#REE #Mining News: Defense
Metals (TSX-V: $DEFN.V) (OTCQB: $DFMTF) X-Ray Transmission Amenability Study
Demonstrates Potential For Sensor Based Upgrading Of Wicheeda Rare Earth
Element Feed; @DefenseMetals
Vancouver,
British Columbia - March 10, 2021 (Investorideas.com Newswire, MiningSectorStocks.com and RenewableEnergyStocks.com) -Mining / Metals
/ Green Energy Stock News - Defense Metals Corp. ("Defense Metals")
(TSX-V:DEFN / OTCQB:DFMTF/ 35D: FSE)) is
pleased to announce that it has received the results of an X-Ray Transmission
amenability study completed on samples of Wicheeda Rare Earth Element (REE)
mineralized drill core by the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), Saskatoon,
SK.
Read this news and
see table and image from DEFN in full at https://www.investorideas.com/news/2021/mining/03101DEFN-Sensor-Based-Upgrading-Wicheeda.asp
The
road accessible Wicheeda REE Property is located close to infrastructure
approximately 80 kilometres northeast of Prince George, British Columbia (BC).
The Wicheeda project has indicated mineral resources of 4,890,000
tonnes averaging 3.02% LREO (Light Rare Earth Elements) and inferred mineral
resources of 12,100,000 tonnes averaging 2.90% LREO[1].
Highlights
of the XRT amenability study completed by SRC on samples of high-grade REE
mineralized Wicheeda diamond drill core are as follows:
·
X-ray transmission
measurements and QEMSCAN® confirmed that XRT
technology can identify Wicheeda REE minerals in drill core samples (Figure
1).
·
Crushing to -15 mm size particles and using a 5% REE mineral lower cut-off in the sorting
algorithm, demonstrated the potential of low-cost front end XRT sorting
to upgrade 2.3x from approximately 11% REE mineral content to 25%
REEmineral content.
·
Upgrading of Wicheeda REE
mineralization via XRT sorting has the
potential to significantly reduce feed volume forwarded to downstream the
hydrometallurgical process.
Craig
Taylor, CEO of Defense Metals, stated: "Defense Metals is excited to
establish the amenability of Wicheeda REE mineralization to the application of
low-cost front end upgrading via sensor-based sorting technologies. We know
from our very successful flotation pilot plant and bench-scale
hydrometallurgical test-work that early volume reduction and upgrading has
significant downstream benefits. The quality of concentrate we can deliver to
flotation process has direct benefits in terms of process recovery, and reduced
costs related to reagent reduction. Based on the success of this amenability
test work SRC have recommended proceeding to a series of confirmatory XRT sorting
optimization tests."
XRT
sorting is a technology that exploits the atomic density (atoms/cm3)
differences of minerals. The atomic densityof a mineral is closely related to
the minerals' density (gram/cm3) and is therefore a viable
technology for upgrading the mineralized feed prior to processing. Previous
test work indicated that gravity separation prior to flotation was beneficialin
concentrating Wicheeda REE minerals due to the large density differences
between the REE and gangue minerals.
To
evaluate amenability to XRT sorting, a combination of high-resolution XRT and
QEMSCAN® (Quantitative Evaluation of Materials by Scanning Electron Microscopy)
measurements were carried out at the SRC. Thesemeasurements identify if the
atomic density differences between the REE and gangue minerals can be exploited
for XRT sorting. The greyscale levels associated with the various minerals are
identified using QEMSCAN® measurements.
Using
the X-ray greyscale images and the QEMSCAN® images, additional theoretical information
on the grade of the REE minerals for various particle sizes is generated. The
particle grade information determined how much gangue andhow much REE
mineralization is present in each size fraction. Information is necessary to
determine the benefits ofupgrading the mineralized feed at different particle
sizes.
Size
fractions greater than 6 mm can be viably sorted using XRT sorters while size
fractions greater than 0.6 mm are more amendable to sorting using dense medium
separation (DMS) and spirals. Size fractions less than 0.6 mm are concentrated
via hydrometallurgy processes. The average distribution of the REE minerals and
the theoretical grade of the XRT sorted mineralized feed for the six core
samples, for each size fraction within 20 mm, 10 mm, and 6 mm particles are
shown in Table 1.
About
the Wicheeda REE Property
The
1,708 hectare Wicheeda REE Property, located approximately 80 km northeast of
the city of Prince George, British Columbia, is readily accessible by
all-weather gravel roads and is nearby to infrastructure, including power
transmission lines, the CN railway and major highways.
Geologically,
the property is situated in the Foreland Belt and within the Rocky Mountain
Trench, a major continental geologic feature. The Foreland Belt contains part
of a large alkaline igneous province, stretching from the Canadian Cordillera
to the southwestern United States, which includes several carbonatite and
alkaline intrusive complexes hosting the Aley (niobium), Rock Canyon (REE), and
Wicheeda (REE) deposits.
Qualified
Person
The
scientific and technical information contained in this news release as it
relates to the Wicheeda REE Property has been reviewed and approved by
Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (BC) Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience
Ltd. of Edmonton, AB, a director of Defense Metals and a "Qualified
Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Raffle verified the data
disclosed which includes a review of the analytical and test data underlying
the information and opinions contained therein.
Methodology
and QA/QC
A
total of 6 core samples were selected for X-ray transmission measurements. Each
sample was imaged using 2-dimensional X-ray transmission measurements to identify
greyscale differences in the core samples. The greyscale levelsassociated with
the various minerals are identified using QEMSCAN® measurements. The X-ray
images are thenmodified using a defined threshold to identify the location and
dispersion of the REE minerals and pyrite throughout the core samples. The
results of this XRT amenability study are theoretical in nature and may not be
representative of actual recoveries obtainable via direct testing using XRT
sorting and DMS.
Using
image analysis techniques on the QEMSCAN® images, the percent removal of
low-grade mineralization iscalculated for different theoretical size fractions.
The size fractions used in this study were: 20 mm, 10 mm, 6 mm, 3 mm,1.2 mm,
and 0.6 mm rectangular particles.
Defense
Metals is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that
could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to
herein. The SRC operates in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2005 (CAN-P-4E),
General Requirements for the Competence of Mineral Testing and Calibration
Laboratories. SRC is independent of Defense Metals Corp. and the Qualified
Person.
About
Defense Metals Corp.
Defense
Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition of
mineral deposits containing metals and elements commonly used in the electric
power market, military, national security and the production of
"GREEN" energy technologies, such as, high strength alloys and rare
earth magnets. Defense Metals has an option to acquire 100% of the 1,708
hectare Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Property located near Prince George,
British Columbia, Canada. Defense Metals Corp. trades in Canada under the
symbol "DEFN" on the TSX Venture Exchange, in the United States,
under "DFMTF" on the OTCQB and in Germany on the Frankfurt Exchange
under "35D".
For
further information, please contact:
Todd
Hanas, Bluesky Corporate Communications Ltd.
Vice President, Investor Relations
Tel: (778) 994 8072
Email: todd@blueskycorp.ca
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 news release.
Cautionary
Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information
This news release contains "forward‐looking information
or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may
include, without limitation, statements relating to proceeding to a series of
confirmatory XRT sorting optimization tests and the expected, plans for the
Wicheeda Property, the advancement and development of the Wicheeda Property,
the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its project and
other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of
historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects
to occur, are forward-looking statements. 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 the
forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on
numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the
environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the
price of rare earth elements, the ability to achieve its goals, that general
business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner,
that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms.
Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to
future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including
those filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. While such
estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the
Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic,
competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements
include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and
financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather
conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary government permits,
approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain community acceptance
(including First Nations), decrease in the price of rare earth elements, the
impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to
operate increase in costs, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform
their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forward‐looking
statements or forward‐looking information, except as required by
law.
[1] Technical Report on the Wicheeda
Property, British Columbia, effective June 27, 2020 and prepared by APEX
Geoscience Ltd. (Steven J. Nicholls, B.A. Sc., MAIG and Kristopher J. Raffle,
B.Sc., P.Geo.) is available under Defense Metals Corp.'s profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com)
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