Important Improvement To Defense Metals Process Flowsheet
Press Release
Vancouver, British Columbia – January 14, 2025: Defense Metals Corp. (“Defense Metals” or the “Company”; TSX-V:DEFN / OTCQB:DFMTF / FSE:35D) is pleased to advise that it has added to the flowsheet of its hydrometallurgical plant a solvent extraction (“SX”) circuit in order to remove low-value Cerium (“Ce”) and Lanthanum (“La”). This additional circuit would increase the Neodymium and Praseodymium (“NdPr”) oxide assay of the mixed rare earth carbonate (“MREC”) from 14% on a total rare earth oxide (“TREO”) basis to at least 85%.
As a result, the “basket value” of the enhanced MREC would increase significantly and would be among the highest of any existing or planned light rare earth production outside of China. This has been confirmed by Argus Media which has compared the value of this product basket to that of all the companies for which they have data.
In addition, the enhanced MREC significantly reduces the required capacity of the product handling equipment, the mass of the MREC to be transported, and the mass of separation plant feed per unit of NdPr oxide. The elimination of La and Ce from the MREC makes the product far more attractive to downstream processors than the product which was initially envisaged to be produced. While this change to the flowsheet will somewhat increase the capital cost of the project it is believed that the benefits of this change will far outweigh its costs.
Mr. John Goode, P.Eng., Defense Metals Consulting Metallurgist said:
“The SX plant has been designed conservatively using industry standard and proven methods supplemented by bench scale tests. Hundreds of SX circuits similar to that proposed are successfully in operation around the world.”
Mr. Mark Tory, President and CEO added:
“I am impressed with the quality of the metallurgical work which has been done by the company under the leadership of John Goode who is recognised worldwide as one of the leading experts in this type of work.”
The pre-feasibility study that, as already announced, is expected to be released by Defense Metals in Q1, will include the SX circuit as part of the overall project design.
Suite 1020-800 West Pender St.
Vancouver, BC V6C 2V6
(TSX-V: DEFN)
www.defensemetals.com
About Defense Metals Corp. and its Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project
Defense Metals Corp. is focused on the development of its 100% owned, 11,800-hectare (~29,158-acre) Wicheeda rare earth element (“REE”) Project that is located on the traditional territory of the McLeod Lake Indian Band in British Columbia, Canada.
The Wicheeda REE Project, approximately 80 kilometres (~50 miles) northeast of the city of Prince George, is readily accessible by a paved highway and all-weather gravel roads and is close to infrastructure, including hydro power transmission lines and gas pipelines. The nearby Canadian National Railway and major highways allow easy access to the port facilities at Prince Rupert, the closest major North American port to Asia.
For further information, please visit www.defensemetals.com or contact:
Alex Heath
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Interim CFO
Tel: +1 604-354-2491
Email: alex@defensemetals.com
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