VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 06, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MGX Minerals Inc. (“MGX” or the “Company”) (CSE:XMG) (FKT:1MG) (OTC:MGXMF) is pleased to announce lithium extraction process optimization results as reported by engineering partner Purlucid Treatment Solutions (“Purlucid”). Purlucid has successfully upgraded petro lithium brine taken from the Company’s 132,000 ha Sturgeon Lake Petro Lithium Project located at Fox Creek, Alberta.
Implementation of core MGX lithium recovery technology continues to advance and progress on brine cleanup has been achieved using a newly developed process that concentrates lithium by more than 20-fold while removing contaminants in a low energy process. The next phase of development will validate these initially promising results.
A bulk sample taken from operating water batteries at Sturgeon Lake was used in bench top laboratory testing. Research and development has resulted in an upgrading of brine from 67mg/L Li to 1600mg/L Li in the filtration and pre-treatment phase of the lithium extraction process. In the latest optimization results, magnesium, boron and potassium were effectively removed in a low energy process with substantive mass of magnesium recovered in a form that may be saleable. Laboratory work was carried out by Purlucid technical staff under the direction of Purlucid CEO, Dr. Preston McEachern.
Results as reported in the Phase 2 Lithium Extraction Technology Development Report: Summary of laboratory lithium extraction optimization trials, dated February 21, 2017. Proprietary information has been redacted:
”In the first attempt [using the Purlucid process], a clean lithium chloride brine containing 1600 mg/L [Li] was created free from magnesium, boron and potassium. In the second trial, run two weeks later on stored brine the results were duplicated with a clean lithium chloride brine again containing 1600 mg/L [Li]. In both cases a small amount of calcium carried through to the brine but this can be addressed in future optimization.”
Dr. McEachern further noted: “The biggest challenge in lithium recovery is creating a clean brine. Once other ions are removed it is much easier to recover lithium as a pure carbonate or chloride.”
| Units | Feed | Pre Treatment | Concentrate | |
| Total Boron (B) | mg/L | 110 | 59 | 4 |
| Total Calcium (Ca) | mg/L | 23,000 | 11,000 | 370 |
| Total Lithium (Li) | mg/L | 67 | 41 | 1,600 |
| Total Magnesium (Mg) | mg/L | 2,800 | <10 | 13 |
| Total Potassium (K) | mg/L | 4,500 | 2,800 | 12 |
| Total Sodium (Na) | mg/L | 57,000 | 43,000 | 68 |
| Total Sulphur (S) | mg/L | 96 | 56 | 7 |
Sample chain of custody was managed by Roy Eccles (M.Sc., P. Geo.), a qualified person under National Instrument (N.I.) 43-101 Standards, and Dr. Preston McEachern, CEO of PurLucid. Samples were submitted to Maxxam Analytical Labs (“Maxxam”) for ICP-ES analysis. Maxxam is an independent, ISO-certified analytical laboratory.
The Company and Purlucid are now in the bulk sample and pilot plant design optimization phase of development in preparation for deployment. The goal of creating a clean concentrated lithium brine using filtration prior to the mineral extraction phase is to optimize pilot plant design by reducing size and cost of mineral extraction components. MGX has the right to acquire a 100% interest in PurLucid.
A technical report will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days.
Qualified Person
The technical portions of this press release were prepared by Dr. Preston McEachern, CEO of PurLucid Treatment Solutions Inc., and have been reviewed by Andris Kikauka (P. Geo.), Vice President of Exploration for MGX Minerals. Mr. Kikauka is a non-independent Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument (N.I.) 43-101 Standards.
About MGX Minerals
MGX Minerals (CSE:XMG) is a diversified Canadian mining company engaged in the development of large-scale industrial mineral portfolios in western Canada and the United States. The Company operates lithium, magnesium and silicon projects throughout British Columbia and Alberta as well as petro lithium exploration in Utah.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements including the completion of the rights offering (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "potentially" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various factors. The reader is referred to the Company's public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects which may be accessed through the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.