Commerce Resources Corp. Delivers High-Grade 44.3% REO Monazite Concentrate to Third-Party Processor
Commerce Resources Corp. Delivers High-Grade 44.3% REO Monazite
Concentrate to Third-Party Processor
March 8, 2020 – Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXv: CCE, FSE: D7H 0, OTCQX: CMRZF)
(the “Company” or “Commerce”) is pleased to announce that it has delivered a sample of high-
grade monazite mineral concentrate from the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit to an
industry processor per their request (see news release dated November 24 th, 2020). The 1.0 kg
sample grades 44.3% rare earth oxide (REO) and was produced using the conventional recovery
flowsheet developed by Hazen Research at their facilities in Colorado, USA (Figure 1) . The
delivery of the monazite mineral concentrate follows on the heels of the 0.5 kg sample of acid -
grade fluorspar recently delivered to a n industry major (see news release dated December 31 st,
2020).
Company President Chris Grove states “We are very please d to provide this sample to satisfy a
third-party request by an industry REE processor. Ashram has a very favourable rare earth
mineralogy that is dominated by monazite – a well-known and easily processable mineral for
REEs, as well as one having an affinity for high distributions of NdPr. Ashram is one of only a
select few projects in development that is capable of producing high -grade mineral concentrates
at high recoveries, making it an attractive feed source for REE mineral processors, and then for
downstream permanent magnet manufacturers”.
The production of the monazite mineral concentrate sample by the Company utilized the leach
residue that was generated from the pilot plant program completed in 2015. The leach residue was
further processed by flotation and magnetic separation to produce ~1.0 kg of mineral concentrate
grading 44.3% REO. Based on XRD analysis, the mineral concentrate contains 54.2% monazite,
3.8% bastnaesite, as well as 3.0% xenotime. Further, the NdPr oxide distribution of the concentrate
is 21.2%, which is higher than several major global producers.
The Ashram Deposit’s flowsheet has undergone significant development, including front-end
piloting of the grinding, flotation, and leach circuits, as well as downstream bench work. A primary
focus for the Company has been on this front -end beneficiation process to produce high-grade
mineral concentrate. The Ashram Deposit is one of only a select group of deposits in development
globally that can produce mineral concentrate at high recovery (>70%) and high grade (>40%
REO). All major hard rock REE miners globally produce mineral concentrates of at least 4 0%
REO, which are then used for downstream processing to marketable products. Such high grades
of mineral concentrate considerably reduce the downstream processing cost and risk through lower
reagent use, fewer deleterious elements entering solution, and a smaller hydromet plant
requirement by comparison.
Following the production of this monazite mineral concentrate sample, the Company continues to
advance its metallurgical programs at Hazen Research , which have been designed to both satisfy
several key industry sample requests, as well as obtain the remaining design criteria required to
complete the Pre-feasibility Study for the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Project.
Figure 1: High-grade monazite concentrate produced from the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit
NI 43-101 Disclosure
Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P.Geo., Dahrouge Geological 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 a junior mineral resource company focused on the development of
the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit located in Quebec, Canada. The Co mpany is
positioning to be one of the lowest cost rare earth producers globally, with a specific focus on
being a long-term supplier of mixed rare earth carbonate and/or NdPr oxide to the global market.
The Ashram Deposit is characterized by simple rare ea rth (monazite, bastnaesite, xenotime) and
gangue (carbonates) mineralogy, a large tonnage resource at favourable grade, and has
demonstrated the production of high -grade (>45% REO) mineral concentrates at high recovery
(>70%) in line with active global pro ducers. In addition to being one of the largest rare earth
deposits globally, Ashram is also one of the largest fluorspar deposits globally and has the potential
to be a long-term supplier to the met-spar and acid-spar markets.
For more information, pleas e 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 def ined 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 that the Company can advance the impurity
removal and that impurity removal may increase overall REE recovery in the flowsheet. These forward-looking
statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties an d 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 we may not be able to further r emove impurities,
and even if we do, it may not increase REE recovery; changing costs for mining and processing; increased capital
costs; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may
change with mo re 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; testing of our process may not pr ove 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 chan ging 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 obtained. 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.