Highlights
March 27, 2013 – Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXv: CCE, FSE: D7H, OTCQX: CMRZF) (the “Company” or “Commerce”) is pleased to provide a further update on recent work completed at its Blue River Project since release of the National Instrument (NI) 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource update (Commerce news release July 6, 2012) for the Upper Fir Deposit. Newly completed mineralogical variability studies show that the partially optimized flotation flow sheet which formed the base of the metallurgical analysis in the Preliminary Economic Assessment (Commerce news release November 3, 2011), and which was further optimized during Phase 2 test work (reported December 3, 3012) shows good applicability across the range of mineralogies tested.
The geological, engineering, metallurgical and environmental programs carried out in 2012 provide broad support to the advancement of exploration and development at the Company’s wholly owned Blue River Project, east-central British Columbia. The new metallurgical results continue to strengthen the foundation of broadly based technical knowledge developed in 2012, and after completion of the mineral resource update currently in progress by independent consultants AMEC Americas Ltd. (“AMEC”), will be sufficient to support the initiation of a pre-feasibility study (PFS).
“We are pleased with these new results from what has been a significant amount of work accomplished in the past year. These metallurgical results provide additional upside to the positive test work previously reported in the PEA, a major milestone in our progress to develop the Upper Fir. These post-PEA metallurgical results reinforce Commerce’s belief that we are in the process of building a very important long-term source of conflict free and ethical tantalum which could potentially supply 10% of the current world’s market for the long term.” says Dave Hodge, Commerce’s President. “We will be extremely interested in the upcoming resource update from AMEC which will be based on all work to date.”
The Blue River Property is host to the Upper Fir Tantalum and Niobium Deposit, which was discovered in 2002 and which has been the focus of the Company’s activities since 2005. In fiscal 2012 Commerce spent approximately $3.8M on the Property.
Metallurgical Test Work in 2012
Metallurgical work in 2012 has continued to update and optimize the process flow sheet described in the NI 43-101 compliant Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) study completed by AMEC on the Blue River Project (effective date of September 29, 2011; see Commerce news release of November 3, 2011). The process flow sheet for the recovery of the tantalum and niobium described in the PEA was developed in 2011 based on Phase 1 studies.
In April 2012, Commerce commissioned Acme Metallurgical Ltd (“Acme Met”) of Vancouver, BC to initiate a Phase 2 investigation. This was designed to follow-up the successful results of the earlier program which had tested flotation as the preferred method to remove the larger portion of fine slimes and carbonatite minerals early in the process. Subsequent process steps could then focus on material containing Ta and Nb.
Phase 2 testing optimized the use of desliming and carbonate rejection flotation, as well as chemical reagent dosages to increase the efficiency of rougher/cleaner Ta/Nb flotation. This work enabled finalization of the process flow sheet developed in Phase 1 which was based on composite samples BS-2F and BS 2G. All Phase 2 work was conducted on these same composites and all tests were conducted at a grind size of 80% passing 130 microns. These results were reported in a news release dated the 3rd of December 2012.
Mineralogical Variability Testing
A total of 767 samples of drill core rejects from the Upper Fir deposit were combined into thirty-six composites (selected to represent five different end member mineralogies within the deposit) and subjected to flotation testing. This variability testing, initiated in April 2012 and completed in January 2013, had the primary objective of determining the composites’ response to the partially optimized flotation procedure established during the Phase 1 and 2 metallurgical programs completed in 2011 and 2012 and previously reported.
Key Areas of Variability Investigation and Results:
Desliming and Mass Rejection
Carbonate Concentrate Cleaning
Feed to Tantalum:Niobium Flotation
Magnetic Separation
Acme Metallurgical Recommendations
Acme Met recommends that further optimization work be undertaken as follows:
Upcoming Mineral Resource Update
A Mineral Resource Update and subsequent technical report which will incorporate all data from 2005 through 2012 is currently underway by AMEC with completion targeted for the second quarter of 2013. This work will build from the previous Mineral Resource Update technical report (effective date June 22, 2012) in which AMEC compared results from the 34 holes totalling 8,715m drilled in 2011, after the closure of the resource database to the updated resource model and found them to be reasonably consistent with the geology predicted by the model.
2011 PEA Outcomes
The Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA) was prepared to define an overall proof of concept for further development of the Blue River Project. The PEA (effective date September 29, 2011) indicated that the deposit can be developed economically as an underground mine and recommended future studies to support a pre-feasibility level assessment of the project. The assessment included geological and mineral resource modeling, preliminary mine planning, a description of metallurgical test work and process design, a summary of environmental baseline work to date, and estimates for capital and operating costs. As well, it determined the economics to develop the project as an underground mine with process facility, and included an estimate of the direct cash costs to produce tantalum contained in a technical grade oxide product.
Property
The Blue River Project is located near the village of Blue River, which is approximately 250 km north of the city of Kamloops and approximately 90 km south of the town of Valemount. The Project comprises 105,373 hectares (1,000 km2) of mineral claims. Power transmission lines, rail, and paved and gravel roads are all adjacent to, or within the property boundaries. Transalta Corp.’s 18 MW Bone Creek run-of-river hydroelectricity project near the project was commissioned in June 2011.
NI 43-101 Disclosure
Ms. Jenna Hardy, M.Sc., P.Geo., Commerce Resources Corp., is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, read and approved the disclosure of the technical information in this news release.
About Commerce Resources Corp.
Commerce Resources Corp. is an exploration and development company with a particular focus on tantalum, niobium and rare metal deposits with potential for economic grades and large tonnages. The Company is specifically focused on the development of its Upper Fir Tantalum and Niobium Deposit in British Columbia and its Ashram Rare Earth Element Project in northern Quebec.
For more information please visit the corporate website at https://commerceresources.com or contact Investor Relations at 1.866.484.2700 or info@commerceresources.com.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
COMMERCE RESOURCES CORP.
“David Hodge”
David Hodge
President and Director
Tel: 604.484.2700
Email: dhodge@commerceresources.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking information which is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements in this press release include that our results will be sufficient to support the initiation of a pre-feasibility study; that we are in the process of building a very important long-term source of tantalum which could potentially supply 10% of the current world’s market for the long term; that we will be able to enhance even further the quality of the resource; and that prices for our potential products are conservatively estimated and may trend upwards. These forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management and its consultants at the date the information is disseminated. They are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include changing costs for mining and processing and their impact on the cut off value established; increased capital costs; changing forecasts of mine production rates; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumption based on limited test work and by comparison to what are considered analogous deposits that with further test work may not be comparable; the availability of labour, equipment and markets for the products produced; market pricing for the products produced; and despite the current expected viability of the project, conditions changing such that the minerals on our property cannot be economically mined, or that the required permits to build and operate the envisaged mine can be obtained. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.
Head office
Suite 1450 – 789 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC
Canada V6C 1H2
Email: info@commerceresources.com
Tel: 604 484 2700
Fax: 604 681 8240
North American Toll-Free: 866 484 2700