Defense Metals Corp. (TSXV: DEFN | OTCQB: DFMTF | FSE: 35D) has engaged Hatch Ltd. and SRK Consulting Inc. as principal consultants for the completion of a preliminary feasibility study (PFS) regarding its Wicheeda rare earth element (REE) project located near Prince George, Canada.
SRK is one of four key consultants chosen to facilitate the PFS and will take the lead role as overall coordinator of the report, as well as handling the mining and tailings scope of work with support from APEX Geoscience Ltd., Defense Metals’ exploration, geology, and resource consultants.
Hatch will focus on REE concentrating and hydrometallurgical processes and plant facilities, and both capital and operating costs. One-eighty Consulting will be responsible for the environmental studies, permitting, and social or community impact scope. Hatch and SRK, as directed by Defense Metals, have agreed to a partition of responsibilities that allows each group to focus on their strengths.
SRK is uniquely positioned to advance the Wicheeda project given their prior involvement in both an extensive scenario analysis evaluation conducted in 2021, and the preliminary economic assessment completed by them in 2021 and published in 2022.
The knowledge gained in these studies will help SRK build upon and improve the analyses completed then, to create an optimal development plan for the project. SRK will focus on resource estimation, geotechnical engineering, mining engineering, tailings management, and economic analysis. Added scope for SRK in the PFS includes the project lead, risk assessment, surface water management, contact water treatment and environmental geochemistry.
Hatch will be responsible for the process design including the concentrator and hydrometallurgical plants as well as the infrastructure for mining, tailings, and other processing areas.
SRK and Hatch both have extensive experience and knowledge of working in the REE sector.
For further information, please visit: www.defensemetals.com
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