Nevada Sunrise Achieves 90.2% Lithium Recovery in Metallurgical Testing, Gemini Lithium Project, Nevada
Nevada Sunrise Achieves 90.2% Lithium
Recovery in Metallurgical Testing, Gemini
Lithium Project, Nevada
VANCOUVER, BC
,
June 5, 2023
/CNW/ -
Nevada Sunrise Metals Corp.
("Nevada Sunrise", or the
"Company") (TSXV: NEV) (OTC: NVSGF) is pleased to announce the results of metallurgical testing
carried out on lithium mineralization from its 100%-owned Gemini Lithium Project ("Gemini") located
in the Lida Valley basin in
Esmeralda County, Nevada
. A novel method of small-scale column testing
achieved a 90.2% lithium extraction rate under the direction of
Willem Duyvesteyn
, of Extractive
Metallurgy Consultancy LLC, based in
Reno, Nevada
. Mr. Duyvesteyn utilized the facilities of
McClelland Laboratories Inc. ("McClelland") in
Sparks, Nevada
for the metallurgical tests.
Highlights of Gemini Metallurgical Testing
Preliminary leaching test work was designed to focus on obtaining a lithium leach extraction of
more than 80%. Early tests included a standard sulfuric acid leach, the re-leach of residues, a
hot acid beaker leach of low and high-grade mineralization, and a gypsum/lime roast water
leach;
Following the use of various extraction methods an "acid-bake" step was implemented using
concentrated sulfuric acid on moist lithium-in-sediment mineralization with average lithium values
of approximately
1,100 parts per million ("ppm") lithium
;
A one-meter-tall column was loaded with Gemini clay mineralization and an open-circuit system
employed a two-step leaching system, which achieved a 90.2% lithium extraction over a 25-day
period.
The 90.2% lithium extraction rate achieved from the Gemini mineralization compares favourably with
the average lithium extraction of 84% reported by Lithium Americas at its
Thacker Pass
lithium
project (
Source: Feasibility Study, National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for the Thacker
Pass Project,
Humboldt County, Nevada
, USA, by Roth, D., et al, dated
November 2, 2022
.) As
follow-up to the successful outcome of this small-scale column testing, Mr. Duyvesteyn has designed
a larger- scale test involving 50 kilograms of Gemini clay mineralization, which began in late May
2023. The larger test will employ selected higher-grade mineralization averaging approximately
2,000 ppm lithium
.
Mr. Duyvesteyn and McClelland are carrying out further studies to assess the production of high-
purity lithium carbonate from the column leach solutions. Both conventional precipitation methods and
a modified direct lithium extraction ("DLE") technique, utilizing proprietary lithium absorbents are
under consideration.
Testing carried out by McClelland on lithium-in-water samples collected from the 2022-2023 drilling
at Gemini has revealed that the presence of suspended, sub-micron-sized clay particles carrying
lithium are not amenable to a DLE extraction process. Nevada Sunrise will continue to collect and
analyze water samples from future drilling programs to evaluate potential for a DLE process on the
groundwater encountered at Gemini.
About the 2022-2023 Gemini Drilling Program
In March and
April 2022
, Nevada Sunrise drilled two RC boreholes for a total of 2,020 feet (615.85
metres) in its maiden drilling program at Gemini. The drill sites were located within a defined gravity
low that hosts conductive layers detected by historical ground electromagnetic surveys. The results
from the first two holes at Gemini represented a new discovery of lithium mineralization in the
western Lida Valley, which was not historically drill tested for lithium (see Nevada Sunrise news
release dated
May 18, 2022
). In
July 2022
, Nevada Sunrise received a permit for an expanded
drilling area from the Bureau of Land Management good until
July 2024
and began Phase 2 drilling at
Gemini in
October 2022
. Three additional boreholes were completed from
October 2022
to
April
2023
, with each intersecting lithium mineralization (see Nevada Sunrise news release dated
May 24, 2023
).
Nevada Sunrise believes that the southern and western parts of the Gemini basin are highly
prospective for additional lithium mineralization and that further drilling could eventually define a large
lithium resource. The Company is in discussions with a
Vancouver, BC
-based engineering firm to
commission a National Instrument 43-101-compliant resource estimate and a Preliminary Economic
Assessment of the lithium-bearing zones at Gemini.
For further information on Gemini, including maps and photos
click here
About Gemini
Gemini consists of 582 unpatented placer and lode claims located in the western Lida Valley,
Esmeralda County
, approximately 6 miles (10 kilometres) east of the town of Lida,
Nevada
. The
Lida Valley is a flat, arid basin with a similar geological setting to the better-known
Clayton Valley
basin where Albemarle Corporation operates the Silver Peak lithium brine mine, which has operated
continuously since 1966.
Gemini is situated adjacent to the Gold Point Solar Energy Zone, a BLM land reserve set aside for
solar and wind power generation projects until 2033. Exploration at Gemini is complemented by the
Company's 80.09 acre/feet/year water right, a pre-requisite for the exploration and development of
lithium brine projects in
Nevada
.
Sampling and Analytical QA/QC and Statement of Qualified Person
Sediment Sample Collection and Analysis
Sediment samples described in this new release are a composite of material collected from the
rotary splitter in the RC drilling rig, which produces a continuous, representative 3 to 5 kilogram
sample for each sample interval. Samples were submitted to American Assay and ALS Global
USA
in
Reno, NV
and were analyzed utilizing a multi-element ICP-AES method. Specifically, the analytical
method involves aqua regia digestion of the sample followed by the inductively coupled plasma (ICP)
technique to ionize the sample, and atomic emission spectrometry (AES) to determine elemental
concentrations. Duplicates, field blanks, and certified reference standards were inserted at regular
intervals in the sample stream to ensure accuracy of the analytical method.
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and
approved by
Willem Duyvesteyn
, M.Sc., who is a Qualified Person for Nevada Sunrise as defined in
National Instrument 43-101 –
Standards of Disclosure
for Mineral Projects
.
About Nevada Sunrise
Nevada Sunrise is a junior mineral exploration company with a strong technical team based in
Vancouver, BC
,
Canada
, that holds interests in lithium, gold, and copper exploration projects located
in the
State of Nevada, USA
.
Nevada Sunrise owns 100% interests in the Gemini,
Jackson Wash
and Badlands lithium projects,
with no applicable royalties, all of which are located in the Lida Valley in
Esmeralda County, NV.
The
Company owns Nevada water right Permit 86863, also located in the Lida Valley basin, near
Lida, NV.
The Company's key gold asset is a 20.01% interest in a joint venture at the Kinsley Mountain Gold
Project near
Wendover, NV
with CopAur Minerals Inc.
Kinsley Mountain
is a Carlin-style gold project
hosting a National Instrument 43-101 compliant gold resource consisting of
418,000 indicated
ounces of gold grading 2.63 g/t Au (4.95 million tonnes), and 117,000 inferred ounces of gold
averaging 1.51 g/t Au (2.44 million tonnes), at cut-off grades ranging from 0.2 to 2.0 g/t Au
1
.
1
Technical Report on the Kinsley Project,
Elko County, Nevada
, U.S.A., dated
June 21, 2021
with
an effective date of
May 5, 2021
and prepared by
Michael M. Gustin
, Ph.D., and
Gary L.
Simmons
, MMSA and filed under New Placer Dome Gold Corp.'s Issuer Profile on SEDAR (
www.sedar.com
).
Nevada Sunrise has the right to earn a 100% interest in the Coronado VMS Project, located
approximately 48 kilometers (30 miles) southeast of
Winnemucca, NV.
The Company owns a 15%
interest in the historic Lovelock Cobalt Mine and the Treasure Box copper properties, each located
approximately 150 kilometers (100 miles) east of
Reno, NV
with Global Energy Metals Corp.
("GEMC") holding an 85% participating interest. A transaction is in progress for GEMC to own a
100% interest, scheduled to close on or before
June 30, 2023
.
Website:
www.nevadasunrise.ca
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This release may contain forward
–
looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements
that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects",
"plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar
expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur and
include disclosure of anticipated exploration activities. Although the Company believes the
expectations expressed in such forward
–
looking statements are based on reasonable
assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may
differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward
–
looking statements are based
on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date such statements
were made. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward
–
looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Such factors include, among others, risks related to the results and outcomes of the Company's
2022-2023 exploration activities and future plans at the Gemini Lithium Project; reliance on
technical information provided by third parties on any of our exploration properties; changes in
project parameters as plans continue to be refined; current economic conditions; future prices of
commodities; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to
operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; labor disputes and other risks of
the mining industry; delays due to pandemic; delays in obtaining governmental approvals,
financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors discussed in the section
entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for the Six Months
ending
March 31, 2023
, which is available under Company's SEDAR profile at
www.sedar.com
.
Although Nevada Sunrise has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual
actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information,
there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated
or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Nevada
Sunrise disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly, readers should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined
in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
SOURCE
Nevada Sunrise Metals Corporation
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For further information:
Warren Stanyer, President and Chief Executive Officer, email:
[email protected], Telephone: (604) 428-8028 or Jason Powell, Corporate
Communications, email: [email protected], Telephone: (604) 779-6497
CO: Nevada Sunrise Metals Corporation
CNW 07:30e 05-JUN-23