VANCOUVER, CANADA--(Marketwired - July 17, 2013) - Tasman Metals Ltd. ("Tasman" or the "Company") (News - Market indicators)(FRANKFURT:T61)(NYSE MKT:TAS)(NYSE Amex:TAS). Mr Mark Saxon, President & CEO, is pleased to announce Tasman's wholly owned Swedish subsidiary, Tasman Metals AB, has been selected as a key mining industry partner in the recently launched EURARE project. EURARE is a research project co-funded by the European Commission under the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (Grant Agreement NMP2-LA-2012-309373).
Following the rare earth element (REE) supply crisis of 2010 and 2011, the EURARE project was initiated collaboratively by European research and industry, with the aim to "develop a sustainable exploitation scheme for Europe's rare earth ore deposits". EURARE brings together the partners required for a complete European REE supply chain. The impressive consortium includes university-affiliated research groups, geological surveys, metallurgical equipment manufacturers, environment management groups and REE consumers.
On the potential REE supply side, 4 European deposits were selected to be part of the EURARE consortium and advance into full pilot scale technology demonstration. Tasman's Norra Karr project is one of these 4 deposits. Furthermore, lab scale research on Tasman's Olserum deposit will also be conducted under the project. Tasman's Swedish REE deposits can present attractive supply options for European Union REE consumers, as they are enriched in the high-value heavy REE's, lie close to established infrastructure and are within an active mining jurisdiction. Tasman was recently granted a 25-year mining lease for the Norra Karr project.
The EURARE project will receive a total of up to EUR9 million over a period of 5 years, to be directed towards "Work Packages" that range from deposit scale assessment to REE metal and alloy production. Tasman shall receive direct funding of approximately EUR250,000 (CA$340,000) plus additional indirect funding applied to all phases of metallurgical research including beneficiation, REE separation and metal production. Tasman has received its first EURARE funding allocation, and samples from both Norra Karr and Olserum have been forwarded to relevant research partners.
"Tasman congratulates EURARE coordinator Prof. Ioannis Paspaliaris from NTUA, and the European Commission, for the forethought to establish and fund EURARE" said Mark Saxon, Tasman's President and CEO. "Development of an REE supply chain in the western world is a challenging objective, however with European producers, research partners and consumers aligned through EURARE, a secure supply chain is certainly achievable. Tasman's Swedish deposits can form the foundation of this supply chain, with Norra Karr alone able to fill much of the European demand for REE's for at least 40 years. The additional funding and synergy received under EURARE allows Tasman to push research more quickly and in areas not previously contemplated."
About EURARE
The EURARE project has received funding from the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme ([FP7/2007-2013]) under grant agreement n°309373. This publication reflects only the author's view, exempting the Community from any liability. Project web site: www.eurare.eu.
About Tasman Metals Ltd
Tasman Metals Ltd is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company focused on Rare Earth Elements (REE's) in the European region and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "TSM" and the NYSE-MKT under the symbol "TAS". REE demand is increasing, due to the metals' unique properties that make them essential for high technology and environmentally-beneficial applications. Since over 95% of REE supply is sourced from China, the European Union is actively supporting policy to promote domestic supply of REE's, to ensure the security of high-tech industry. Tasman's exploration portfolio is uniquely placed, with the capacity to deliver "high-tech" metals from politically stable, mining friendly jurisdictions with developed infrastructure.
The Company's Norra Karr project in Sweden is one of the most significant heavy REE resources in the world. The resource is unusually low in radioactive metals relative to peer projects, with less than 15 ppm each of uranium and thorium.
For more information regarding rare earth elements, see the Rare Metal Blog at http://proedgewire.com/rare-earth/.
On behalf of the Board,
Mark Saxon, President & CEO
The TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), the NYSE - MKT nor the Frankfurt Stock Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Concerning Mineral Resources and Reserves. In this news release, the definition of "mineral resources" is that used by the Canadian securities administrators and conforms to the definition utilized by CIM in the "CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves - Definitions and Guidelines" adopted on August 20, 2000 and amended December 11, 2005.
The standards employed in estimating the mineral resources referenced in this news release differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the resource information reported may not be comparable to similar information reported by United States companies. The term "resources" does not equate to "reserves" and normally may not be included in documents filed with the SEC. "Resources" are sometimes referred to as "mineralization" or "mineral deposits." While the terms "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, they are not defined terms under standards in the United States and normally are not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. The terms "mineral reserve," "proven mineral reserve" and "probable mineral reserve" are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the CIM - CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as may be amended from time to time by the CIM. These definitions differ from the definitions in the United States Securities and Exchange Commission Industry Guide 7 ("SEC Industry Guide 7") under the Securities Act of 1933. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or prefeasibility studies, except in rare cases. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.
The estimation of measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of proven and probable reserves. U.S. investors are cautioned (i) not to assume that measured or indicated resources will be converted into reserves and (ii) not to assume that estimates of inferred mineral resources exist, are economically or legally minable, or will be upgraded into measured or indicated mineral resources. It cannot be assumed that the Company will identify any viable mineral resources on its properties or that any mineral reserves, if any, can be recovered profitably, if at all. As such, information contained in this news release and the documents incorporated by reference herein concerning descriptions of mineralization and resources under Canadian standards may not be comparable to similar information made public by United States companies in SEC filings.
Cautionary Statements. Certain statements found in this release may constitute forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect the speaker's current views with respect to future events and financial performance and include any statement that does not directly relate to a current or historical fact. Such statements reflect the current risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitations, competitive factors, general economic conditions, customer relations, uncertainties related to the availability and costs of financing, unexpected geological conditions, success of future development initiatives, imprecision in resource estimates, ability to obtain necessary permits and approvals, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, the interest rate environment, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, changes in industry practices, changes in world metal markets, changes in equity markets, environmental and safety risks, and one-time events. Should any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. Forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed and actual results may vary materially due to the uncertainties and risks, known and unknown, associated with such statements. Shareholders and other readers should not place undue reliance on "forward-looking statements," as such statements speak only as of the date of this release.
