www.avalonraremetals.com
Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSX & NYSE Amex: AVL) is a mineral exploration and development company focused on rare metals deposits in Canada. Its flagship project, the 100%-owned Nechalacho Deposit, Thor Lake, NWT, is emerging as one of the largest undeveloped rare earth elements resources in the world. Its exceptional enrichment in the more valuable 'heavy' rare earth elements, which are key to enabling advances in green energy technology and other growing high-tech applications, is one of the few potential sources of these critical elements outside of China, currently the source of 95% of world supply. Avalon is well funded, has no debt and its work programs are progressing steadily. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones. Avalon's performance on community engagement in the north earned it the 2010 PDAC Environmental and Social Responsibility Award.
Avalon Rare Metals strengthens its team with three new appointments
As prices of rare earth metals continue to surge, junior explorer Avalon Rare Metals (TSX:AVL)(OTCQX: AVARF) has decided to strengthen its team with new appointments to its technical advisory committee and operations division.
The Toronto-based explorer said that the additions will assist the company in advancing its Nechalacho rare earth element deposit in Thor Lake, Northwest Territories through to production.
Avalon hired Harry Burgess as technical advisor, Brian Delaney as senior project manager and Dezhi Qi as process engineer.
Burgess is a mining engineer, a founder, and currently a vice president of Micon International, mineral industry consultants. As part of the technical advisory committee, he will ensure that all development aspects of the Thor Lake Project are accounted for and considered.
Delaney, who has held a number of supervisory and leadership positions such as general mine manager, has been appointed with the primary responsibility of overseeing the development and completion of the bankable feasibility study for the Nechalacho REE deposit. In this role, he will focus on engineering design, scheduling, mine planning, cost tracking, engineering and construction contract negotiations, and will oversee the activities of contractors and vendors involved in the project.
Lastly, Qi has the initial responsibility for overseeing all metallurgical functions relating to Avalon's bench-scale and pilot plants for the hydrometallurgical and rare earth separation facilities. He will also provide engineering and planning support for incorporation into Avalon's feasibility study.
Qi has held positions for a range of companies including, Shougang Technology Center, AREVA Resources, SGS Lakefield Research and Unimin Canada.
Avalon Rare Metals' flagship Thor Lake project is enriched with more valuable 'heavy' rare earth elements, which are key to enabling advances in green energy technology.
Yesterday, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce indicated that its rare earth elements reserves will only last another 10-15 years. With China currently the source of 95% of the world's supply of rare earth elements, Avalon is one of a handful of juniors outside of China poised to benefit. The company is getting ready to develop a mine at Thor Lake as early as 2015.
