Scandium Canada completes a 500kg metallurgical pilot test for its Crater Lake scandium project
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
Scandium Canada completes a 500kg metallurgical pilot test for its
Crater Lake scandium project
Highlights:
• Achieves 99.5% Purity Scandium Oxide
• 99.2% Purity Rare Earths Oxide
• Overall Sc recovery from ore to final product to a very good 77.3%
• Increases annual output to 91 tpy scandium oxide
MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC – May 13, 202 5 – Scandium Canada Ltd. (the “Company” or "Scandium
Canada") (TSX VENTURE: SCD) is pleased to confirm that it has completed a campaign for the
optimization of its mineral processing and hydrometallurgical flowsheet for scandium and rare earths
recovery from the Crater Lake project at SGS Canada Inc. in Lakefield, Ontario . The results of these
tests will be used to prepare a Pre -Feasibility Study (PFS) for the Crater Lake Project located in
northeastern Québec.
The current process leads to a 99.5% purity for the scandium oxide precipitate, which is the primary
commercial product from the Crater Lake Project, and to a 99.2% purity for the r are earth oxides,
which are the secondary output from the Crater Lake Project. This is the first instance of achieving
reportable purity levels of the oxides from the Company’s flowsheet. The purity of scandium oxide is
well within acceptable limits for its use in Aluminum -Scandium alloys, which Scandium Canada
targets as the main end-use of scandium oxide.
Dr. Peter Kondos, Ph.D., FAusIMM, Scandium Canada’s Technical Advisor mentioned; “The
hydrometallurgical optimization has performed exceptionally well, with a high scandium recovery of
93.3%, bringing the overall Sc andium recovery from ore to final product to 77.3% , which is a
remarkable performance in this field. ”
This optimization campaign used a 500 kg ore sample from a 15 -ton bulk sample extracted from
Crater Lake. A press release on February 29, 2024 ( Scandium Canada Updates on the Optimization
of its Mineral Processing Flowsheet ) announced an interim progress report. The data reported
previously about mineral processing is now integrated into the overall flowsheet. Our results confirm
a significant reduction in concentrate to be transported by trucks and processed at our
hydrometallurgical site, reducing capital and operating costs. The current flowsheet leads to the
production of 91 tonnes per year of Scandium oxide vs 87 tonnes per year (PEA results), while
transporting and processing 27,000 fewer tonnes of concentrate.
Scandium Canada’s C EO, Guy Bourassa , said: “ I am excited that we improved results of our
metallurgical processes. This data will serve as the basis for the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) required
for advancing the development of the TG zone of the Crater Lake Project. The PFS will determine the
impact on the operating and capital costs associated with our optimized flowsheets. We already
determined that, compared to our 2022 PEA, we are reducing by about 27,000t/year the concentrate
to be transported from the mine and processed in the hydrometallurg ical plant , resulting in an
important operating cost reduction, while increasing scandium oxide output.”
The current work aimed at improving the flowsheet reported in the Company’s 2022 Preliminary
Economic Assessment (PEA) (Imperial Mining Files Preliminary Economic Assessment Technical
Report for The Crater Lake Project On SEDAR). Our focus was to confirm bench-scale test results and
improve the recovery of the payable metals (scandium and rare earths) while reducing capital and
operating costs. The table below summarizes some of the high points of the results.
Crater Lake Project: Comparison of Scandium and Rare Earths recovery between PEA (WSP -
July 2022) and current optimization study (SGS – May 2025)
PEA SGS Comments
Sc2O3 purity Unspecified 99.5% This is the first instance of Scandium
Canada achieving reportable results on the
purity of scandium oxide from its flowsheet
REO purity Unspecified 99.2% This is the first instance of Scandium
Canada achieving reportable results on the
purity of Rare Earths oxide from its
flowsheet
Scandium recovery to
concentrate
90.2% 84.6% We choose to lower Scandium recovery to
reduce the amount of concentrate to be
transported by trucks.
% scandium recovery
from ore to Sc2O3
precipitate
Unspecified 77.3% We firmed up the overall Scandium
recovery due to excellent optimization
results in the hydrometallurgical process
Scandium recovery
from concentrate to
Sc2O3
Unspecified
(80.6% design
criteria)
93.3% We observed a substantial increase in the
efficacity of the hydrometallurgical process
% Rare Earths
recovery from ore to
REO precipitate
Unspecified 49.1% This is the first instance of Scandium
Canada achieving reportable results on the
recovery of Rare Earths oxide from its
flowsheet
The scientific and technical content concerning metallurgy and processing contained in this press
release was reviewed and approved by Peter Kondos, Ph.D., FAusIMM, Scandium Canada’s Technical
Advisor, Metallurgical Processing, a Metallurgist and a “Qualified Person” as defined by NI 43-101.
This work was supported and made possible by a $500,000 grant from Le Consortium de recherche
et d’innovation en transformation métallique (CRITM), which is one of the nine industrial research
sector groups (RSRIs) in Québec. CRITM is funded by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests
of Québec. It is a network dedicated to industrial research and offers companies strategic support
and financial assistance to carry out their research projects.
ABOUT SCANDIUM CANADA LTD.
Scandium Canada (TSX-V: SCD) is a public company whose ultimate goal is to bring the world's
leading primary source of scandium into production, enabling the development and
commercialization of aluminum -scandium (Al-Sc) alloys. The Corporation is leveraging its Al -Sc
alloy development division and the development of its Crater Lake mining project to meet the
growing need for lighter, greener, longer -lasting, high -performance materials. The Corporation
aims to become a market leader in scandium, while committing itself to building a more
responsible economy through innovation and agility.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release including,
but not limited to, the results from the metallurgical 500kg test, and, generally, the above “About
Scandium Canada Ltd.” paragraph which essentially described the Corporation’s outlook,
constitute “forward -looking information" or “forward -looking statements” within the meaning of
applicable securities laws, and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the
time of this press release. Forward -looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of
estimates and assumption that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation as of the time of
such stateme nts, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive
uncertainties, and contingencies. These estimates and assumption may prove to be incorrect.
Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and c ould cause,
actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward -looking
statements and future events, could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. A
description of assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information and a description of
risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can
be found in the Corporation’s disclosure documents on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca.
By their very nature, forward -looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both
general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward -
looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience.
Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about
management’s endeavors to develop the Crater Lake project, and, more generally, its
expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance
on these forward-looking statements as a number of important risk factors and future events could
cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the belie fs, plans, objectives, expectations,
anticipations, estimates, assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward -looking
statements. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these
cautionary statements and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators of Canada.
The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward -looking
statement or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such
forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. Neither the 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.
Neither the 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.
For additional information, please contact:
Scandium Canada Ltd.
Guy Bourassa
Chief Executive Officer
Phone: +1 (418) 580-2320
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.scandium-canada.com
LinkedIn: Scandium Canada Ltd.
X: @ScandiumCanada
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Instagram: @scandiumcanada