CALGARY, Alberta, April 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Voyageur Minerals Ltd. (TSXV:VM) (the “Company”) advises that its JV partner Anson Resources Ltd (“Anson”) announced that they have achieved positive results on the latest metallurgical test work undertaken by Outotec, Finland.
Highlights:
- Initial metallurgical test work demonstrated that the high levels of magnesium concentration in brines typical to the Voyageur/Anson ULI project (the “Project”) can be reduced to a minimum level
- Magnesium concentrations of 34,000ppm were successfully reduced to battery grade levels (< 10ppm)
- Only a very small loss of 1% Li (less than 3%) occurred during the process
- Test work carried out at 40-500C. Brines in the Project area are at 600C. This indicates that the Project may not require additional energy costs associated with heating the brine before processing
Anson announced encouraging results obtained in initial metallurgical test work carried out by Outotec, Finland, on synthetically prepared brine solutions. Further confirmatory test work will be carried out over the coming weeks.
Mr. Bruce Richardson, Managing Director of Anson, commented, “The efficient removal of magnesium from the synthetic brine solution through the application of new technologies is very encouraging and is a key step in advancing the ULI Project.
Table 1: Composition of the synthetic lithium brine solution used in test work
| Element | Concentration (ppm) |
| Li | 1,700 |
| B | 20,000 |
| Br | 2,500 |
| I | 450 |
| Mg | 34,000 |
| Ca | 3,000 |
| K | 33,000 |
| Na | 43,000 |
| Co3 | 200 |
| SO4 | 500 |
| PO4 | 1.5 |
The test work that was performed on synthetically prepared brine has a chemical composition similar to that of the brine extracted from the Roberts Brine Well drill hole located 800m south of the ULI Project area. The drill hole intersected Clastic Zone #31 which contains the lithium rich brines.
A low Mg:Li ratio is important for the processing of lithium brines where evaporation ponds are used, with acceptable ratios up to 6. With the ULI Project expected to have a Mg:Li ratio of 20, Anson has sought to identify a process to enable the extraction of the magnesium. The result of the test work conducted has been that the magnesium has been removed to a battery grade level (<10ppm). The magnesium reduction was achieved with the lithium loss of less than 3%.
In addition, by using a processing plant and avoiding the use of evaporation ponds, processing is reduced to hours compared to multiple months using traditional evaporation and processing techniques.
About Voyageur Minerals
Voyageur is a Calgary based company which owns 100% interest in three Barium Sulfate ("Barite") deposits including two properties which initial work suggests are suitable in grade for the industrial barite market place, and interests in a high grade lithium brine project in Utah, USA. Voyageur's business plan is to develop its barite deposit at Frances Creek, BC, Canada, for potential near term cash flow, while it continues exploration for critical and strategic minerals.
Qualified Person Statement
The Company’s qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, Mr. Randy Henkle, has reviewed this news release and approved it.
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Qualifying Transaction, including statements regarding the acquisition of future assets, the discovery and commercialization of commercial quantities of industrial minerals, the successful commercialization of the Company’s assets, expected operational activities, other statements that are not historical facts. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things: the risk that the assets do not provide commercial quantities or grades of marketable minerals, that even if they do contain commercial quantities of marketable minerals that the Company will not be able to economically produce such discoveries, the existence of commercial grades of commercial minerals, timing of obtaining required approvals, state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, investor interest in the business and future prospects of the Company.
The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities law. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made, by third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.