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VR’s goal is to assess the potential for the first sustained rare earth element production, including the Permanent Magnet Rare Earth Oxides (PMREO) Nd, Pr, Tb and Dy, in
Phase 2 Metallurgical Studies:Completion of Phase II metallurgical studies at SGS, to evaluate the recovery and beneficiation processes for an apatite-monazite mineral concentrate.
REE Mineral Volume Assessment:Evaluation of REE mineral volume potential at the
Pike Zone ,Hinge Zone andSouth Rim Zone , in vein breccia on sub-vertical structures with 1% Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO) on average, with PMREO content from 18% to 24%.Economic Scoping of Mining Methods:Collaboration with
Novamera Inc. ,Toronto , to evaluate the use of small footprint, low impact, surface bore holesurgical miningmethods.Alignment with Pilot Plant Designs:Ongoing discussion with SRC,
Saskatoon , to align REE mineralization at Hecla-Kilmer with new REE extraction plants inNorth America .Digital Compilation of Magnetic Surveys:Compile all regional and property-scale magnetic surveys covering VR's expanded land holdings across 15 properties in the region and integrate with the high-resolution surveys completed by VR during the past four years.
Stakeholder Engagement:Continuation of open communication and collaboration with both the
Ontario government (MNDM) and theMoose Cree First Nation .
Mineralogy Matters
There are proven and cost-effective extraction processes and new extraction plants in
Results from Phase 1 of the bulk sample mineralogy study completed at SGS Lakefield in
Figure 1emphasizes the value potential of the REE mineralization at H-K because of the high value of the two heavy REEs (HREE) that go into permanent magnets: dysprosium and terbium.
As previously reported, and summarized in full on the Company’s website atwww.vrr.ca:
Apatite contains approximately 80% of all REEs at H-K;
Apatite is7.3 % TREOon average, with REE in the crystal lattice and in monazite inclusions;
High value permanent magnet REEs (PMREO) are up to25% of TREOin the apatite;
Carbonatites are a source of pure, clean magmatic phosphate used in electric vehicle batteries, and the apatite in the 461 m intersection in Hole 13 averages2%,starting at surface;
The apatite is both coarse grained and crystalographically pure compared to apatite in sedimentary-hosted phosphate deposits.
There is no REE production in
Size Matters
Hecla-Kilmer is a large and multiphase, alkaline ultrabasic intrusive complex with carbonatite approximately 4 – 6 km across. There was modern, systematic exploration or drill-testing of the complex for a large-scale, magnetite-fluorite-apatite hydrothermal breccia system with critical metals prior to VR.
REEs were discovered at Hecla-Kilmer by VR in its second drill hole, during the very first reconnaissance drill program in 2020. A total of 9,979 m of drilling has been completed in 24 drill holes in five programs since, with REE mineralization of > 1% TREO intersected in 18 of the 24 holes.
Vertical apatite-carbonate vein and vein breccia systems are consistently concentrated in REEs across some 2.5 km of the complex. The higher grade mineralization occurs within a km-scale footprint of high temperature, potassic alteration (fenite) dominated by hydrothermal biotite and magnetite; it occurs along abrupt, original intrusive host rock contacts, and is commonly structurally controlled.
VR plans to complete an independent, 3D model for REE mineralization volumes at Hecla-Kilmer. It will use continuous geochemical and magnetic susceptibility data obtained from all 24 drill holes. Further constraints from the 3D magnetic inversion models derived from the high-resolution drone survey in 2022, and the high-resolution ground gravity data obtained in 2021 will improve the outlines for mineral volume potential based on the various REE drill intersections.
Figure 2. Magnetic map showing zones discovered to date with >1% TREO mineralization.
Location Matters
VR plans to evaluate the small footprint, low impact, surface bore hole surgical mining method being developed by
Figure 3. Apatite-enriched REE mineralization occurs atbedrock surfaceat the base of till, and just23 kmfrom active rail, highway and provincial power grid infrastructure at Otter Rapids.
The presence of PMREO aside, the logistical attributes of Hecla-Kilmer cannot be over-stated, and the exclamation point is its location in a province demonstrating active support for a domestic supply of critical metals for the EV auto industry in
Technical Information
Summary technical and geological information for the Company’s various exploration properties is available at the Company’s website atwww.vrr.ca.
VR submits sawn drill core samples for geochemical assay to the
Technical information for this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101.
About the Hecla-Kilmer Property
The Hecla-Kilmer complex is located23 km northwest of the
The H-K property is large. It consists of 10 multi-cell mineral claims in one contiguous block approximately 6 x 7 km in size and covering 4,617 hectares. The property is owned 100% by VR. There are no underlying, annual lease payments on the property, nor are there any joint venture or back-in interests. Hecla-Kilmer is located on provincial crown land, with mineral rights administered by the
About
VR is an established junior exploration company based in
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OFDIRECTORS:
“Michael H. Gunning”
____________________________
Dr.
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 contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts 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 statements concerningVR’sexpectations concerning theHecla-Kilmer property and all other statements that are not statements of historical fact.
Although the Company believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by their nature forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with general economic conditions; the Covid-19 pandemic; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments in the mining sector; the Company’s ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; mining industry and markets in
The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.
This news release may also contain statements and/or information with respect to mineral properties and/or deposits which are adjacent to and/or potentially similar to the Company’s mineral properties, but which the Company has no interest in nor rights to explore. Readers are cautioned that mineral deposits on similar properties are not necessarily indicative of mineral deposits on the Company’s properties.
Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. All of the Company’s public disclosure filings may be accessed viawww.sedarplus.caand readers are urged to review them.
Neither the
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Figure 1. Photograph of drill core from 174 m depth in hole HK22-013 at
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Figure 2. Magnetic map of the multiphase Hecla-Kilmer complex, with red ellipses showing areas of mineral volume potential with >1% TREO. Red dots are collar locations for 24 drill holes completed in 5 programs since 2020. For reference,
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Figure 3.Besides the unique REE enrichment of apatite at Hecla-Kilmer and the implied basket value of polymetallic mineralization including terbium and dysprosium, the economic scoping of surgical mining at Hecla-Kilmer builds upon this series of photos: the apatite-carbonate-magnetite REE mineralization in the middle photo comes tobedrock surface at the base of tillbelow a typical drill site shown in the upper photo at
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