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New chemical data from laser ablation ICP-MS on the Hole 13 bulk sample confirms that the phosphate mineralapatiteis uniquely enriched in REE.The apatite plays a dual role in REE mineralization: its crystal structure is uniquely enriched in REE, and; it has small inclusions of the phosphate mineral monazite with ~60 wght% TREO and parasite/synchysite fluorocarbonate minerals with ~30 wght% TREO.
Apatite contains around 80% of all REE mineralization at H-K, with an average concentration of7.3% TREO
Permanent magnet REEs (PMREO) are up to25% of TREOin the apatite, and are enriched in neodymium compared to the finer grained REE-bearing minerals monazite and parisite;
Over 75% of remaining REE mineralization occurs as small inclusions of monazite and parasite within apatite vein crystals and in apatite-fenite wallrock alteration;
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 averages37%,starting at surface.
Electron microprobe images of apatite with monazite inclusions are shown inFigure 1andFigure 2.
Drill core photos are inFigure 3.They show the apatite-biotite-magnetite mineralogy found at high-grade TREO zones across Hecla-Kilmer, from
Figure 4.Potassic phoscorite mineralization at
Pike Zone is concentrated in steeply dipping veins in Hole 13, within a broad alteration envelope containing +0.5% TREO and 2% phosphate;Figure 5.Mineralization at South Rimshows the same correlation between TREOs and apatite as it does in Hole 13 at
Pike Zone , and it can be traced along a controllingeast-west structure
From VR’s CEO, Dr.
The new data reported here clarify the importance ofapatitefor theREE hydrothermal system at H-K:
First, at7.3% TREO, the apatite is uniquely enriched in REEs overall compared to other carbonatite deposits, and especially in neodymium which is used in electric vehicle motors;
Second, with25% Magnet REO, the REE mineralization at H-K is uniquely enriched compared to most carbonatite deposits, and especially in the heavy rare earths (HREE), which like neodymium are essential in permanent magnets, yet there is no domestic HREE production in
North America ;Third, the apatite is both coarse grained and crystalographically pure compared to apatite in sedimentary-hosted phosphate deposits;
Finally, it is the sheer volume and abundance of the phosphate mineral within the overall hydrothermal system at H-K that should not be overlooked, as the phosphate itself addsvalue to the polymetallic mineralization given its increasing role in battery technology variants for EV’s.
We consider these new chemical data from the laser ablation ICP-MS robust because they are consistent with the preliminary results we received from an array of state-of-the-art technologies utilized from the very beginning of our exploration in 2020, including whole-core XRF scanning by GeologicAI, QEMSCAN and TIMA mineralogy by SGS, lithium-borate fusion ICP-MS geochemistry for trace REE detection by ALS, and scanning electron microprobe analyses of individual mineral grains by
Based on these results, we are excited to embark on a partnership with
Finally. I wish to convey my sincere appreciation to the Ontario MNDM for the recognition and support of our Hecla-Kilmer project through the OJEP critical metals exploration program. The grants awarded to Hecla-Kilmer continue to make a material difference to our ability to advance this discovery.
Bulk Sample
REE critical metals were discovered at Hecla-Kilmer in the very first reconnaissance drill program in 2020, with 24 holes completed to-date across the multiphase alkaline igneous complex. Drill hole locations and key REE intersections are summarized inFigure 6.
Crushed drill core assay rejects from the 461 metre intersection of continuous REE mineralization in Hole 013 were submitted to the SGS Lakefield laboratory in
361 m @ 0.96 % TREO(1) of which20% are PMREO(2)and2% Pand including:
39 m @ 2.01 % TREOwith22% as PMREO.
The new chemical data on apatite are from TESCAN Integrated Mineral Analyzer (TIMA) analyses. Eight initial representative samples spanning the 361 metres of REE mineralization were crushed, sorted and analyzed with TIMA for elemental and mineral mapping of grains ahead of beneficiation studies.
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 224 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
About Novamera
Novamera is a surgical mining technology company that has developed data-driven hardware and software solutions that pinpoint, map, navigate and extract high value narrow vein deposits. Novamera’s precision drilling products integrate with conventional drilling equipment to enable mining companies to quickly and sustainably mine various metal and mineral deposits that are otherwise uneconomic due to size, geometry, and orientation. The process has large scale environmental and social impacts to support ESG targets and improve social licence. Requiring a small footprint with noblasting, and withimmediate environmental rehabilitation as drilling progresses, the process balances operational efficiency with environmental care, with95% less waste, 44% less GHG emissions and 99% less water discharge.
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.
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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. Upper: Backscatter electron microprobe images of crushed and mounted mineral grains from hole 13 bulk sample. Grains are predominantly of apatite with Laser Ablation ICP-MS site annotated in red. Varying shades of dull grey indicating varying and zoned REE in apatite.Lower: Inset of upper image showing detail of bright white reflectance REE mineralsmonazite, britholite and synchisite withinapatite. This style of REE mineralization, withNd,Pr,TbandDyenriched in monazite and synchysite inclusions within the apatite compared to within the large apatite crystals themselves is also found at both South Rim and Pike Zones located 2.5 km apart (Figure 6).
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Figure 2. Upper: Geochemical plot of P2O5vs. Nd based on data from 4,600 drill core samples across all 24 holes completed to date at Hecla-Kilmer. The correlation is robust in a data set of4,600 samples, and it increases in potassic zones from holes 13, 15 and 20 shown, and reinforces the new bulk sample mineralogy data from SGS Lakefield.Lower: Backscatter electron microprobe image from 111m depth in Hole 15 at the
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Figure 3. Examples of high temperature potassic phoscorite with high-grade TREO and phosphate mineralization, and a high PMREO ratio found in hole 13 at
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Figure 4.Drill holes and phosphate – REE drill sections at
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Figure 5.Drill hole intersections of structurally controlled phosphate – REE mineralization at South Rim located 2.5 km south of
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Figure 6.Locations and key REE intersections for the 24 drill holes completed to date at Hecla-Kilmer, 2020 - 2023,plotted on a contoured RTP magnetic base map with superimposed 3D iso-shells from the MVI inversion.
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