Wealth Receives Positive Results from Tenova Advanced Technologies Process Study for the Laguna Verde Project in Chile Test Work Demonstrates that Tenova Advanced Technologies’ Process Technology can be Successfully Applied to the Laguna Verde Surface Brines
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NR17-20 November 16, 2017
Wealth Receives Positive Results from Tenova Advanced
Technologies Process Study for the Laguna Verde Project in Chile
Test Work Demonstrates that Tenova Advanced Technologies’ Process
Technology can be Successfully Applied to the Laguna Verde Surface Brines
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE....Vancouver, British Columbia: Wealth Mi nerals Ltd.
(the “Company” or “Wealth”) - (TSXV: WML; OTCQB: WMLLF; SSE: WM LCL; Frankfurt:
EJZN) announces that it has received positive results from its previously announced process test
work undertaken by Tenova Advanced Technologies (“TAT”) on samples from the Laguna Verde
project (“Laguna Verde” or the “Project”) . According to TAT’s results, t he laboratory test work
demonstrates that the LiP™ and LiSX™ processes for lithium extr action (Figure 1) can be applied
successfully to the Laguna Verde surface brine.
“The surface brines at Laguna Verde represent a potential targe t for lithium production and these
results will be important as we continue to evaluate production options,” stated Henk van Alphen,
Wealth’s CEO, “With a known surface brine and considerable potential for additional subsurface
brines, the Laguna Verde project is unique. While we continue t o evaluate options for processing
surface brines, we also plan to drill subsurface brine targets generated from recently completed
geophysical surveys.”
Objectives and Results
Wealth retained TAT to conduct laboratory test work on a 50-lit er surface brine sample from the
Laguna Verde project. The Laguna Verde brine was analyzed at a pproximately 220 mg/l of
lithium, with calcium and magnesium being the major contaminant s. Pretreatment is required in
order to remove calcium and magnesium and to increase the pH of the solution.
Stage I (a) Pretreatment: The objective of this stage was to evaluate the feasibility o f utilizing
the membrane based LiP™ process, as a pretreatment stage, to eliminate calcium and magnesium
from the Laguna Verde brine solution.
The test work demonstrated that TAT’s LiP™ process could be successfully applied to Laguna
Verde surface brines. Approximately 88% of the calcium and 97% of the magnesium from the
brine solution were removed in a two-pass system.
Stage I (b) Lithium Recovery: The objective of this stage was to evaluate the feasibility of
recovering lithium as Li₂SO₄ from a pretreated feed solution us ing a solvent extraction (“SX”)
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process and to estimate the purit y and the recovery yield of th e product. The target purity of the
LiSX™ was set at 99.5% or higher.
The test work demonstrated that TAT’s LiSX ™ process for extraction of lithium from its
aqueous solutions can be applied successfully to the Laguna Verde surface brine. The process
succeeded in producing a Li₂SO₄ solution with purity greater th an 99.9% and lithium recovery of
approximately 100% is assumed since lithium in the waste stream was below the 3mg/l detection
limit.
Stage II Cost Estimates: TAT has also been retained to complete an order of magnitude cost
estimate study which will evaluate the capital expenditure and operating expenses for producing
20,000 tons per annum lithium carbonate equivalent (“LCE”) of L iOH·H₂O from Laguna Verde.
Following positive results from Stage I, the Stage II order of magnitude study is expected to be
initiated and results from same will be reported in due course.
Figure 1: TAT Process Block Diagram. The work just completed
included LiPTM and LiSXTM processes.
Qualified Persons
Mr. Keith Henderson, PGeo, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
Mr. Henderson has reviewed the s cientific and technical informa tion relating to exploration at
Laguna Verde contained in this news release and has approved th e disclosure herein. Mr.
Henderson is not independent of the Company as he is a sharehol der and holds incentive stock
options.
Mr. John Hiner, a licensed geologist in the state of Washington and SME registered member, is an
independent qualified person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Hiner has reviewed the scientific and
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technical information relating to the TAT processing results co ntained within this news release
and has approved the disclosure herein.
About TAT, TAKRAF and Tenova
TAT, which has been recently integrated into TAKRAF, offers dif ferentiated, project-specific
process technologies based on decades of research, equipment de sign and project execution.
Advanced solutions include solve nt extraction (SX) for hydromet allurgical and bio processing,
electrowinning (EW), membrane circuits, in-house state-of-the-a rt R&D facilities, expertise in
minerals beneficiation and in phosphate processing from ore to purified phosphoric acid and salts.
TAT has developed processing solutions for the lithium industry and works closely with producing
and project development companies. Of relevance to Laguna Verde, TAT has developed;
a process for physical removal of alkaline earth elements (such as calcium and magnesium)
from the brine using membranes (LiP™)
a comprehensive liquid-liquid solvent extraction process for th e recovery and production
of lithium sulphate solution (Li₂SO₄) (LiSX™)
an electrolysis process (LiEL™) followed by crystallization and drying for the production
of highly pure Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate (LiOH·H₂O).
TAKRAF is a leading global mining, bulk material handling, mine rals processing and
beneficiation specialist and is a Tenova Group company. Furthe r information can be found at
www.takraf.tenova.com.
Tenova S.p.A., a Techint Group company, is a worldwide partner for innovative, reliable and
sustainable solutions in metals and mining. Leveraging a workf orce of over three thousand
forward-thinking professionals l ocated in 22 countries across 5 continents, Tenova designs
technologies and develops service s that help companies reduce c osts, save energy, limit
environmental impact and improve working conditions. Further i nformation can be found at
www.tenova.com.
About Laguna Verde
Laguna Verde is comprised of 23 exploration mining concessions covering an area of
approximately 2,438 hectares. The Company has also acquired th e option to additional mining
exploration concessions surround ing the Project area, which tog ether with the Laguna Verde
concessions amounts to a sizeable land position of approximately 8,700 hectares. The Project has
two lithium brine targets. Surface lake brines are contained within Laguna Verde itself, which has
been the subject of the current TAT processing test work.
The surrounding property covers a larger basin varying between 400m and 1,000m in depth.
Conductivity variations within the interpreted basin suggest th e presence at depth of saline
groundwater (potential brine) in l ateral proximity to the surfa ce body of water at an interpreted
depth of 200 to 300m, with the strongest response at the wester n end of the lake. A zone of low
resistivity is also observed at depth to the northeast of the l ake, representing perhaps a (partially)
separated volume of saline groundwater. Initial results suggest up to three shallow drill targets in
close proximity to Laguna Verde (200 to 300m from surface) and an additional drill target to test
the interpreted deeper brine to the northeast (>400m from surface).
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About Wealth Minerals Ltd.
Wealth is a mineral resource company with interests in Mexico, Peru and Chile. The Company’s
main focus is the acquisition and development of lithium projects in South America. To date, the
Company has positioned itself to develop the Aguas Calientes No rte, Pujsa and Quisquiro Salars
in Chile (the Trinity project), as well as to work alongside ex isting producers in the prolific
Atacama Salar, in addition to Laguna Verde. The Company has al so positioned itself to play a
role in asset consolidation in Chile with the Five Salars project.
The Company continues to pursue new acquisitions in the region, the latest of which is the Seven
Salars project and is moving to bring its projects forward into production. Lithium market
dynamics and a rapidly increasing metal price are the result of profound structural issues with the
industry meeting anticipated future demand. Wealth is positioning itself to be a major beneficiary
of this expected future mismatch in supply and demand. The Com pany also maintains and
continues to evaluate a portfolio of precious and base metal exploration-stage projects.
For further details on the Compa ny readers are referred to the Company’s website
(www.wealthminerals.com) and its Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of
WEALTH MINERALS LTD.
“Hendrik van Alphen”
Hendrik van Alphen
Chief Executive Officer
For further information, please contact: Marla Ritchie
Phone: 604-331-0096 Ext. 3886 or 604-638-3886
E-mail: [email protected]
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 news release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, “forward-
looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United
States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact,
included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement, timing
and cost of exploration and development programs in respect of Laguna Verde and otherwise, anticipated results from
the exploration activities, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves on the Project, the
anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company and the Company’s expectation that it will
be able to enter into agre ements to develop its existing projects and to acquire interests in additional mineral
properties, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it
can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically
identified by words such as: “believe”, “expect”, “antici pate”, “intend”, “estimate” , “postulate” and similar
expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any
forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual
results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, issues
raised during Stage II of TAT’s magnitu de cost estimate study and any further exploration work conducted on the
Wealth Minerals Ltd. - 5 - November 16, 2017
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Laguna Verde, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities,
actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or re alization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the
timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing
of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of lithium and precious metals,
changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for
commodities, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals,
permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in laws, regulations and
policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the in ability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits,
consents or authorizations required, including TSX-V accept ance of any current or future property acquisitions or
financings and other planned activities, the timing and poss ible outcome of any pendi ng litigation, environmental
issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the
Company’s latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in
Canada. All of the Company’s Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers
are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company’s mineral
properties.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no
obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein,
except as otherwise required by law.