Nemaska Lithium Increases Recovery Rate by 16.7% from its DMS Circuit: Implications are Significant Savings in Capital and Operation Expenditures
QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Dec 11, 2013) - Nemaska Lithium Inc. ("Nemaska" or the "Corporation") (TSX VENTURE:NMX)(OTCQX:NMKEF) is pleased to report the initial results of its concentrator flow sheet optimization testing and the overall lithium recovery rate for the Whabouchi Project. In the NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment report dated October 2, 2012 as amended February 27, 2013 (the PEA), the concentrator flow sheet is comprised of a first stage of concentration by dense media separation (DMS), followed by flotation to complete the concentration process. Nemaska has conducted tests with actual suppliers of DMS equipment and the results are very encouraging. In short, the overall recovery rate as lithium concentrate from DMS was improved by 16.7%. Nemaska is presently awaiting the final results from similar work conducted on the flotation portion of the flow sheet.
"We are very pleased by these results, which are only possible because of the exceptional grade and homogeneous nature of the Whabouchi Lithium project," commented Guy Bourassa, President and CEO of Nemaska Lithium. "Based on our findings to date, we are projecting significant improvement in both our operating and capital expenditures in the feasibility study."
Crushed coarse-grained ore from Nemaska's Whabouchi project was tested by Met-Solve Laboratories of Langley, B.C. in a three stage dense media separation (DMS) pilot plant owned by a DMS manufacturer. Fine grained ore and "middlings" from the DMS containing good lithium values were combined and passed on for flotation testing.
The full results of the DMS and flotation testing will be included in the Feasibility Study due Q1 2014. The results of the flotation tests being conducted presently will be released once completed.
The technical sections of this press release were prepared by Gary Pearse, Msc, P.Eng., qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.
About Nemaska
Nemaska intends to become a lithium hydroxide/carbonate producer based in Quebec and has filed patent applications for its proprietary methods to produce lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate. In tandem, the Company is developing one of the richest spodumene lithium hard rock deposit in the world, both in volume and grade. Spodumene concentrate produced at Nemaska's Whabouchi mine and from other global sources will be shipped to the Company's lithium hydroxide/carbonate processing plant to be built in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec. This plant will transform spodumene concentrate into high purity lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate mainly for the growing lithium battery market. The Nemaska's Whabouchi deposit, located in the James Bay Region in the Province of Quebec, Canada, near the Cree community of Nemaska, should have an initial mine life of 18 years.
Forward-looking statements contained in this press release involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance and achievements of Nemaska to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the said forward-looking statements.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contact
Guy Bourassa
President
418 704-6038
info@nemaskalithium.com
Wanda Cutler
Investor Relations
416 303-6460
wanda.cutler@nemaskalithium.com
Victor Cantore
Investor Relations
514 831-3809
victor.cantore@nemaskalithium.com
www.nemaskalithium.com