Defense Metals Corp. Drills 3.79% Total Rare Earth Oxide Over 150 Metres; Including 4.77% Over 60 Metres at Wicheeda - Hole WI21-49 Yields Highest Grade Single Assay To Date Of 1.41% Neodymium-Praseodymium Oxide At 10% Total Rare Earth Oxide

Rhea-AI Summary

Defense Metals Corp. announced positive results from two diamond drill holes totaling 189 metres at its Wicheeda Rare Earth Element (REE) deposit. Drill hole WI21-49 showed significant results of 3.79% TREO over 150 metres, including 4.77% TREO over 60 metres. This finding indicates a newly discovered zone of high-grade REE mineralization beneath current resource levels. Another drill hole, WI21-50, averaged 1.60% TREO over 126.7 metres. The company continues to receive assay results from its 2021 drilling campaign, which may further enhance resource estimates.

Positive

• Drill hole WI21-49 returned 3.79% TREO over 150 metres, indicating high-grade REE mineralization.
• Drill hole WI21-50 yielded an average of 1.60% TREO over 126.7 metres, showing strong mineralization.
• Discovery of a new high-grade REE zone expands resource potential significantly.

Negative

• None.

VANCOUVER, BC, March 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Defense Metals Corp. ("Defense Metals" or the "Company") (TSXV: DEFN) (OTCQB: DFMTF) (FSE: 35D) is pleased to announce results for an additional two diamond drill holes totalling 189 metres from the Company's 29 hole, 5,349 metre diamond drill program completed during fall 2021. Drill holes WI21-45 through WI21-48 were collared from the same site and within the northern area of the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element (REE) deposit.

Drill hole WI21-49 returned 3.79% TREO (total rare earth oxide) over 150 metres; including 4.77% TREO over 60 metres¹. The drill hole was designed to further delineate at depth drill holes WI21-33 and WI21-40 that in conjunction with WI21-49 represent the three highest grade x width intercepts of the 2021 drilling to date. Together these three drill holes define a newly discovered zone of high-grade REE mineralization that occurs below both the current mineral resource and resource pit shells.

The Company continues to receive additional assay results from the 2021 Wicheeda REE Deposit resource expansion and delineation campaign that will be released in the coming weeks.

Luisa Moreno, President, and Director of Defense Metals stated: "We are excited with the consistently high-grade results to date. Wicheeda is emerging as a world class deposit, and we are fortunate to be part of the development of this project." She added: "Drilling within the northern Wicheeda Deposit has resulted in the discovery of an emerging zone of high grade REE mineralization at depth. This area of the deposit was first tested by WI19-32, the last drill hole of our 2019 drill campaign. Drilling during 2021 has now shown high grade REE mineralization extends a further 100 metres vertically below the bottom of WI19-32, and beyond the current mineral resource extents."

Delineation drill holes WI21-49 (-70^o dip / 190^o azimuth) expanded and further delineated broad intervals of REE mineralized dolomite-carbonatite intersected in drill holes WI21-33 and WI21-40, yielding 3.79% TREO over 150 metres; including 4.77% TREO over 60 metres¹ that extends 80 metres beyond the current mineral resource and 40 metres beyond the constraining pit shell. This higher-grade interval includes 12 metres averaging 8.06% TREO¹ from 84 to 96 metres downhole, which contained the highest single (3 metre) combined neodymium-praseodymium (Nd-Pr) oxide assay value to date on the Wicheeda Project of 1.41% Nd-Pr Oxide at 10% TREO (Table 1 and Figure 1).

Drill holes WI21-50 (-50^o dip / 215^o azimuth) and WI21-48 (-60^o dip / 280^o azimuth) established the northwest margin of the Wicheeda Deposit in the near surface intercepting a broad mixed syenite and xenolithic carbonatite interval above resource cut-off grade averaging 1.60% TREO over 127metres; including a higher-grade interval of 3.34% TREO over 35 metres¹. 2.50% TREO over 176 metres; including 6.14% TREO over 20 metres¹ from surface (Figure 2).

Table 1. Wicheeda REE Deposit 2021 Diamond Drill Intercepts

Hole ID	From (m)	To (m)	Interval (m)	TREO2 (%)	Ce2O3 (%)	La2O3 (%)	Nd2O3 (%)	Pr2O3 (%)	Sm2O3 (ppm)	Gd2O3 (ppm)	Eu2O3 (ppm)	Dy2O3 (ppm)	Tb4O7 (ppm)	Ho2O3 (ppm)
WI21-49 (190/-70)	33	183	150	3.79	1.80	1.36	0.41	0.14	430	197	86	45	16	5
including	82	142	60	4.77	2.28	1.71	0.51	0.18	520	228	103	54	18	5
WI21-50 (215/-50)	23	149.7	126.7	1.60	0.76	0.55	0.18	0.06	205	110	47	34	10	4
including	50.35	85.65	35.3	3.34	1.59	1.23	0.33	0.12	341	166	72	40	13	4
WI21-33 (350/-80)	5.00	201.00	196	3.17	1.52	1.07	0.37	0.13	382	181	81	42	14	4
including	5.00	55.25	50.25	3.63	1.74	1.26	0.41	0.14	396	181	84	52	16	6
including	146.00	201.00	55.00	4.29	2.07	1.48	0.47	0.17	489	232	112	52	18	5
WI21-34 (040/-55)	3.00	117.00	114.00	2.97	1.46	1.02	0.33	0.11	323	134	58	23	9	2
including	3.00	70.00	67.00	3.84	1.89	1.34	0.41	0.15	379	160	69	29	11	3
WI21-35 (080/-55)	1.20	121.00	119.80	3.87	1.87	1.34	0.43	0.15	434	200	88	52	17	6
WI21-36 (108/-80)	1.10	174.00	172.90	2.34	1.14	0.78	0.27	0.09	293	134	59	35	11	4
including	1.10	35.65	34.55	3.45	1.66	1.21	0.38	0.13	374	170	72	37	13	4
including	136.00	174.00	38.00	3.02	1.46	1.05	0.33	0.12	337	157	68	40	13	4
WI21-37 (108/-45)	2.00	139.85	137.85	3.19	1.56	1.10	0.35	0.12	351	144	66	30	11	3
including	2.00	57.00	55.00	4.00	1.96	1.38	0.42	0.15	427	164	76	35	12	3
WI21-38 (220/-70)	1.35	82.00	80.65	3.08	1.50	1.07	0.33	0.12	346	154	70	40	13	4
including	1.35	24.75	23.4	6.01	2.91	2.14	0.62	0.23	607	246	114	60	20	6
WI21-39 (285/-60)	4	114	110	2.62	1.28	0.87	0.30	0.10	320	158	73	42	13	5
and	114	224.8	110.8	0.72	0.35	0.21	0.10	0.03	129	75	31	30	8	4
WI21-40 (345/-65)	2.75	165	162.25	3.23	1.57	1.11	0.36	0.13	370	158	70	39	13	4
including	2.75	47.5	44.75	4.21	2.05	1.46	0.46	0.16	452	197	92	61	18	7
including	96	167	71	3.67	1.79	1.26	0.41	0.14	411	173	75	35	13	3
WI21-43 (045/-85)	10.75	124.1	113.35	0.55	0.26	0.17	0.07	0.02	121	84	33	35	9	5
WI21-44 (240/-60)	17.5	125.6	108.1	1.72	0.83	0.57	0.20	0.07	266	141	69	47	14	6
including	35	89	54	2.59	1.24	0.87	0.29	0.10	384	205	102	70	20	9
WI21-45 (240/-75)	47.8	106.9	59.1	1.46	0.67	0.51	0.17	0.06	230	134	83	43	13	6
including	47.8	74	26.2	2.48	1.13	0.88	0.29	0.10	384	225	151	67	21	8
WI21-46 (190/-50)	18.9	135.3	116.4	1.66	0.80	0.56	0.20	0.06	229	108	47	28	9	3
including	48	90	42	2.27	1.09	0.79	0.25	0.09	271	112	48	22	8	2
including	117.55	135.3	17.75	2.32	1.12	0.74	0.30	0.09	350	170	75	42	14	5
WI21-47 (280/-60)	17	98.36	81.36	0.58	0.28	0.18	0.08	0.02	108	67	30	29	7	4
WI21-48 (145/-45)	12	188	176	2.50	1.22	0.84	0.29	0.10	306	130	57	27	10	3
including	12	32	20	6.15	2.98	2.11	0.69	0.24	669	311	142	80	25	9

About the Wicheeda REE Property

The 100% owned 2,008-hectare Wicheeda REE Property, located approximately 80 km northeast of the city of Prince George, British Columbia, is readily accessible by all-weather gravel roads and is near infrastructure, including power transmission lines, the CN railway, and major highways.

The Wicheeda REE Project yielded a robust 2021 PEA that demonstrated an after-tax net present value (NPV@8%) of $517 million, and 18% IRR³. A unique advantage of the Wicheeda REE Project is the production of a saleable high-grade flotation-concentrate. The PEA contemplates a 1.8 Mtpa (million tonnes per year) mill throughput open pit mining operation with 1.75:1 (waste:mill feed) strip ratio over a 19 year mine (project) life producing and average of 25,423 tonnes REO annually. A Phase 1 initial pit strip ratio of 0.63:1 (waste:mill feed) would yield rapid access to higher grade surface mineralization in year 1 and payback of $440 million initial capital within 5 years.

Methodology and QA/QC

The analytical work reported on herein was performed by ALS Canada Ltd. (ALS) at Langley (sample preparation) and Vancouver (ICP-MS fusion), B.C. ALS is an ISO-IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015 accredited geoanalytical laboratory and is independent of the Defense Metals and the QP. Drill core samples were subject to crushing at a minimum of 70% passing 2 mm, followed by pulverizing of a 250-gram split to 85% passing 75 microns. A 0.1-gram sample pulp was then subject to multi-element ICP-MS analysis via lithium-borate fusion to determine individual REE content (ME-MS81h). Defense Metals follows industry standard procedures for the work carried out on the Wicheeda Project, with a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program. Blank, duplicate, and standard samples were inserted into the sample sequence sent to the laboratory for analysis. Defense Metals detected no significant QA/QC issues during review of the data.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release as it relates to the Wicheeda REE Project has been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (BC) Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, AB, a director of Defense Metals and a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101. Mr. Raffle verified the data disclosed which includes a review of the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information and opinions contained therein.  

About Defense Metals Corp.

Defense Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral deposits containing metals and elements commonly used in the electric power market, defense industry, national security sector and in the production of green energy technologies, such as, rare earths magnets used in wind turbines and in permanent magnet motors for electric vehicles. Defense Metals owns 100% of the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Property located near Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. Defense Metals Corp. trades in Canada under the symbol "DEFN" on the TSX Venture Exchange, in the United States, under "DFMTF" on the OTCQB and in Germany on the Frankfurt Exchange under "35D".

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 news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release contains "forward–looking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements relating to advancing the Wicheeda REE Project, drill results including anticipated timeline of such results/assays, the Company's plans for its Wicheeda REE Project, expanded resource and scale of expanded resource, expected results and outcomes, the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its project and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of rare earth elements, the anticipated costs and expenditures, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration results, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and cost estimates, the potential for unexpected costs and expenses and those other risks filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather and climate conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations),  risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters), risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions, decrease in the price of rare earth elements, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to, the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains, loss of key employees, consultants, or directors, increase in costs, delayed drilling results, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forward–looking statements or forward–looking information, except as required by law.

___________________________________________________

1	The true width of REE mineralization is estimated to be 70-100% of the drilled interval.
2	TREO % sum of CeO2, La2O3, Nd2O3, Pr6O11, Sm2O3, Eu2O3, Gd2O3, Tb4O7, Dy2O3 and Ho2O3.
3	Independent Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project, British Columbia, Canada, dated January 6, 2022, with an effective date of November 7, 2021, and prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. is filed under Defense Metals Corp.'s Issuer Profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

 

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SOURCE Defense Metals Corp.

FAQ

What were the results of the recent drill holes at the Wicheeda REE deposit by Defense Metals?

Drill hole WI21-49 returned 3.79% TREO over 150 metres and drill hole WI21-50 yielded 1.60% TREO over 126.7 metres.

What is TREO and why is it important for Defense Metals?

TREO stands for total rare earth oxide, which is critical for evaluating the quality and quantity of rare earth elements in mining projects.

How do the latest drilling results impact the resource estimates for Defense Metals?

The results indicate a newly discovered zone of high-grade REE mineralization, potentially enhancing the resource estimates significantly.

When will Defense Metals release more assay results for the Wicheeda project?

Defense Metals is expected to release additional assay results from the drilling campaign in the coming weeks.

What is the significance of the high-grade REE mineralization at the Wicheeda deposit?

High-grade REE mineralization at the Wicheeda deposit enhances its attractiveness as a world-class deposit, crucial for various technologies.