Commerce Resources Ships First Mixed REC Sample – 24.2% NdPr – to Major Rare Earth Producer
Commerce Resources Ships First Mixed REC Sample – 24.2% NdPr – to
Major Rare Earth Producer
July 15, 2022 – Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXv: CCE, FSE: D7H0, OTCQX: CMRZF) (the
“Company” or “Commerce”) is pleased to announce that it has completed its first shipment of a
mixed rare earth carbonate (“mixed REC”) concentrate sample to a major global producer of rare
earth elements (“REEs”) for evaluation. The sample (gram quantities) meets typical market
specifications and was produced as part of the Company’s ongoing scale-up to larger kilogram
quantities.
The sample follows the initial gram quantities of mixed REC sample produced by the
Company, announced March 23rd, 2022. The Company is pleased to report the new sample has
a neodymium (Nd) plus praseodymium (Pr) distribution – i.e. % of Nd+Pr oxide of the total rare
earth oxide (“REO”) – of 24.2%, which is significantly higher than that reported by several major
global producers , and that of the previous samples produced ( 21.6% and 22.4% NdPr).
Additionally, the mixed REC sample grades 53.9% REO, with 1.0 ppm Th, and <0.1 ppm U.
The Company has now produced several bench -scale samples of mixed REC concentrates to
market specifications, with NdPr distribution s ranging from 21.6% to 24.2%. The strong NdPr
distributions that characterize these Ashram samples rank among the highest in the world for non-
cerium depleted mixed REC concentrate and exceeds that of several major global producers. These
samples were produced with the Company’s conventional flowsheet developed at Hazen Research,
CO, in which several process operations have been demonstrated at a continuous pilot-scale level.
The Company is now undergoing a process scale-up to kilogram quantities of mixed REC
concentrate to deliver to additional third-party processors per their request.
The mixed REC sample recently delivered to the third -party producer (Figure 1) was produced
from the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit using a conventional recovery flowsheet,
which results in high grade monazite concentrate exceeding 40% REO. The monazite concentrate
was processed through a sulphuric acid pot digestion, to ‘crack’ the monaz ite, which was then
followed by a water leach to liberate the individual REEs into solution at high recovery (98% for
NdPr in the sulphuric acid + water leach stage – see news release dated September 9th, 2021). The
thorium was then selectively removed using solvent extraction and the REEs subsequently isolated
– also using solvent extraction – and precipitated as a mixed REC concentrate, meeting typical
market specifications.
In the rare earth industry, a mixed REC concentrate is typically viewed as the initial marketable
product in the REE value chain. A mixed REC is readily saleable as it is the most common
feedstock to REE solvent extraction facilities globally, which separate the individual REEs and
allow for them to be individually refined into marke table products and disseminated throughout
downstream value chains.
Figure 1: Sample of marketable mixed rare earth carbonate, with an NdPr distribution of 24.2%,
produced from the Ashram Deposit and shipped to global producer for evaluation
About the Ashram Deposit
The Ashram Deposit ranks as one of the largest REE (and fluorspar) deposits globally, consisting
of a monazite dominated, single mineralized body outcropping at surface, and has a footprint
approximately 600 m along strike, over 300 m across, and 600 m deep, remaining open in several
directions. The deposit hosts a measured resource of 1.6 million tonnes (Mt) at 1.77% rare earth
oxide (REO) and 3.8% F, an indicated resource of 27.7 Mt at 1.90% REO and 2.9% F, and an
inferred resource of 219.8 Mt at 1.88% REO and 2.2% F, at a cut -off grade of 1.25% REO
(Effective Date July 5 th, 2012). Note, mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they do not
have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral
Resources will be converted into Mineral Reserves.
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 in National Instrument 43-101
– Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects , 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 Company 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 earth (monazite, bastnaesite, xenotime) and
gangue (carbonates) mineralogy, a large tonnage resource at favourable grad e, and has
demonstrated the production of high -grade (>45% REO) mineral concentrates at high recovery
(>70%) in line with active global producers. 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, please visit the corporate website at www.commerceresources.com or email
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: https://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 statements, which includes any information about activities, events or
developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward looking
statements in this news release include that we expect t o scale-up our production of mixed REC; that mixed REC is
readily saleable; that Ashram is one of the largest fluorspar deposits globally and has the potential to become a long-
term supplier to the met-spar and acid-spar markets; and that the Company is positioning to be one of the lowest cost
rare earth element producers globally. 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 events, activities or developments from coming
to fruition include: that we may not be able to fully finance any additional exploration on the Ashram Project; that
even if we are able raise capital, costs for exploration activities may increase such that we may not have sufficient
funds to pay for such exploration or processing activities; the timing and content of any future work programs;
geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods
and mineral recoveries assumptions 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 or future
samples derived from the Ashram Project may not yield positive results, and even if such tests are successful or initial
sample results are positive, the economic and other outcomes may n ot be as expected; the availability of labour and
equipment to undertake future exploration work and testing activities; geopolitical risks which may result in market
and economic instability; and despite the current expected viability of the Ashram Project, conditions changing such
that even if metals or minerals are discovered on the Ashram Project, the project may not be commercially viable; The
forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company assu mes
no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by
law.