Commerce Resources Corp. Reports Mixed Rare Earth Oxide from Ashram Rare Earth Deposit Produced by Université Laval
Commerce Resources Corp. Reports Mixed Rare Earth Oxide from Ashram
Rare Earth Deposit Produced by Université Laval
July 24, 2018 - Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXv: CCE, FSE: D7H) (the “Company” or
“Commerce”) is pleased to announce that Université Laval (“Laval”) has produced a mixed rare
earth oxide concentrate using material from the Ashram Rare Earth Deposit. The test work is part
of a larger program being completed in collaboration with Laval to process material from the
Ashram Rare Earth Deposit, located in northern Quebec. The test program also includes pilot
level components, (see news release dated May 31, 2018).
Highlights to date for the program include:
Demonstration of entire process flowsheet, as developed by Laval, on the bench scale
Bench scale production of mixed LRE (1) oxide (1.2 grams) and mixed
LRE+SEG(2)+HRE(3) oxide (0.6 grams)
Validation of the software model simulator, using data from the bench scale processing of
Ashram material, for the separation of rare earth elements (REEs) by solvent extraction
(SX)
Company President Chris Grove states, “ The rapid progress of this collaboration now includes
the first ever mixed rare earth oxide concentrate produced from Ashram Deposit material. This
is a key milestone for the advancement of the Project. This test work has demonstrated again the
versatility of the Ashram Deposit to be processed by a number of different flowsheet
approaches.”
The Company has previously produced among the highest-grade rare earth mineral concentrates
in the rare earth development space (>45% REO), which also compare favorably with current
operating mines globally. This is a direct result of the simple rare earth and gangue mineralogy
of the Ashram Deposit, and the versatility in processing this permits. This versatility is further
demonstrated herein with the bench-scale production of downstream mixed rare earth oxide
concentrates by Laval using an alternative flowsheet approach. By extension, this versality in
processing approaches lends itself to more cost-effective methods to be incorporated into the
final flowsheet to achieve the same products and quality desired.
During May 2018, a sample of whole rock material from the Ashram Deposit was beneficiated
using flotation methods and the resulting concentrate was processed downstream using a
sequential caustic – acid leach to “crack” the rare earth minerals and liberate the REEs into
solution with a low impurity content. This solution was then processed using conventional
solvent extraction to obtain mixed LRE, SEG, and HRE fractions, with the LRE solution then
further processed to final mixed oxide product. Although recovery was not a target factor in the
completed test work, an overall recovery of 60 to 65% was achieved for several of the LRE.
Recent modifications to the flotation conditions are expected to improve the recoveries, with the
optimization process still on-going.
The primary objective of the test work is to validate a new software program (the software
“model simulator”), developed by Laval, for the simulation of a continuous SX separation plant
for the REEs. The software utilizes pre-defined inputs to generate a set of product outputs with
specific characteristics. The bench and pilot scale test data, generated from the processing of the
Ashram material, is then compared to the predicted outputs of the software in order to validate
the results, and therefore, the software program.
This validation of the software has now been completed using bench scale test data from
processing of the Ashram Deposit material, with results matching closely the predicted outputs
of the model simulator. The next step is to complete the test work at the larger pilot scale and
compare these results to those predicted by the model simulator.
As such, the large-scale crushing and grinding of ~1.5 tonnes of Ashram material is currently
being completed at SGS Canada Inc.’s (“SGS”) Quebec City facility with the flotation
component to follow shortly thereafter. The flotation concentrate will be used as feed to a semi-
continuous hydrometallurgical pilot operation to produce a purified solution containing the REE.
The REE solution will then be processed through a continuous SX separation pilot circuit to
separate the LRE from the SEG and HRE. In parallel the solution composition will be used to
simulate the pilot scale SX separation circuit using the model simulator. The comparison
between the results of the pilot plant and the simulation will validate the model simulator, which
could then be used to further assess the economics of the separation of the REE into individual
rare earth oxides.
A targeted commercial benefit of the software model simulator is as a planning tool for process
piloting to help reduce delays and costs associated with piloting the SX separation process for
REE. Moreover, various scenarios may be run through the model simulator to obtain predicted
outputs following process changes, prior to incurring the costs of physically completing the test
work. Further, the simulation may include REE prices for the process optimization where one
REE is favored over another one, as well as product specification optimization.
(1) LRE – Light Rare Earth
(2) SEG – Samarium, Gadolinium, Europium
(3) HRE – Heavy Rare Earth
NI 43-101 Disclosure
Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P.Geol., Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., a Qualified Person as
defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information
in this news release.
About Université Laval
Université Laval is a French-language university based in Quebec City, QC, Canada with over
42,500 students enrolled in some 500 programs. Laval is a highly regarded academic institution
at the forefront of research and development in the country with over 60 departments and schools
supporting a range of innovative initiatives.
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 http://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 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 availability of labour, equipment and
markets for the products produced; and despite the current expected potential 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 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.
Commerce acknowledges its partners: