Commerce Resources Corp. Releases Mineralogical Analysis Ahead of 2020 Exploration
Commerce Resources Corp. Releases Mineralogical Analysis Ahead of
2020 Exploration
February 6th, 2020 – Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXv: CCE, FSE: D7H) (the “Company” or
“Commerce”) is pleased to announce that preliminary mineralogical analysis has been completed
on a suite of rock samples from the Mallard Prospect, situated within the Niobium Claim Group
Property (the “Property”) , which is part of the Company’s Eldor claims located i n Quebec, and
adjacent to the Ashram Rare Earth Elements and Fluorspar Project . The Mallard Prospect is
characterized by numerous drill intersections of high -grade niobium, along with variably
associated high grades of tantalum, phosphate, and fluorspar.
Saville Resources Inc. (“Saville”) is currently working on programs to complete the requirements
of their Earn-in-Agreement with Commerce Resources Corp. for a 75% interest in the Property
(see news release dated January 11th, 2018).
Optical and scanning electron microscope ( SEM) mineralogical analysis of thin sections was
carried-out on a total of fifteen (15) core samples collected during the 2019 drill program
completed at the Mallard Prospect. Analysis was completed at the University of Windsor as part
of a research project related to the genesis of the Eldor Carbonatite Complex and its niobium
mineralizing event(s). The main highlights indicated from the preliminary work are as follows:
1. Pyrochlore and columbite are the dominant niobium minerals present
2. There are indications that niobium has been mobilized – a mechanism that could potentially
enhance the grade of a deposit
3. Mineralogy supports the model of a continuous niobium mineralized trend through the
complex
Pyrochlore and columbite are the dominant source minerals for niobium globally and are actively
mined in Quebec near Lac Saint-Jean (the Niobec Mine). This niobium mineralogy is well-known
to the Comp any from prior work it completed on its Upper Fir carbonatite located in British
Columbia. Moreover, the Company wishes to emphasize the importance of this mineralogy in
niobium deposits as it is, in large part, a harbinger to favourable processing downstream.
All the work to date by Saville indicates that these are also the primary niobium-bearing minerals
present on the Property. In addition, grain sizes for the niobium minerals in the samples analyzed
are estimated to range from 0.03 mm to 3 mm, and are most commonly between 0.05 mm and
0.4 mm. These grain sizes are encouraging from a commercial mineral processing perspective
(see Figure 1).
From an exploration perspective, the mineralogical work on the Mallard core samples reported
herein is very encouraging and supports the prior work c ompleted on surface rock and drill core
samples from other niobium -bearing areas of the complex, notably; the Northwest, Miranna,
Spoke, and South Mallard areas. Moreover, collectively, the data supports a continuous niobium
mineralized trend connecting th rough these areas, whereby Mallard, and potentially other
targets/prospects, form key zones of higher grade – potentially outlining areas where the niobium
has preferentially mobilized to augment the grade.
Figure 1: Pyrochlore minerals in carbonate matrix (drill hole EC19-172)
In addition to the mineralogical work, as part of the research project at the University of Windsor,
a hydrochloric acid (HCl) leach to remove carbonates was completed on a piece of drill core from
Mallard in order to recover a patite for oxygen isotope analysis. However, as the pyrochlore
mineral is resistant to HCl attack, the test also resulted in the liberation of the pyrochlore (see
Figure 2 below). The pyrochlore recovered is of the typical brown colour with an octahedral habit
(i.e. a “square bipyramid” shape).
Figure 2: Liberated pyrochlore minerals from HCl leach
Parallels to the Niobec Deposit
Numerous parallels may be drawn between the Mallard Prospect and the Niobec Deposit, part of
the Saint -Honoré Carbonatite Complex, located approximately 45 km east of Lac Saint -Jean,
Quebec. The Niobec Deposit started production in 1976 – now owned and ope rated by Magris
Resources Inc. – and it currently accounts for 8 to 10% of global production (1, 2). Both Mallard
and Niobec are carbonatites, a rock type dominated by carbonate minerals along with common
accessory oxides, silicates, apatite, sulphides, fl uorite, and barite. The niobium mineralization at
Niobec is hosted by fine -grained (0.2 to 0.8 mm) pyrochlore and columbite minerals, while the
recently completed mineralogical work reported herein indicate that pyrochlore and columbite are
the dominant ni obium-bearing minerals at Mallard and are also of similar grain -size to that of
Niobec. In addition, at both Mallard and Niobec, the mineralization is present as moderate to
steeply dipping elongate lenses. At Niobec, these lenses have been outlined to sig nificant depth
(up to 750 m), while at Mallard the lenses remain to be delineated, including at depth, having been
drill tested to generally less than 200 m vertically (see news release dated September 16, 2019).
Management notes that mineralization/operations at Niobec may not necessarily be indicative to
the mineralization, or potential for development, of the Mallard Prospect. To date, no resource
has been determined nor economic studies completed for the Mallard Prospect.
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.
Sources:
(1) www.niobec.com
(2) Vallieres, D. et al. 2013, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Update on Niobec Expansion, December
2013. IAMGOLD Corp., 203 pgs.
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 Element 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 the current REE flowsheet effectively
produces a potentially saleable metallurgical -grade fluorspar product (“met -spar”) at no additional cost, while
having no negative impact on the REE recovery to the primary REE concentrate; and that if the tests are successful,
the sale of the fluorspar would reduce the footprint of the Project’s tailings management facility as well as provide
another revenue stream while also serving as a source of secure supply for the market. . 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 changing costs for mining and proces sing; increased
capital costs; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling 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; 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 b uild 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, exce pt as
required by law.