Commerce Resources Corp. Announces a Potentially Significant Advancement in Flotation Testwork for the Ashram Deposit, Quebec
Commerce Resources Corp. Announces a Potentially Significant
Advancement in Flotation Testwork for the Ashram Deposit, Quebec
December 17th, 2019 – Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXv: CCE, FSE: D7H0) (the “Company”
or “Commerce”) is pleased to announce that additional flotation testwork recently carried out at
Université Laval (“Laval”) has returned a potentia lly significant step-forward in cleaner -stage
flotation performance on material from the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit.
During their initial testwork mandate, Laval focused on rougher-stage flotation with the resulting
concentrate then later processed through to several grams of mixed light (La-Nd) rare earth oxide
(see news releases dated May 31 and July 24, 2018). An important development during this work
was the identification of an alternative flotation reagent scheme and conditions that demonstrated
some significant promise in improving the flotation performance of the Ashram Deposit material
(see news release dated August 1, 2019).
The Company is now pleased to report that a subsequent cleaner-stage test by Laval, using the
combined rougher concentrate from the earlier work as feed, has resulted in a flotation concentrate
of 21% rare earth oxide (“REO”) at a stage recovery of 92%, and a stage mass pull of 41% (cleaner
4). The current base case flowsheet incorporates a two-stage rougher only, resulting in a favourable
flotation concentrate, typically of 7 to 10% REO at >80% recovery and <30% mass pull .
Subsequent cleaner stages have generally resulted in a significant drop in recovery. However, the
cleaner test result from Laval indicates a potentially significant development in this regard, having
resulted in a marked improvement in recovery and grade in the cleaner-stage flotation.
Although management cautions that only one cleaner test has been completed and repeats are
required to verify the performance, the result, coupled with prior work, are a strong indication that
the flotation reagents and conditions applied at Laval may potentially lead to a marked
improvement in overall flotation performance.
The primary objective of the flotation stage in the Ashram Deposit flowsheet is to remove as much
carbonate as practical while maintaining performance (i.e. high REE recovery at low mass pull),
with the subsequent leach stage designed to remove the remaining carbonate in the flotation
concentrate ahead of subsequent magnetic separation to remove the fluorite. This results in a high-
grade rare earth mineral concentrate of >45% REO at high recovery (see Figure 1 below).
Figure 1: Generalized front-end flowsheet for the Ashram Deposit
Assuming the cleaner flotation test work at Laval is verified and demonstrated repeatable , the
potential positive impact may be significant as analysis of the base case flowsheet has determined
that the flotation component is a key process stage as it is where most of the rare earth element
(“REE”) recovery is lost. Further, the performance of the flotation stage will determine the amount
of HCl acid required during the subsequent leach stage, which is directly related to the amount of
carbonate minerals not removed by flotation, as well as the size of other downstream process plant
circuits and equipment. In other words, the flotation performance has one of the largest impacts
on the OPEX and CAPEX of the overall project flowsheet as it affects everything downstream of
it. Therefore, continued improvement in the performance of the flowsheet’s flotation stage is a key
interest.
The Company is currently exploring near -term funding oppo rtunities to continue the testwork
approach developed by Laval , including various grant initiatives and collaborations. In addition,
work at Hazen Research on the upgrading of the Ashram Deposit’s fluorspar component to
acid-grade is ongoing and initial results are anticipated to be announced in the coming weeks. This
work also has the added potential to further recover REEs during the fluorspar upgrade process.
NI 43-101 Disclosure
Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P.Geo., Dahrouge G eological Consulting Ltd., a Permit holder with the
Ordre des Géologues du Québec and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101,
supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.
About Commerce Resources Corp.
Commerce Resources Corp. is an exploration and development company with a particular focus
on deposits of rare metals and rare earth elements. The Company is focused on the development
of its Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit in Quebec and the Upper Fir Tantalum-Niobium
Deposit in British Columbia.
For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.commerceresources.com or
email [email protected].
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
COMMERCE RESOURCES CORP.
“Chris Grove”
Chris Grove
President and Director
Tel: 604.484.2700
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.commerceresources.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the
TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking information which is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and
other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those projected in the forward -looking
statements. Forward looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, potential process
methods and mineral recoveries; that a new floatation system has potential to further improve the flotation recovery
and grade of the Ashram Deposit material; and that the flotation reagent and performance has some of the most
important largest impacts on the OPEX and CAPEX of the overall project in terms of overall cost and process
efficiency. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors
that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward -looking
information. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include that geological
interpretations based on testing that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods and
mineral recoveries assumption based on limited test work and by comparison to what are considered analogous
deposits that with further test work may not be comparable;; further testing of our process may not prove successful
and even it tests are successful, the economic and other outcomes may not be as expected; the availability of
labour, equipment and markets for the products produced; and despite the current expected viability of the project,
conditions changing such that the minerals on our property cannot be economically mined, or that the required
permits to build and operate the envisaged mine can be obtaine d. The forward -looking information contained
herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such
information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.