Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXV:CCE) has entered into a metallurgical collaboration with Corem in support of flowsheet development for the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit.
The test programmes for the vompany’s Ashram Deposit will form part of a larger rare earth element (REE) research and development initiative, which includes several other REE projects in Quebec.
The initiative is being spearheaded by Corem in collaboration with Quebec’s Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles (MERN), which is providing $1,400,000 over three-years in direct funding.
The initiative’s key objectives are to advance critical and strategic mineral projects in Quebec and to develop technology to promote the start-up of a REE industry in the province.
To advance these goals, a sizable allocation of funding will be directed to optimizing the actual project flowsheets and to developing alternative methodologies for standard processes of extraction and separation to reduce environmental impacts and to enhance the social acceptability of the projects.
The company is working closely with Corem to develop the test programme best suited for the current stage of development of the Ashram Deposit’s flowsheet, and has shipped approximately one tonne of Ashram bulk sample material to Corem’s facilities in Quebec.
Test work is anticipated to include grinding studies to reduce generation of fines, testing for additional REE recovery from flotation tailings, magnetic separation optimisation and equipment selection, as well as optimisation of reagent dosage in the Project’s flotation circuit.
Company President, Chris Grove, said the test programmes will be complementary to the work currently being completed at the company’s primary metallurgical lab – Hazen Research (CO) – where the flowsheet is in the advanced stages of Prefeasibility design. In addition, select hydrometallurgical test work is also anticipated.
“We are excited to embark on this collaboration with Corem and the MERN, which offers us the opportunity to help expand the base of REE expertise in the Province of Quebec, as well as to allow for targeted optimization testwork that will directly feed into the overall project development for our Ashram Deposit,” Mr Grove said.
“The Province of Quebec is a top global jurisdiction to explore and develop critical and strategic mineral projects, and the funding provided here is another example of the excellent support the industry has from the province.”
The Ashram Deposit outcrops at surface, allowing for cost-effective collection of material for testwork. As such, with approximately 11 tonnes of deposit material currently under storage in Montreal, the Company is actively engaging with various research and academic institutions to support the advancement of the REE industry in Canada, and in Quebec specifically.
About Corem
Corem is a non-profit centre for expertise and innovation, with a strong focus on mineral processing, that offers the exploration and mining industry a range of specialised research services to develop and optimize their flowsheets. Corem works closely with its members, its clients, and its partners to improve competitiveness and to reduce environmental impact of mining operations through innovative solutions.
For further information please visit: http://www.commerceresources.com/
