MGXMF - MGX Minerals Announces Driftwood Creek Magnesium Specification Parameters for Mg Solid Rocket Fuel for Mg/CO2 Type Rockets
(TheNewswire)
VANCOUVER – TheNewswire - November 8, 2021 - MGX Minerals Inc. (“MGX” or the “Company”)(CSE:XMG) (CNSX:XMG.CN) (FKT:1MG) (OTC:MGXMF) announces preliminary magnesium fuelspecification parameters for Mg/CO2 type rockets, using powderedmagnesium and carbon dioxide. Mg/CO2 typerockets utilize powdered magnesium as a solid fuel and carbon dioxideas an oxidant. The calculated specific impulse of powder rocketengines is higher than that of traditional propulsion systems.
Mg/CO2 Rockets for Mars Ascent
By reducing the traditional propellant requirement forascent from Mars the engine size and mass of spacecraft may bereduced. With an atmosphere of 97% carbon dioxide, CO2 is readilyavailable on Mars. Magnesium is one of the lightest known metal solidpropellants.
Magnesium Solid RocketFuel Design Parameters
In a Mg/CO2 propulsion system, the magnesium powder maybe fed by a positive displacement fluidized bed feed system, whichincludes a porous piston in a cylindrical tank. The piston pushes thepowder, and the gas fluidizes the powder at the same time. Particlesize distribution, particle shape, and the purity of the magnesiumhave been determined as the primary parameters. The Company isfocused on a high purity magnesium particle with a small particle sizeof <50 micron. The smaller the particles, the shorter the burningtime, which is desirable for complete burning of the fuel inside thecombustion chamber. A priority is to reduce the size of the fuelstorage tank by using a higher density material. The characteristicsof the feeding process are sensitive to the powder characteristics,such as the particle size distribution and the shape of the particles.In the feeding process, a lower density particle may be a positivefactor. This will require a balanced final particle optimizationthat considers a preference for high density magnesium particlesbalanced with a potential decrease in the feeding flow rate orcreation of significant variation in pressure, deposition in thepre-burner, and overall efficiency. Both regular and irregularshaped particles are being considered at this time.
Mg/CO2 Type Rocket Engines
The ignition, combustion, and performance ofmagnesium carbon-dioxide type rocket engines have been experimentally studied. The ignition temperature of magnesium particles of mediumsizes in CO2 is about 960 K. Although broad applications may existfor powder fuel rockets, Mg/CO2 engines have been primarily studiedfor Mars exploration, ascent and return to Earth by NASA, due to the abundance of CO2 on Mars.
Recent experimental studies have been carried out onthe characteristics of powdered Mg feed, CO2 liquid feed, engineignition, combustion, and pressure oscillation. Results show stabilityin the feeding systems with stable feed and performancecharacteristics. The Damköhler number, L /[ v j ×?( t i + t b )], incorporates the parameters of pre-combustion chamberlength, powder-injection velocity, particle ignition delay, andburning time. Successful ignition is indicated by Damköhler number>1. Reliable ignition and a stable flame has beenachieved.
Driftwood CreekMagnesium Project
MGX has completed a PreliminaryEconomic Assessment (“PEA”) for theDriftwood Creek magnesium project ( Tuun, 2018). The PEAreferences report title “Driftwood Magnesite Project MineralResource Estimate, Brisco, BC”, author Allan Reeves, P.Geo, reportdate September 30, 2016, revised July 21, 2017. The resourcehighlights are listed as follows:
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- Measured 2.8 million tonnes grading 43.3%plusIndicated 5.2 million tonnes grading 43.3% (M+I) mineral resourcetotaling 8.028 million tonnes grading 43.3% magnesium oxide(MgO)
- Inferred mineral resource totaling 846,000 tonnesgrading 43.20% MgO
- Bulk of resource is located less than 100 meters fromsurface
Qualified Person
Andris Kikauka (P. Geo.), Chief Executive Officer ofMGX Minerals, has prepared, reviewed and approved the scientific andtechnical information in this press release. Mr. Kikauka is anon-independent Qualified Person within the meaning of NI43-101.
About MGX MineralsInc.
MGX Minerals is a diversified Canadian resource andtechnology company with interests in advanced metals, industrialminerals, and energy technologies.
ContactInformation:
Andris Kikuaka
Chief Executive Officer
604 681 7735
Forward-LookingStatements
This press release containsforward-looking information or forward-looking statements(collectively, "forward-looking information") within themeaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other thanstatements of historical fact, included herein are forward ? looking information. Forward-looking information in this pressrelease include, but are not limited to, statements with respect toholding the postponed Meeting, and the filing of an amended notice ofmeeting and record date for the postponed Meeting. Forward-lookinginformation is generally, but not always, identified by the words"expects", "plans", "anticipates","in the event", "if", "believes","asserts", "position", "intends","envisages", "assumes", "recommends","estimates", "approximate", "projects","potential", "indicate" and similar expressions,or that events or conditions "will", "would","may", "could" or "should" occur.
The Company’s forward-lookinginformation are based on the applicable assumptions and factors theCompany considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on theinformation available to the Company at such time, including withoutlimitation, the ability to host the postponed Meeting at a later date,and the ability to find a suitable location which can accommodate anin-person shareholders’ meeting. The Company cautions investors thatany forward-looking information provided by the Company is not aguarantee of future results or performance, and that actual resultsmay differ materially from those in forward-looking information as aresult of various risk factors. These factors include, among others,uncertainties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, and general economicconditions or conditions in the financial markets. The reader isreferred to the Company's public filings for a more completediscussion of such risk factors, and their potential effects, whichmay be accessed through the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . Except as required by securities law,the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, toupdate or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a resultof new information, events or otherwise.
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