Commerce Resources Drills 392.8 m at 2.12% REO (21.6% NdPr) at the Ashram Deposit, Quebec, and Issues Options

Rhea-AI Summary

Commerce Resources Corp. (OTCQX:CMRZF) announced significant assay results from its 2022 drill program at the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit in Quebec. The program included twelve drill holes totaling 2,778.6 m, highlighting impressive intersections such as 392.8 m at 2.12% REO with 21.6% NdPr from surface. This positions the Ashram Deposit among the largest REE sources globally, with an extensive mineralized footprint. The results support the advancing Prefeasibility Study aimed at increasing resource confidence and expanding the production scenario. The company also issued 4.6 million stock options to various stakeholders at $0.185 per share.

Positive

• Drilled significant intersections, including 392.8 m at 2.12% REO (21.6% NdPr), reinforcing Ashram's status as a top global REE deposit.
• The completion of the drill program supports advancing the Prefeasibility Study aimed at increasing production and resource confidence.
• The Ashram Deposit has a large mineralized footprint, remaining open at depth, indicating potential for future exploration.
• Issuance of 4.6 million stock options aligns interests of stakeholders with company growth objectives.

Negative

• None.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 21, 2023 / Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXV:CCE), (FSE:D7H0), (OTCQX:CMRZF) (the "Company" or "Commerce") is pleased to announce assay results for the twelve (12) holes completed at the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit ("Ashram Deposit") as part of its 2022 drill program. The Ashram Deposit is one of the largest rare earth element ("REE") deposits in the world, and monazite is its primary rare earth mineral resulting in a strong NdPr oxide distribution (% of Nd+Pr oxide of the total REO).

Drill hole intersection highlights from the 2022 program include:

• 392.8 m at 2.12% rare earth oxide ("REO") (21.6% NdPr) (starting from surface) including,
  • 34.5 m at 2.50% REO (20.2% NdPr) (EC22-197)
• 379.1 m at 2.04% REO (21.4% NdPr) (starting from surface) (EC22-199)
• 406.4 m at 1.99% REO (21.3% NdPr) (starting from surface) including,
  • 36.0 m at 1.56% REO (24.0% NdPr) (EC22-198A)
• 278.2 m at 1.80% REO (22.2% NdPr), (starting from surface) including,
  • 13.8 m at 1.54% REO (26.9% NdPr) and 11.1 m at 1.40% REO (33.3% NdPr) (EC22-200)

The July through September 2022 program included twelve (12) drill holes totaling 2,778.6 m at the Ashram Deposit - EC22-194 to 200, and 204 to 207. The program was completed in support of the Ashram Project's advancing Prefeasibility Study ("PFS"), with the primary objective of resource/pit infill to improve resource confidence from the inferred/indicated categories to the indicated/measured categories within the planned open-pit shell (focus of six holes - EC22-196, 197, 198, 198A, 199, and 200).

These resource/pit infill holes returned grades of REO and NdPr distributions consistent with previous drilling, starting from surface and remaining mineralized over their entire length (i.e., ended in mineralization a short distance past the base of the pit shell). Highlights include 392.8 m at 2.12% REO (21.6% NdPr) (EC22‑197), 379.1 m at 2.04% REO (21.4% NdPr) (EC22-199), and 406.4 m at 1.99% REO (21.3% NdPr) (EC22‑198A). Additionally, several wide intervals with ≥24% NdPr distribution were returned including 36.0 m at 1.56% REO (24.0% NdPr) (EC22-198A), 32.6 m at 1.34% REO (25.8% NdPr) (EC22-196), as well as 13.8 m at 1.54% REO (26.9% NdPr) and 11.1 m at 1.40% REO (33.3% NdPr) (EC22-200) (Figure 1).

The 2022 drill hole plan was developed to target a revised pit shell which could accommodate a production scenario approximately 50% larger than that which was considered in the Project's 2012 Preliminary Economic Assessment. This larger pit shell is anticipated to underpin an initial mineral reserve estimate upon completion of the Prefeasibility Study for the Project. All six (6) infill drill holes were collared along the perimeter of the deposit pit shell design and targeted specific regions of the pit at depth.

Secondary objectives included improving the confidence of the geological model at the southern end of the deposit where mineralization remains open (EC22-194, 195, 204, 205, 206, and 207). These holes were successful at confirming several primary geological contacts as well as returning several moderate to well-mineralized intervals including 180.1 m at 1.59% REO (21.5% NdPr) (EC22-207) and 25.5 m at 1.82% REO (20.8% NdPr) (EC22-194). As announced September 8^th, 2022, in this area, drill hole EC22-195 extended the Ashram Deposit southerly by approximately 100 m with a wide intersection of lower-grade A-Zone (79.4 m at 1.47% REO (22.6% NdPr)). Geochemical analysis of logged A-Zone in drill hole 205 have now extended mineralization an additional ~90 m southerly with intersections of relatively small intervals of lower-grade A-Zone including 6.9 m at 1.01% REO (23.0% NdPr) (EC22-205). These REO grades and intersections are lower than that of the main deposit and, coupled with adjacent lithologies, indicate the southerly contact of the Ashram Deposit is proximal.

The Ashram Deposit ranks as one of the largest REE (and fluorspar) deposits globally, consisting of a monazite dominated (i.e., strong NdPr), single mineralized body outcropping at surface, and through the 2022 have drill delineated footprint of over 700 m along strike, 300 m across, and 600 m deep, and remains open at depth.

Core sample assay results for all twelve (12) drill holes completed in 2022 at the Ashram Deposit are presented in Table 1, and drill hole highlights and locations presented in Figure 1.

Table 1: Core assay result summary for drill holes completed at the Ashram Deposit in 2022

Figure 1: 2022 drill assay highlights - Ashram Deposit

Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QAQC)
A quality assurance / quality control protocol following industry best practices was incorporated into the program and included systematic insertion of quartz blanks and certified reference materials into sample batches, as well as collection of quarter-core duplicates, at a rate of approximately 5%. Drill holes were sampled from top to bottom and shipped to Activation Laboratories in Ancaster, ON, for analysis.

Lab analysis included major oxides and multi-element, including the rare earth elements, by ICP-OES/MS following a lithium borate fusion (package 8-REE) and fluorine by Fusion Specific Ion Electrode-ISE (Code 4F-F). Standard drill core sample preparation was completed and comprised of crushing to 80% passing 10 mesh, followed by a 250 g riffle split and pulverizing to 95% passing 105 µ (package RX1).

Option Issuance
The Company also announces that it has granted an aggregate of 4,600,000 stock options (each, an "Option") to certain directors, officers, employees, and consultants of the Company for the purchase of up to 4,600,000 common shares of the Company pursuant to its Stock Option Plan. Each Option is exercisable for a period of two (2) years at a price of $0.185 per common share. Of these Options, 400,000 are being granted to persons providing investor relations services to the Company and, pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, must vest over 12 months from the issuance date, with 25% vesting in each three (3) month period after the grant of the Options.

About the Ashram Deposit
The Ashram Deposit ranks as one of the largest REE (and fluorspar) deposits globally, consisting of a monazite dominated (i.e., strong NdPr), single mineralized body outcropping at surface, and has a drill delineated footprint of over 700 m along strike, 300 m across, and 600 m deep, and remains open at depth. The deposit hosts a measured resource of 1.6 million tonnes (Mt) at 1.77% rare earth oxide (REO) and 3.8% F, an indicated resource of 27.7 Mt at 1.90% REO and 2.9% F, and an inferred resource of 219.8 Mt at 1.88% REO and 2.2% F, at a cut-off grade of 1.25% REO (Effective Date July 5^th, 2012). Note, mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resources will be converted into Mineral Reserves.

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 in 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 statements, which includes any information about activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward-looking 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 we may not be able to fully finance any additional exploration on the Ashram Project; that even if we are able raise capital, costs for exploration activities may increase such that we may not have sufficient funds to pay for such exploration or processing activities; the timing and content of any future work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumptions based on limited test work and by comparison to what are considered analogous deposits that, with further test work, may not be comparable; testing of our process may not prove successful and even if such tests are successful, the economic and other outcomes may not be as expected; the availability of labour and equipment to undertake future exploration work and testing activities; the required permits to build and operate the envisaged open-pit shell may not be obtained in a timely or cost-effective manner, or at all; and despite the current expected viability of the Ashram Project, conditions changing such that even if metals or minerals are discovered on the Ashram Project, the project may not be commercially viable; The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made 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 are the latest drill results from Commerce Resources at the Ashram Deposit?

In their 2022 drill program, Commerce Resources reported significant intersections including 392.8 m at 2.12% REO and 21.6% NdPr.

How does the Ashram Deposit rank among REE deposits globally?

The Ashram Deposit is recognized as one of the largest rare earth element deposits in the world.

What is the purpose of Commerce Resources' Prefeasibility Study?

The Prefeasibility Study aims to improve resource confidence and support an expanded production scenario for the Ashram Deposit.

How many stock options did Commerce Resources issue and at what price?

Commerce Resources issued 4.6 million stock options for the purchase of common shares at $0.185 each.

What are the dimensions of the Ashram Deposit's mineralized footprint?

The Ashram Deposit features a mineralized footprint of over 700 m along strike, 300 m across, and 600 m deep.