold-silver-tellurium discovery is planned to expand and develop the project and bring
it to production. A 2019 Preliminary Economic Assessment noted that the resource is open to depth and
in two directions.
New tellurium projects are on Deer Horn’s radar. As reported in the Company’s March 11, 2021 news
release , Deer Horn recently acquired the Klondike tellurium-gold-silver property in south-central
Colorado. “Acquiring the Klondike project, with its unusually high surface grades of tellurium, was part of
our strategy to lock up additional tellurium resources,” said Docherty. “We believe primary sources of
tellurium like Klondike will become more attractive as demand for the metal ramps up.”
About Deer Horn Capital
Deer Horn Capital is committed to exploring for, and providing, strategic and critical metals vital to a low-
carbon economy and for the advancement of technology. The Company’s leadership has a track record of
project monetization with a board and advisory group that includes industry leaders in finance, mineral
property development, geology, mineralogy, solar power, engineering, research and First Nations
engagement and economic development.
On behalf of the board of directors of
Deer Horn Capital Inc.
“Tyrone Docherty”
Tyrone Docherty
President and CEO
For further information please contact:
Tyrone Docherty
604.789.5653
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Forward-looking information
All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or m ay occur in the
future are forward-looking statements. These forwa rd-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, percep tion
of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements
involve substantial known and unknown risks and unc ertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking
statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company’s control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except
as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of
future unanticipated event.