Leading Edge Materials Produces High Purity Nepheline Co-Product from Norra Karr Rare Element Project
Leading Edge Materials Produces High Purity
Nepheline Co-Product from Norra Karr Rare
Element Project
VANCOUVER
,
June 21, 2018
/CNW/ -
Leading Edge Materials Corp.
("
Leading Edge Materials
")
or ("
the "Company
") (
TSXV: LEM
) (
OTCQB: LEMIF
) (
Nasdaq First North: LEMSE
) is pleased to
provide results from recent mineral processing test work carried out on samples from the Norra Kärr
rare earth element ("REE") project in Sweden. Work was undertaken on the nepheline/feldspar by-
product material, as part of a program to capture value add opportunities that Norra Kärr provides
beyond REEs. A Pre-Feasibility Study completed on Norra Kärr in 2015 presented REE as the only
economic product but identified a range of opportunities to convert much of the mined material into
products for sale while minimizing the environmental footprint of the project.
Based on extensive previous testwork, the first stage of mineral processing (beneficiation) for Norra
Kärr is magnetic separation, which partitions magnetic (iron-rich) minerals including those carrying
REEs from non-magnetic minerals. Magnetic separation is a chemical free process where material
is classified by response to a magnetic field.
The non-magnetic minerals at Norra Kärr include nepheline and feldspar, which are highly sought
industrial minerals for ceramics, glass manufacture, plastics, cosmetics, paint and building products.
Value is placed on a range of factors that include alkali content, aluminum content and iron content
which together determine melting conditions and the degree of sample whiteness. When added to
ceramic and glass products, nepheline lowers the melting point of silica both reducing the amount of
energy required for glass production and increasing hardness and durability. Nepheline is also
favoured as a paint additive as it is silica-free, and in
Russia
is used as a source for aluminum.
Recent testwork completed at the Geological Survey of
Finland
("GTK") on a bulk sample originally
collected under the EURARE Horizon2020 project delivered promising results. Nine tests were
completed where the nepheline/feldspar sample was passed through a second phase of magnetic
separation under varying conditions to remove any remaining iron impurity. This "clean-up" stage
was highly effective in removing iron, which was lowered to a level consistent with peer materials
that are sold within
Europe
today. Once sub-20 micron material was screened out, iron oxide
("Fe2O3") content of 0.1% was achieved with an iron oxide (ppm) to aluminum (%) ratio ranging
from 45 to 50.
Norra Kärr is a nepheline syentite intrusion and the presence of potentially economic nepheline and
feldspar has been recognised for many years. The project was held by Swedish mining company
Boliden AB during the 1970s and 80s with a view to produce nepheline, feldspar and zirconium. As
magnetic separation was not a well-established technology at the time, saleable materials could not
be economically produced.
Europe
is the largest global market for nepheline and feldspar, with supply from mines including
Stjernøy in northern
Norway
, western
Turkey
and northwestern Russia.
Blair Way
, President and CEO, states, "
Our research focus is to optimize all parts of the Norra
Kärr project, both financially and environmentally. Nepheline and feldspar together comprise
around 60% of the rock at Norra Kärr, and finding a market for these industrial minerals is a very
important step in our target to achieve a zero waste mine design. This latest round of research
has produced samples that appear equivalent to product sold in
Europe
today, and we are very
encouraged by this latest increase in resource efficiency of Norra Kärr.
"
On behalf of the Board,
"Blair Way"
Blair Way
, President & CEO
Qualified Person
The qualified person for the Company's project, Mr.
Blair Way B.S
. (Geology) M.B.A., a Fellow of
the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the Company's President and CEO, has
reviewed and verified the contents of this document.
About Leading Edge Materials
Leading Edge Materials is a Canadian public company focused on production of high value critical
raw materials for the European market, with an operating base in the Nordic region, a region well
recognised for its promotion and investment in innovation. LEM's flagship asset is the Woxna
Graphite production facility located in central
Sweden
targeting the supply of specialty materials for
lithium ion battery production. LEM's assets and research focus are towards the raw materials for
Li-ion batteries (graphite, lithium, cobalt); materials for high thermal efficiency building products
(graphite, silica, nepheline); and materials that improve the efficiency of energy generation
(dysprosium, neodymium, hafnium). Investments are linked to the global shift to low-carbon energy
generation and energy storage. Leading Edge Materials currently operate in four divisions, Graphite,
Lithium, Rare Earth and Cobalt. Remium Nordic AB is the company's Certified Adviser ("CA") as
part of the listing requirements for Nasdaq First North.
Additional Information
Leading Edge Materials is listed on the TSXV under the symbol "LEM" and Nasdaq First North
Stockholm under the symbol " LEMSE". Remium Nordic AB is the Company's Certified Adviser on
Nasdaq First North.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in
the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this news release.
Forward-Looking Information. This news release may contain forward-looking statements and
information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of
future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different
from those implied by such statements. Such statements include but are not limited to, unexpected
geological conditions; the Company's expectations regarding exploration activities to advance critical
material projects for energy storage markets, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain necessary
permits and approvals from government authorities. Although such statements are based on
management's reasonable assumptions, there are risk factors which could cause the Company's
actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained
herein. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement,
and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information
or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained
herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.
SOURCE
Leading Edge Materials
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For further information:
1.604.685.9316 or [email protected],
www.leadingedgematerials.com
CO: Leading Edge Materials
CNW 08:30e 21-JUN-18