(TheNewswire)
Vancouver, BC - TheNewswire - December 13, 2023 - VR Resources Ltd. (TSX.V:VRR ) ( FSE:5VR ) ( OTC:VRRCF) , the " Company ", or“ VR ”, is pleased to report results from ongoing metallurgicalwork for rare earth element mineralization (REE) at the company’sHecla-Kilmer (“H-K”) project in northern Ontario.
New chemical data from laser ablation ICP-MS on theHole 13 bulk sample confirms that the phosphate mineral apatite is uniquelyenriched in REE. The a patite plays a dual role in REE mineralization: its crystalstructure is uniquely enriched in REE, and; it has small inclusions ofthe phosphate mineral monazite with ~60 wght% TREO andparasite/synchysite fluorocarbonate minerals with ~30 wght% TREO.
-
Apatite contains around 80% of all REE mineralizationat H-K, with an average co ncentration of 7.3%TREO
-
Permanent magnet REEs (PMREO) are up to 25% of TREO in theapatite , and are enriched in neodymium comparedto the finer grained REE-bearing minerals monazite andparisite;
-
Over 75% of remaining REE mineralization occurs assmall inclusions of monazite and parasite within apatite vein crystalsand in apatite-fenite wallrock alteration;
-
Carbonatites are a source of pure, clean magmaticphosphate used in electric vehicle batteries, and the apatite in the461 m intersection in Hole 13 averages 37% , starting at surface.
Electron microprobe images of apatite with monaziteinclusions are shown in Figure1 and Figure 2 .
Drill core photos are in Figure 3 . They show the apatite-biotite-magnetitemineralogy found at high-grade TREO zones across Hecla-Kilmer, fromPike Zone to the South Rim located some 2.5km away:
-
Figure 4. Potassic phoscorite mineralization at Pike Zone isconcentrated in steeply dipping veins in Hole 13, within a broadalteration envelope containing +0.5% TREO and 2% phosphate;
-
Figure 5. Mineralization at South Rim shows thesame correlation between TREOs and apatite as it does in Hole 13 atPike Zone, and it can be traced along a controlling east-west structure
From VR’s CEO, Dr. Michael Gunning, “ REE mineralogy is crucial towards theeconomic viability of any REE deposit. The strongest recoveries aregenerally achieved from simple phosphate mineralogies, as opposed tocomplex mineralogy amongst silicate or refractory minerals, augmentedfurther by coarse-grained minerals compared to fine grained, andHecla-Kilmer is clearly heading down both pathways. As such, weintend to advance the Phase I mineralogy work now complete at SGS toPhase II beneficiation studies in Q1 2024 in order to evaluate apatite- fluorocarbonate mineral separation and concentration.
The new data reported here clarifythe importance of apatite for the REE hydrothermalsystem at H-K:
-
First, at 7.3% TREO , the apatite is uniquely enriched in REEsoverall compared to other carbonatite deposits, and especially inneodymium which is used in electric vehicle motors;
-
Second, with 25% MagnetREO , the REE mineralizationat H-K is uniquely enriched compared to most carbonatite deposits, andespecially in the heavy rare earths (HREE), which like neodymium areessential in permanent magnets, yet there is no domestic HREEproduction in North America;
-
Third, the apatite is both coarsegrained and crystalographically pure compared to apatite insedimentary-hosted phosphate deposits;
-
Finally, it is the sheer volume andabundance of the phosphate mineral within the overall hydrothermalsystem at H-K that should not be overlooked, as the phosphate itselfadds value to thepolymetallic mineralization given its increasing role in batterytechnology variants for EV’s.
We consider these new chemical datafrom the laser ablation ICP-MS robust because they are consistent withthe preliminary results we received from an array of state-of-the-arttechnologies utilized from the very beginning of our exploration in2020, including whole-core XRF scanning by GeologicAI, QEMSCAN andTIMA mineralogy by SGS, lithium-borate fusion ICP-MS geochemistry fortrace REE detection by ALS, and scanning electron microprobe analysesof individual mineral grains by RGS Inc. in London, Ontario. Further, and perhaps even more important, the new REE mineralchemistry data are consistent across 2.5 km of the polyphaser igneouscomplex at H-K, from South Rim to Pike Zone.
Based on these results, we areexcited to embark on a partnership with Novamera Inc. to explore thepotential of their innovative, surgical mining technologies on thelarge-footprint REE+P+Nd hydrothermal system which comes to bedrock surface at H-K. We believethis collaboration could help unlock the unusual PMREO value in theREE veins at Hecla-Kilmer, and contribute positively to minimizing theenvironmental impact of the project in the lower James Bay region. Inongoing collaboration with SGS, and potentially with the SRC inSaskatchewan for REE extraction, we look forward to the journey withNovamera to evaluate if H-K can contribute to the growing demands ofthe energy transition economy.
Finally. I wish to convey my sincereappreciation to the Ontario MNDM for the recognition and support ofour Hecla-Kilmer project through the OJEP critical metals explorationprogram. The grants awarded to Hecla-Kilmer continue to make amaterial difference to our ability to advance this discovery.
Bulk Sample
REE critical metals were discovered at Hecla-Kilmer inthe very first reconnaissance drill program in 2020, with 24 holescompleted to-date across the multiphase alkaline igneous complex. Drill hole locations and key REE intersections are summarized in Figure 6 .
Crushed drill core assay rejects from the 461 metreintersection of continuous REE mineralization in Hole 013 weresubmitted to the SGS Lakefield laboratory in Ontario in May as a bulksample for a mineralogical, beneficiation and metallurgical study. SGSis a recognized world leader in mineralogicaland metallurgical studies on REE mineral systems . The intersection used for the bulk sample includes:
-
361 m @ 0.96 %TREO (1) ofwhich 20% arePMREO (2) and 2% P andincluding:
-
39 m @ 2.01 % TREO with 22% as PMREO .
-
The new chemical data on apatite are from TESCANIntegrated Mineral Analyzer (TIMA) analyses. Eight initialrepresentative samples spanning the 361 metres of REE mineralizationwere crushed, sorted and analyzed with TIMA for elemental and mineralmapping of grains ahead of beneficiation studies.
Technical Information
Summary technical and geological information for theCompany’s various exploration properties is available at theCompany’s website at www.vrr.ca .
VR submits sawn drill core samples for geochemicalassay to the ALS Global Ltd. (“ALS”) laboratory facilities inTimmins or Thunder Bay, Ontario, with final geochemical analyticalwork done at the ALS laboratory located in NorthVancouver, BC., including lithium borate fusion, ICP-MS and ICP-AESanalyses for base metals, trace elements and full-suite REE analysis,and gold determination by atomic absorption on fire assay. Analyticalresults are subject to industry-standard and NI 43-101 compliant QAQCsample procedures, including the systematic insertion of sampleduplicates, blanks and certified reference material (CRM) done bothexternally on the project site by the Company and internally at thelaboratory by ALS, as described by ALS.
Technical information for this news release has beenprepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements setout in National Instrument 43-101. Justin Daley, P.Geo., VPExploration and a non-independent Qualified Person oversees allaspects of the Company’s mineral exploration projects, and thecontent of this news release has been reviewed on behalf of theCompany by the CEO, Dr. Michael Gunning, P.Geo., a non-independentQualified Person.
About the Hecla-KilmerProperty
The Hecla-Kilmer complex is located 23 km northwest of the Ontario hydro-electric facility atOtter Rapids, the Ontario Northland Railway, and the northern terminusof Highway 634 which links the region to the towns of Cochrane andKapuskasing to the south, itself located on the northern Trans-CanadaHighway .
The H-K property is large . It consists of 224 mineral claims in one contiguous blockapproximately 6 x 7 km in size and covering 4,617 hectares. The property is owned 100% by VR. There are nounderlying, annual lease payments on the property, nor are there anyjoint venture or back-in interests. Hecla-Kilmer is located on provincial crown land, withmineral rights administered by the Ontario Ministry of NorthernDevelopment, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (“MNDM”). Thereare no annual payments, but the MNDM requires certain annualexploration expenditures and reporting. The property falls within thetraditional territories of the Moose Cree and Taykwa Tagamou FirstNations.
About VR Resources
VR is an established junior exploration company basedin Vancouver (TSX.V: VRR; Frankfurt: 5VR; OTCQB: VRRCF). VR evaluates,explores and advances opportunities in copper, gold and criticalmetals in Nevada, USA, and Ontario, Canada, and most recently, akimberlite breccia pipe discovery in northern Ontario. VR appliesmodern exploration technologies and leverages in-house experience andexpertise in greenfields exploration to large-footprint mineralsystems in underexplored areas/districts. The foundation of VR is theproven track record of its Board in early-stage exploration, discoveryand M&A. The Company is well-financed for its mineral explorationand corporate obligations. VR owns its properties outright andevaluates new opportunities on an ongoing basis, whether by staking oracquisition.
About Novamera
Novamera is a surgical mining technology company thathas developed data-driven hardware and software solutions thatpinpoint, map, navigate and extract high value narrow vein deposits.Novamera’s precision drilling products integrate with conventionaldrilling equipment to enable mining companies to quickly andsustainably mine various metal and mineral deposits that are otherwiseuneconomic due to size, geometry, and orientation. The process haslarge scale environmental and social impacts to support ESG targetsand improve social licence. Requiring a small footprint with no blasting, and with immediate environmental rehabilitation as drillingprogresses, the process balances operational efficiency withenvironmental care, with 95% less waste, 44%less GHG emissions and 99% less water discharge.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS :
“Michael H. Gunning”
____________________________
Dr. Michael H. Gunning, PhD, PGeo
President & CEO
For general information please use the following:
Website: www.vrr.ca
Email: info@vrr.ca
Phone: 778-731-9292
Forward Looking Statements
This news release containsstatements that constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks,uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actualresults, performance or achievements, or developments in the industryto differ materially from the anticipated results, performance orachievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historicalfacts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words"expects," "plans," "anticipates,""believes," "intends," "estimates,""projects," "potential" and similar expressions,or that events or conditions "will," "would,""may," "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this document include statementsconcerning VR’s expectations concerning the Hecla-Kilmer property and all otherstatements that are not statements of historical fact.
Although the Company believes theforward-looking information contained in this news release isreasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by theirnature forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known andunknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause ouractual results, performance or achievements, or other future events,to be materially different from any future results, performance orachievements expressed or implied by such forward-lookingstatements.
Examples of such assumptions, risksand uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks anduncertainties associated with general economic conditions; theCovid-19 pandemic; adverse industry events; future legislative andregulatory developments in the mining sector; the Company ’ s ability to access sufficient capital from internal and externalsources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorableterms; mining industry and markets in Canada and generally; theability of the Company to implement its business strategies;competition; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties.
The forward-looking informationcontained in this news release represents the expectations of theCompany as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, issubject to change after such date. Readers should not place undueimportance on forward-looking information and should not rely uponthis information as of any other date. While the company may elect to,it does not undertake to update this information at any particulartime except as required in accordance with applicable laws.
This news release may also containstatements and/or information with respect to mineral propertiesand/or deposits which are adjacent to and/or potentially similar tothe Company’s mineral properties, but which the Company has nointerest in nor rights to explore. Readers are cautioned that mineraldeposits on similar properties are not necessarily indicative ofmineral deposits on the Company’s properties.
Trading in the securities of theCompany should be considered highly speculative. All of theCompany’s public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedarplus.ca and readers are urged to reviewthem.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange norits Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in Policiesof the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacyor accuracy of this release.
---
Figure 1 . Upper : Backscatterelectron microprobe images of crushed and mounted mineral grains fromhole 13 bulk sample. Grains are predominantly of apatite with LaserAblation ICP-MS site annotated in red. Varying shades of dull greyindicating varying and zoned REE in apatite. Lower : Inset of upper image showingdetail of bright white reflectance REE minerals monazite , britholite and synchisitewithin apatite . This style of REE mineralization, with Nd , Pr , Tb and Dy enriched inmonazite and synchysite inclusions within the apatite compared towithin the large apatite crystals themselves is also found at bothSouth Rim and Pike Zones located 2.5 km apart ( Figure 6 ).
Figure 2 . Upper : Geochemical plotof P 2 O 5 vs. Nd based on data from 4,600 drillcore samples across all 24 holes completed to date at Hecla-Kilmer. The correlation is robust in a data set of 4,600 samples , and itincreases in potassic zones from holes 13, 15 and 20 shown, andreinforces the new bulk sample mineralogy data from SGS Lakefield. Lower : Backscatterelectron microprobe image from 111m depth in Hole 15 at the South RimZone. The abundant areas of bright white reflectance are mineralinclusions of REE-bearing monazite within larger and REE-zoned crystalsof apatite .
Figure 3 . Examples of high temperature potassic phoscorite with high-gradeTREO and phosphate mineralization, and a high PMREO ratio found inhole 13 at Pike Zone and in hole 15 and 20 at South Rim Zone. Thebiotite-magnetite assemblage in massive apatite groundmass is a clearvisual sign for high grade mineralization at Hecla-Kilmer.
Figure 4. Drillholes and phosphate – REE drill sections at Pike Zone shown on amagnetic plan map and inset drill section. Red intervals of phoscoriteveining contain an average 2% P2O5 or more in this broad area ofcomplex steep structural control and widespread fenite mineralization>0.5% TREO.
Figure 5. Drillhole intersections of structurally controlled phosphate – REEmineralization at South Rim located 2.5 km south of Pike Zone shown inFigure 2. The steeply dipping mineralization appear laterally andvertically continuous on the drill section through the 3D MVI magneticinversion model, and plan map below showing drill traces on an RTPmagnetic base map.
Figure 6. Locations and key REE intersections for the 24 drill holes completedto date at Hecla-Kilmer, 2020 - 2023, plotted ona contoured RTP magnetic base map with superimposed 3D iso-shells fromthe MVI inversion.
Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.