Metalex Identifies Ilmenite as Source of Scandium in 100% Owned Gold Claims, South of Chibougamau, Quebec
Metalex Identifies Ilmenite as Source of
Scandium in 100% Owned Gold Claims, South
of Chibougamau, Quebec
KELOWNA, BC
,
March 15, 2021
/CNW/ -
Metalex Ventures Ltd.
(TSXV: MTX) (the "
Company
") is
pleased to announce that it has identified ilmenite to be the source of the highly anomalous scandium
on its 100% owned claims 100km southeast of Chibougmau,
Quebec
, which are close to highway
167.
Metalex collected 8,698 heavy mineral samples covering an area of over 250,000km
2
. As was
recently announced (
December 3, 2020
) the heavy, non-magnetic concentrate with the highest
scandium as measured in both micrograms and ppm was detected on a wholly owned Metalex claim
block along with strongly anomalous gold.
A split of the weakly magnetic concentrates from the same sample was subsequently analyzed by
neutron activation analysis at Actlabs in
Ancaster, Ontario
and was found to contain seven to eight
times higher amounts of scandium than the original non-magnetic concentrates.
The balance of the weakly magnetic concentrate was separated at CF Mineral Research Ltd.
("CFM") into a conductive concentrate. A total of 784 ilmenite grains were selected from the
conductive concentrate using a binocular microscope. 91 of these selected grains were then
analyzed using a Cameca SXFive Field Emission microprobe and were found to contain between 2.7
and 372ppm scandium with an average of 26.3ppm. The complete microprobe analyses of ilmenites
with the six highest scandium results are presented in Table 1.
Table 1. Scandium-rich ilmenite compositions.
Grain
SiO
2
TiO
2
Al
2
O
3
Cr
2
O
3
Fe
2
O
3
FeO
MgO
CaO
MnO
NiO
ZnO
Nb
2
O
5
Sc
Total
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
ppm
%
409
0.03
46.63
0.02
0.02
11.66
35.51
0.42
0.00
5.63
0.01
0.00
0.00
372
99.92
506
0.02
47.98
0.01
0.00
7.76
37.82
0.10
0.00
5.20
0.00
0.05
0.14
271
99.08
304
0.03
48.13
0.01
0.01
7.75
34.25
0.41
0.00
7.95
0.02
0.49
0.16
176
99.20
314
0.03
47.67
0.00
0.01
9.16
37.54
0.35
0.01
4.68
0.00
0.03
0.02
98
99.50
101
0.02
43.37
0.02
0.00
17.63
37.22
0.09
0.00
1.64
0.00
0.07
0.08
51
100.14
806
0.05
47.35
0.01
0.00
8.57
39.26
0.18
0.00
3.00
0.01
0.05
0.03
50
98.52
Adding scandium to aluminum produces alloys that are far stronger and 30 to 40% lighter than
steel. Consequently, scandium-aluminum alloys are very valuable and in demand in the aerospace,
automotive, military and 3D printing industries.
Most of the world's scandium is produced in China. However, Rio Tinto has announced that they are
building the first scandium-oxide plant in
North America
with an initial capacity to supply
approximately 20% of the global market. The plant will be situated near
Montreal, Quebec
at the
Rio Tinto Fer et Titane metallurgical complex. The plant will be recovering scandium oxide from
ilmenite tailings after high quality titanium dioxide feed stock, pig iron, steel and metal powders are
extracted. The ilmenite ore is sourced from Rio Tinto's mine at Lac Tio, near Allard Lake,
Quebec
where it is railed 42km to a port and then shipped almost 900km along the Gulf of
St. Lawrence
to
the plant.
According to Alexandsandrovsky et al., Ores and Metals Publishers,
Moscow
, 2004, about 2 million
tons per year of ilmenite containing 10 to 20ppm scandium yields about 20 to 40 tons of scandium
oxide. The Metalex directors are most encouraged that scandium-rich ilmenites have been found in
samples within our claims. These ilmenites, on average, contain greater than the 10-20ppm
scandium in ilmenite that are commonly used to recover scandium oxide. The 91 ilmenites analyzed
from the conductive concentrate had an average of 26.3ppm scandium with values of up to 372ppm
scandium.
The same conductive concentrates have been produced at CFM from 23 additional heavy mineral
samples collected from the claims and have been sent to Actlabs to be analyzed for gold, scandium
and 32 other elements. These results will be reported when received.
Metalex has contracted Geotech Ltd. to fly a combined airborne magnetic and electromagnetic
survey over the claims with the intent to identify drill targets for massive ilmenite horizons similar to
the Lac Tio deposits being mined by Rio Tinto.
The technical information and results reported here have been reviewed by Mr.
Chad Ulansky
P.Geol
., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, who is responsible for the technical
content of this release.
Signed,
Charles Fipke
Charles Fipke
Chairman
Forward Looking Statements
Some of the statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements which involve known
and unknown risks and uncertainties. Without limitation, statements regarding potential
mineralization and resources, exploration and financing results, and future plans and objectives of the
Company are forward looking statements that involve various risks. The following are important
factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward looking statements: changes in the world wide price of mineral commodities,
general market conditions, risks inherent in mineral exploration, risks associated with development,
construction and mining operations, the uncertainty of future profitability and the uncertainty of
access to additional capital. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove
to be accurate as actual results and future events may differ materially from those anticipated in
such statements. Metalex undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if
circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to
place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
SOURCE
Metalex Ventures Ltd.
View original content:
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2021/15/c2419.html
%SEDAR: 00008159E
For further information:
Chad Ulansky, President & CEO, +1-250-860-8599,
CO: Metalex Ventures Ltd.
CNW 09:00e 15-MAR-21