VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 12/03/14 -- West Melville Metals Inc. (TSX VENTURE: WMM) ("West Melville" or the "Company") today announced that the first phase of the metallurgical test work being conducted on the Isortoq Project by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Perth, Australia has been successfully completed.
Summary Highlights
-- Positive metallurgical test results with scope for further improvements
with optimization.
-- A simple beneficiation process yields a clean, high grade concentrate
(50.2% Fe; 20.9% TiO2 and 0.34% V2O5).
-- Best leaching results achieved in the hydrochloric acid system, with
separation of iron and vanadium from titanium (titanium remains in the
leach residue)
-- Leach efficiency of greater than 95% for vanadium and greater than 80%
for iron, with greater than 95% of extraction occurring within 30
minutes.
-- These results represent the successful completion of the first stage in
the development of a hydro-metallurgical process flow sheet aimed at
commercially extracting iron, titanium and vanadium from the Isortoq
deposit.
"We are encouraged by the results of this first phase of metallurgical test work," stated Dr. Rory Moore, CEO of West Melville Metals. "A simple beneficiation flow sheet has been demonstrated to produce a clean, high grade concentrate and the initial leach tests have shown that the Isortoq concentrate can be efficiently leached in relatively dilute hydrochloric acid. The CSIRO is now preparing a proposal for Phase 2 of the test work, which will include optimization of the leaching process, together with an evaluation of various methods for recovering high purity marketable titanium, vanadium and iron from the Phase #1 products."
Procedure
An initial 25 kilogram representative sample of the mineralised body was crushed and milled to 120 microns and then subjected to a low intensity magnetic separation process with the resultant concentrate assayed for key chemical elements. Five separate leach tests were then completed using three different acid systems in order to establish the leaching characteristics of the concentrate. The leach tests were each undertaken for a period of 10 hours at a temperature of 90 degrees centigrade at atmospheric pressure, with kinetic sampling of both leach liquor and residual solids over the duration of the test. Two tests were conducted using different concentrations of hydrochloric acid (28% and 21%), two with sulphuric acid (42% and 29.7% strength) and one test using nitric acid at 60% strength.
Results
The results of the Phase 1 test work are positive with scope for further improvements with optimization. The simple beneficiation process yielded a mass pull of 50.8% to the magnetic fraction to create a clean concentrate that assayed 50.2% Fe; 20.9% TiO2 and 0.34% V2O5, which is notably higher than the grade achieved in previous beneficiation test work. With respect to the leach tests, some particularly encouraging results came from the hydrochloric acid system with selective deportment of vanadium and most of the iron into the leach liquor and titanium remaining in the solid residue. Extraction efficiency was greater than 95% for vanadium and greater than 80% for iron in the hydrochloric acid systems, with greater than 95% of the leach extraction occurring within the first 30 minutes of the process. The separation of iron and vanadium from titanium in the initial leach is advantageous as it facilitates efficient extraction of titanium in a second leach or alternative extraction process. Results for the sulphuric acid system were also good with high extraction efficiencies for vanadium and iron; however, the sulphuric acid system did not provide as good of a separation of the titanium from the vanadium and iron compared to hydrochloric acid. The leach extractions in the nitric acid system were not as efficient as those achieved in the other two acid systems.
Isortoq Project
The Isortoq Project is a large iron-titanium-vanadium prospect located in southern Greenland. In 2013, the Company announced an initial National Instrument (NI) 43-101 inferred resource estimate for the Project of 70.3 million tonnes grading 38.1% FeO (29.6% Fe), 10.9% titanium oxide (TiO2) and 0.144% vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) applying a 15% iron cutoff. It is significant to note that this initial resource represents drilling on less than one kilometre of the Isortoq body while evidence from previous drilling and the 2012 ground magnetic survey has demonstrated a strike length exceeding 16.3 kilometres with the mineralized body being open to the south. The property is favourably located on a deep, ice-free ocean inlet on the temperate southern coast of Greenland within 60 km of Narsaq and 100 kilometres from Narsarsuaq International Airport. Bench scale beneficiation tests produced average concentrate grades of 50.2% Fe (71.8% Fe2O3); 20.9% TiO2 and 0.34% V2O5 with acceptably low levels of penalty elements S, P, Si, Al. These are positive indicators that support the future economic potential of the project.
About CSIRO
The CSIRO is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world with a strong capability and reputation for hydrometallurgical research and process development.
Fraser Bay Project
In response to the combination of challenging market conditions together with the collapse of iron ore prices over the past year, the decision has been taken to terminate the option on the Fraser Bay Iron Ore Project in Nunavut.
Stock Options
In another announcement, the Board of Directors has approved the granting of 2,675,000 incentive stock options to directors, officers, employees and consultants at a price of CAD$0.05 per common share expiring on December 3, 2019. The options have been issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Company's stock option plan.
About West Melville Metals Inc.
West Melville is a specialty metals exploration company working to advance the Isortoq iron-titanium-vanadium project in Greenland. The Company has an experienced management team with a track record of discovery success and a Board of Directors with expertise covering the essential fields of geology, engineering and finance. The Isortoq Project offers a combination of low geological risk with significant upside potential in the high value specialty metal sector.
QA/QC
Disclosure of a scientific or technical nature contained in this release has been reviewed and approved by John Robins, P.Geo (Chairman) who is the Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Rory O. Moore, Ph.D., President and CEO, West Melville Metals Inc.
For further information about or this news release, please visit our website at www.westmelville.com.
West Melville Metals Inc. is a member of the Aurora Mineral Resource Group of companies. For more information please visit www.auroraresource.com.
Neither the 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.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain disclosures in this release, in particular regarding the economic potential of the Isortoq Project and the Company's interest therein, constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to West Melville's operations as a mineral exploration company that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including risks as to the completion of the plans and projects. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Other than as required by applicable securities legislation, West Melville expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Contacts:
West Melville Metals Inc.
Investor Relations
604.646.4527 or Toll Free: 1.888.331.2269
604.646.4526 (FAX)
info@westmelville.com
www.westmelville.com
