Commerce Resources Corp. Initiates Mineral Processing Program to Determine Final Prefeasibility Flowsheet Design Criteria

Rhea-AI Summary

Commerce Resources Corp. (OTCWX:CMRZF) has launched a mineral processing program to finalize the Prefeasibility Study (PFS) design criteria for the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit. This initiative, executed with Qualified Persons, aims to validate the mineral processing components necessary for the PFS flowsheet. The program will incorporate advanced flotation techniques and include filtration testing to optimize material handling. The Ashram project has significant potential with high-grade mineral concentrates, aiming to position the company as a low-cost rare earth producer.

Positive

• Initiation of a mineral processing program to validate PFS design criteria.
• Utilization of advancements from academic collaborations to improve flotation circuit.
• High-grade rare earth concentrates (>40% REO) comparable to global producers.
• Potential to become one of the lowest cost rare earth producers in the market.

Negative

• None.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 28, 2021 / Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXV:CCE)(FSE:D7H0)(OTCWX:CMRZF) (the "Company" or "Commerce") is pleased to announce that it has initiated a mineral processing program to determine the final Prefeasibility Study (PFS) design criteria of the front-end flowsheet for the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit. The program has been developed in coordination with the Qualified Persons for the Project's PFS flowsheet design and will be carried out at Hazen Research, where the Company's conventional base flowsheet has been developed.

The program is designed to confirm the mineral processing components in order to establish the front-end flowsheet design for the PFS. The design of the downstream hydrometallurgical flowsheet for the PFS is currently being confirmed as part of the ongoing program to produce mixed rare earth carbonate concentrate to satisfy several requests by global processors (see news release dated September 9, 2021). Specifically, the mineral processing program will include,

• Incorporation of the advancements to the flotation circuit, made by academic and government institutions, into the Company's base flowsheet developed at Hazen Research.
• Final flotation and magnetic separation development testwork to confirm the optimal reagent suite and conditions of the front-end flowsheet.
• Phase II comminution variability testing on nine (9) domain composites of drill core collected throughout the deposit.
• Front-end flowsheet variability testing on early/mid mine-life deposit material using domain composites.
• Filtration testing on flotation concentrate and tailings to determine material handling and tailings management facility design.

Company President, Chris Grove comments, "The Company has significantly advanced the flowsheet's development through focused work in past programs at Hazen Research as well through the numerous optimizations and discoveries from our institutional collaborations, which continue today. As we advance through the later stages of the PFS for Ashram, it is now time to confirm the flowsheet's PFS design criteria which is the next step in advancing the study to completion. Flowsheet development remains an ongoing process through to Feasibility and is commonly refined during operation, and as such, the Company will continue to advance the test work and unlock the considerable potential for optimization that remains in which Hazen and our institutional metallurgical partners have outlined."

Flotation and Wet High Intensity Magnetic Separation (WHIMS)
Approximately 5 tonnes of Ashram Deposit bulk sample material, at a grade of 2.0% rare earth oxide (REO), have been crushed and ground to use as feed for the test program. The initial focus of the program will be to incorporate into the base flowsheet the discoveries and advancements made by the academic and government institutional groups, namely CanmetMINING (a branch of Natural Resources Canada - NRCan) and Université Laval, whose test programs have been supported by various provincial and federal grant programs. The successes of these programs include significant reductions in reagent quantities, alternative reagent suites, and improved recoveries in cleaner-stage flotation (see news releases dated May 13, 2020, and December 17, 2019, respectively). Once the flotation component of the flowsheet has been confirmed and the optimal flotation reagent scheme and conditions have been determined, a scale-up will be completed, which may include additional piloting.

Following confirmation of the flotation circuit design, the magnetic separation circuit will be further advanced and optimized. The initial work on the magnetic separation stage (WHIMS) proved extremely successful with a strong upgrading factor at very high stage recoveries (high 80s to mid-high 90s) resulting in the high-grade monazite concentrates (>40% rare earth oxide) comparable to global producers. As such, significant room remains for additional improvement and the test work planned herein for the magnetic separation stage will target further optimization of this circuit including the evaluation of different types of magnetic separator equipment.

Comminution and Variability
The Phase II comminution test work is currently being carried out by SGS Canada on nine (9) rock unit domain composites and will include Bond low energy impact testing (CWi), JK drop-weight testing (DWT), SAG mill comminution testing (SMC), Bond rod mill grindability testing (RWi), Bond ball mill grindability testing (BWi), and Bond abrasion testing (Ai). The Phase II comminution test work will complement the Phase I work completed in 2012 on near-surface drill core intersections (<71 m depth) located in the central areas of the deposit. Comminution data is a critical component of a PFS and is required to determine appropriate equipment sizing, maintenance cycles, and energy requirements at the mill.

As part of the overall program, variability testing will be completed to expand upon previous work, including applying the base case flotation flowsheet to the nine (9) domain composites currently being used for the comminution testwork. The information will complement the comminution data and further constrain equipment sizing and other critical design criteria for the process plant. A specific focus will be placed on material which is expected to comprise the initial years of mine-life.

Variability testing is a critical component of flowsheet development and ensures that the process plant can handle the natural variability of the deposit mineralization. Some of this work has already been completed throughout the test programs over the past few years and include testwork on drill core at different locations within the deposit, as well as bulk sample material from surface outcrop.

Filtration
As part of the overall program, filtration testing will be completed on flotation concentrate and tailings to determine material handling and tailings management facility design. Tests will include static settling, vacuum, and pressure filtration and complement the preliminary filtration testing completed as part of the 2015 flotation pilot plant operation. The data collected will be used to determine the appropriate filtration methods and equipment sizing for operation at the process plant, as well as determine the optimal handling, transport, and storage methods for the concentrate and tailings.

The current flowsheet for the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit, developed by Hazen Research, uses conventional unit processes to produce a high-grade rare earth mineral (monazite) concentrate that is comparable to active global hard-rock REE producers. Specifically, the Ashram flowsheet utilizes a flotation - HCl leach - magnetic separation process approach to achieve high-grade (>40% REO) monazite concentrates at high recovery, similar in nature to those which are commonly processed globally today.

NI 43-101 Disclosure
Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P.Geo., Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., a Permit holder with the Ordre des Géologues du Québec and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

About Commerce Resources Corp.
Commerce Resources Corp. is a junior mineral resource company focused on the development of the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit located in Quebec, Canada. The Company is positioning to be one of the lowest cost rare earth producers globally, with a specific focus on being a long-term supplier of mixed rare earth carbonate and/or NdPr oxide to the global market. The Ashram Deposit is characterized by simple rare earth (monazite, bastnaesite, xenotime) and gangue (carbonates) mineralogy, a large tonnage resource at favourable grade, and has demonstrated the production of high-grade (>45% REO) mineral concentrates at high recovery (>70%) in line with active global producers. In addition to being one of the largest rare earth deposits globally, Ashram is also one of the largest fluorspar deposits globally and has the potential to be a long-term supplier to the met-spar and acid-spar markets.

For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.commerceresources.com or email info@commerceresources.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

COMMERCE RESOURCES CORP.

"Chris Grove"
Chris Grove
President and Director
Tel: 604.484.2700
Email: cgrove@commerceresources.com
Web: http://www.commerceresources.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in 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, but are not limited to, statements regarding the progress of the Company's metallurgical program and any future methods employed therein, the Company's ability to reduce downstream processing costs and risk, the Company's ability to repeat and produce high-grade monazite concentrates, the Company's ability to become one of the lowest cost rare earth producers globally as well as its potential ability to be a long-term supplier to the met-spar and acid-spar markets. These forward-looking statements 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 that the methods proposed do not work as well as expected, the leach residue may not be usable, that the Company may experience difficulties producing concentrate or achieving an upgrade to the concentrate; changing costs for mining and processing; increased capital costs; the timing and content of the 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; that testing of the Company's process may not prove successful and even if tests are successful, the economic and other outcomes may not be as expected; the availability of labour, equipment and markets 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 novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, also poses new risks that are currently indescribable and immeasurable. 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.

SOURCE: Commerce Resources Corp.

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FAQ

What is the significance of the new mineral processing program by Commerce Resources Corp.?

The program is crucial for finalizing the Prefeasibility Study design criteria for the Ashram Deposit, enhancing its potential as a low-cost rare earth producer.

How does the Ashram Deposit compare to other rare earth producers?

The Ashram Deposit offers high-grade mineral concentrates (>40% REO) which are comparable to those produced by active global competitors.

What advancements are being incorporated into the flowsheet at Ashram?

The flowsheet will incorporate advancements in flotation from collaborations with institutions like CanmetMINING and Université Laval, aimed at improving recovery and reducing reagent use.

When was the press release regarding the mineral processing program published?

The press release was published on September 28, 2021.

What is the stock symbol for Commerce Resources Corp.?

The stock symbol for Commerce Resources Corp. is CMRZF on the OTC markets.