Commerce Resources Corp. Highlights Results of Fluorine Assays Announced Today by Saville Resources Inc.
Commerce Resources Corp. Highlights Results of Fluorine Assays
Announced Today by Saville Resources Inc.
September 10 th, 2020 – Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXv: CCE, FSE: D7H 0) (the
“Company” or “Commerce”) is pleased to release the results of fluorine analysis recently
completed on select 2008 and 2019 drill core from the Mallard Prospect at Company’s Niobium
Claim Group Property (the “Property”), Quebec. The Mallard Prospect is characterized by
numerous drill intersections of high -grade niobium, with variably associated high grades of
tantalum, phosphate, and fluorspar.
The Mallard Prospect is a part of the Niobium Claim Group which is being advanced by Saville
Resources (TSX V – SRE) as detailed in the Earn In Agreement between th e companies, first
announced on January 11, 2018. Drilling on the Mallard Prospect prior to 2018 was carried out by
Commerce Resources.
The assay program was initiated to quantify the fluorspar content (based on fluorine content) of
previously sampled (200 8, 2019) fluorspar -bearing carbonatite drill core, which characterize a
more than 600 m long trend, based on lithological core logging (see news release dated July 23 rd,
2020). Several of the 2008 drill holes had intersected weak to strongly fluorspar mine ralized
carbonatite; however, only the highest -grade intervals, based on core logging, were assayed for
fluorine at that time. Collectively, the 2008, 2010, and 2019 drill results have outlined a
mineralized fluorspar trend, within the primary niobium tren d, which is broader and more
extensive than previously understood (see Figure 1). Summary highlights include:
• Drill hole EC08-016 has a wider fluorspar mineralized interval than was initially assayed
(2008: 30.7% CaF2 over 22.3 m). With the 2020 assays incorporated, the wider zone now
assays 21.5% CaF 2, over 38.6 m. In addition, the fluorspar zone is accompanied by
moderate grades of niobium, tantalum and phosphate at 0.36% Nb 2O5, 103 ppm Ta 2O5,
and 5.3% P2O5, respectively.
• Drill hole EC08-021 had not been assayed for fluorspar historically; however, the recent
analysis has confirmed the zone is present with 23.6% CaF 2 over 5.0 m, within a larger
zone of 8.0% CaF 2 over 47.2 m. The zone starts at a core length depth of 69.5 m and
confirms the Mallard Prospect’s fluorspar zone continues at high grades to the
southeast – individual sample assays of 30.4% CaF 2 and 26.9% CaF 2 at 95 m depth in
EC08-021.
• Drill hole EC19-173 returned 11.9% CaF2 over 6.0 m within a wider interval of 8.4% CaF2,
0.36% Nb2O5, 122 ppm Ta 2O5, and 5.4% P 2O5 over 22.5 m. The intersection extends at
depth the zone in EC10 -032 of 14.8% CaF 2 over 6.2 m. Collectively, as the most
northwestern drill ho les completed at Mallard to date, the results in EC10 -032 and
EC19-173 confirm the zone continues to the northwest along strike.
• EC19- 174A returned 8.5% CaF 2 over 6.0 m at 154.0 m depth, as well as another similar
interval further down hole.
(1) All intervals noted are core length. True width is not fully constrained.
The recent fluorine analysis program confirms there is a broad and extensive fluorspar mineralized
trend at Mallard, which extends for at least 600 m along strike and is open to the northwest,
southeast, downdip, and is interpreted to continue to surface. The trend remains to be delineated
significantly outside of the core Mallard area, especially along strike of drill hole EC08-021. The
fluorspar mineralization at Mallard is purple and readily observable to the naked eye where grades
are of interest.
As a next step, Saville Resources will utilize the dataset to produce a 3D model of the trend and
prioritize targets where high -grade fluorspar -bearing carbonatite may overlap with high -grade
niobium-bearing carbonatite. As the source of the fluorite is interpreted to be from late stage
hydrothermal fluids, which either replaced the host rock (i.e. altered) or was emplaced as veins
and breccia infill, there is potential for high -grade and wider w idths w here conditions are
favourable.
Figure 1: Section of high-grade fluorspar zone in drill hole EC08-016
Figure 2: Approximation of fluorspar mineralized trend within the wider niobium trend
QAQC
Sample pulps/rejects were pulled from storage and shipped to Activation Laboratories in Ancaster,
ON, for fluorine analysis by Fusion Specific Ion Electrode -ISE (Code 4F -F). No blanks or
standards were submitted with the Saville Resources relying on the laboratories internal QAQC
samples and procedures. Supported by mineralogy, the fluorine at the Mallard Prospect is hosted
almost exclusively within the mineral fluorite (CaF 2), known industrially as fluorspar, and is
therefore a proxy for calculating the fluorspar content of the sample. Fluorapatite may also host
fluorine at Mallard; however, its deportment to the overall fluorine content of the rock is
negligible. The fluorspar content (CaF2) was calculated by multiplying the fluorine assay by 2.055.
Fluorspar Market
Fluorspar is an essential raw material to the steel, aluminum, and chemical industries in two
marketable products, acid spar grade and met spar grade.
Acid-spar (>97% CaF2), accounting for roughly sixty percent of the market, is primarily used to
synthesise hydrofluoric acid (HF) and subsequent fluorochemicals, and in the production of
aluminum metal, to reduce process temperatures and energy consumption. It is also a key raw
ingredient of materials used in enhancing the operational performance of lithium-ion batteries.
Met-spar (>60% CaF 2), accounting for roughly forty percent of the global fluorspar market, is
primarily used as a flux in the steel making process to lower the melting temperature, to reduce
slag viscosity and remove impurities.
Similar to the prevailing dynamics for rare earth elements, China was historically the largest
exporter of fluorspar. However, in the last 3 years, China has become a net importer. This has
caused significant price appreciation for fluorspar, and market interest from industry in new
sources.
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 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 that a broad and extensive fluorspar mineralized trend is
interpreted to continue to surface; the Company will utilize the dataset to produce a 3D model of the trend and prioritize
targets where high-grade fluorspar-bearing carbonatite may overlap with high-grade niobium-bearing carbonatite; and
that there is potential for high -grade and wider widths where conditions are favourable. 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 changing costs for mining and processing; increased capital costs; the
potential inability of the Company to finance its plans; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological
interpretations based on dril ling 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; the a vailability 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 buil d and operate the envisaged mine
cannot 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, exce pt as
required by law.