VR Resources Ltd (TSX-V:VRR, OTCQB:VRRCF) has released a report on the first phase of the mineralogy and metallurgy study of rare earth elements (REE) critical metal mineralization at its Hecla-Kilmer (HK) project in Ontario.
Scanning electron microprobe (SEM) has confirmed PMREO minerals hosted in monazite and parisite, phosphate and fluorocarbonate minerals, respectively. PMREO refers the sum of high-value rare earth oxides used in permanent magnet motors and turbines used in electric vehicles (EVs) and wind turbines.
The REE mineralogy is also consistent. It does not change through the 461 meters vertical intersection of continuous mineralization starting at surface at Pike Zone, and it is the same 2.5 kilometers away at the South Rim Zone, the company said.
READ: VR Resources intersects new rare earth element vein trends; expands potential of Pike Zone mineralization at Hecla-Kilmer discovery
“ I simply cannot understate the significance of these results towards the advancement of this REE critical metal discovery at Hecla-Kilmer,” CEO Michael Gunning said in a statement. “First, these new SEM results are entirely consistent with results we have obtained from all of the state-of-the-art technologies we have been able to utilize from the very beginning of our exploration to better understand the REE mineralization. Suffice it to say, the new data on monazite are not surprising.”
REE critical metal mineralization was discovered at Hecla-Kilmer in the first reconnaissance drill program completed by VR in 2020, and the new mineralogy data is from an electron microprobe (EMPA) equipped with an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS), the company said.
“This mineralogy is important,” Gunning said. “Canada is plagued with REE discoveries made during the past 60 years that have never been developed because of the difficulty in extracting and recovering REEs contained in silicate and/or refractory minerals.”
He continued, “REE beneficiation from the sulfate mineral monazite is proven however, so the two new REE processing facilities that have been recently built in Saskatoon and in Utah in order to bolster domestic raw material supply for the EV industry in North America are both designed around REE concentrates with monazite mineralogy. As such, it is a significant milestone for the Hecla-Kilmer project that the new EMPA-EDS data confirm that the Permanent Magnet REO minerals are hosted in monazite and parisite.”
Additionally, the high proportion of the four PMREOs in the REE mineralization is important because of the high price of the PMREOs, such as neodymium and terbium, in response to the demand for permanent magnets in electric vehicles and wind turbines.
Looking ahead, follow-up drilling is planned for the spring of 2023. It will focus on supporting advanced-stage studies at the Pike Zone and additional exploration drill holes targeting other areas of known mineralization discovered to date.
Contact Andrew Kessel at andrew.kessel@proactiveinvestors.com
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