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| February 15, 2012 |
| Quest Rare Minerals Reports Progress on the B-Zone Rare Earth Deposit, Strange Lake, Quebec |
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 15, 2012) - Quest Rare Minerals Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:QRM)(NYSE Amex:QRM) -
Highlights:
-- Pre-feasibility work at the B-Zone REE deposit, Strange Lake area,
Quebec is advancing well
-- Detailed definition drilling of the B-Zone on a 50 m by 50 m grid was
completed in November 2011 to the limits of the pit shell established
for the deposit by Quest's most recent resource estimate (April 2011)
-- Geotechnical and metallurgical drilling over the defined deposit
footprint for input into Quest's Pre-Feasibility Study was completed
-- Field data collection for use in the Environmental Baseline study
(fauna, flora, weather patterns, groundwater flow and quality) was
completed
-- Positive metallurgical recoveries are being achieved. Publication of
final results is being slightly delayed to allow Quest to select the
optimal process flow sheet.
-- Scope changes have also been made from the original Preliminary Economic
Assessment to optimize and streamline the timelines for the permitting
process. The completion of the Pre-Feasibility Study is now expected in
the second half of 2012.
Quest Rare Minerals Ltd. is pleased to report on progress at the Corporation's B-Zone Heavy Rare Earth project, Strange Lake, Quebec. Quest is advancing the project so as to be in a position to deliver its pre-feasibility study (PFS) for the B-Zone deposit in the second half of calendar 2012. Quest also reports that it is following a parallel path for the collection of the necessary data for use in the subsequent definitive feasibility study (FS). In addition, Quest recently released the results of its successful B-Zone definition diamond drilling program (see Press Release: January 12, 2012). The detailed drill sample analysis table and diamond drill sections through the B-Zone are available on Quest's website homepage at www.questrareminerals.com. Additional details on the development activities on the B-Zone deposit were recently included in Quest's 2011 Management's Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) report filed on SEDAR on January 27, 2012.
"Our 2011 Prefeasibility work is advancing well, important changes in the scope of the project are being made when compared to how it was developed in our September 2010 Preliminary Economic Assessment," said Peter Cashin, President & CEO. "Changes include consolidating the mine and mill complex at Strange Lake, Quebec, in proximity to the B-Zone to capture the power, infrastructure and heat synergies of a combined operation. This will allow for more streamlined permitting timelines related to a single footprint site. The modifications also include the construction of a 160 km access road to the Labrador coast and port facility as opposed to the originally-conceived road and slurry pipeline for delivery of crushed ore to a coastal Mill Complex. As well, in order to accelerate the completion of the metallurgical flow sheet of B-Zone ore to saleable product, Quest has engaged a second metallurgical laboratory, Process Research ORTECH Inc. of Mississauga, Ontario, to work in parallel to Hazen Research of Golden, Colorado."
B-Zone Pre-Feasibility Study Program
Pre-feasibility work on the project commenced in July 2011 and was executed by a seasoned team of engineers and technicians. The composition of the pre-feasibility study technical team is as shown below:
Discipline Responsibility
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Mineral Resource Estimates Wardrop, A Tetra Tech Company
Open Pit Geotechnical Studies AMEC Earth & Environmental
Mining Design/Schedule Micon International Limited
Metallurgical Testing Hazen Research, Inc./Ortech
Metallurgical Review Micon International Limited
Process Plant Design Melis Engineering
Mine/Process Plant Facilities AECOM
Tailings/Water Management AECOM
Environmental AECOM
Off-Site Infrastructure AECOM
Financial Analysis Micon International Limited
Work has been completed to gather high-resolution topographic information for both the immediate project site located in Quebec as well as along the contemplated road corridor to the Labrador coast. A trade-off study was completed to examine two possible means of access to the site. The first option is to construct an all-season road from the site to a point on the Labrador coast while the second alternative looked at construction of an all-season road from the site to Schefferville, Quebec. This study identified the road to the Labrador coast as the most favourable and cost-effective option.
An update of the mineral resource estimate has been completed that incorporates all information gathered during the 2010 drilling campaign (see Press Release: April 13, 2011). The results of this updated estimate have been disclosed by means of a Technical Report that Quest filed on SEDAR on May 25, 2011.
Geotechnical information has been collected in support of preparation of an open pit mine/mill complex design (see Figure 1). Open pit mine design and optimization was completed, based on an updated grade-block model that was prepared for the 2011 mineral resource estimate update. A schedule and mine fleet selection have been completed, along with capital and operating cost estimates. The mine fleet is envisioned to utilize conventional truck-and-shovel equipment. The mine schedule was developed to provide the best grade material for an initial mine life of approximately 25 years, as the size of the estimated resource is sufficient for many more years of operation at the envisioned mine throughput rate of 4,000 tonnes per day.
Geotechnical Drill Program
A total of 23 geotechnical drillholes for 953 m were completed on the project. These holes will be used for rock stability testing, groundwater flow testing, condemnation drilling over proposed tailings and mine complex (Mill/Concentrator, surface installations) sites and for proposed airstrip sites.
Metallurgical Drill Program
A total of 30 metallurgical test holes for 3,819 m were completed across the entire surface footprint of the B-Zone deposit (see Figure 2). The material provided by this drilling will be used to undertake pilot plant tests on the metallurgical flowsheet developed for the mineralization. This will ensure that the metallurgical characteristics are such that a single process can be applied to the entire deposit. Pilot plant work is currently in the planning stages.
Recent positive metallurgical test work (December 2012) evaluating two different process routes has resulted in significant improvements in product recovery. Although early indicators support an important breakthrough, these new findings have necessitated a revision to the development program. To the extent that these results prove to be repeatable this will need to be incorporated into the design and the schedule impacts will become clearer as the details are obtained.
We expect the new test procedures to require an additional two to three months to develop. If this proves to be successful, these modifications will be incorporated into the design. We are not sure of the full impact on the downstream process but expect to be able to optimize and modify the process to best accommodate final product requirements.
2011 B-Zone Definition Drill Program
Results for 138 diamond drill holes representing 17,110.4 m (see Press Release: January 12, 2012) were recently announced. The drilling program tested the extent of B-Zone mineralization to the limits of the Whittle Pit shell established by Quest's National Instrument 43-101 Revised Resource Estimate (see Press Release : April 13, 2011), on a 50 m by 50 m drilling pattern. In addition to enlarging the peripheral limits of the deposit within the pit-shell, drilling indicates that good higher-grade Pegmatite-style mineralization continues to the southwest, past the established limit of the pit shell.
The better grades of mineralization are associated with what is termed the Pegmatite Zone, which is composed of a high proportion of pegmatite sheets that are intercalated with extremely-altered Strange Lake peralkaline granite at the uppermost parts of the B-Zone mineralized system. The highly-altered, granite-hosted zones continue to carry elevated grades of REE in excess of 0.7% Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO) over core lengths of over 314.6 m (see Press Release: December 9, 2010). These grades exceed the economic cut-off of 0.579% TREO estimated for the deposit by Quest's revised resource estimate for the B-Zone (see Press Release: April 13, 2011). The cut-off grade was established from cost estimates determined by Quest's PEA study (September 2010). Revisions of the project scope developed by the current pre-feasibility study will likely modify these cost estimates.
Project Capital Cost Estimate
The Quest pre-feasibility team is in the process of updating project capital costs and incorporating their findings into capital expenditure models for the project. A project cost optimization process will determine where maximum cost efficiencies can be realized for the final project scope. Considerable effort is being undertaken to minimize the capital cost escalation that many projects are experiencing around the world.
Project Operating Cost Estimate
Operating costs are being updated as the metallurgical test work is refined. The potential interaction between the refining process and the metallurgical operation requires that cost iterations be determined and these costs will be refined as the process advances. As well, given that the project scope has been revised since the delivery of Quest's Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA, see Press Release : September 9, 2010), operating cost estimates will be updated to reflect the changes. The largest scope changes to the project are:
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PEA Project Scope (SEPT. 2010) Revised Project Scope (2011)
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Mine Complex located at site, Port Mine/Mill Complex on-site, delivery
and Mill Complex on the Labrador of product to Port and delivery of
Coast. A slurry pipeline was materials and supplies from Port to
conceived to deliver crushed ore from site. Will simplify and streamline
mine to mill. Concentrate shipped the permitting process due to reduced
from Port. environmental impact.
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160 km access road from Port to site 160 km access road from Port to site
for delivery of materials and for delivery of materials and
supplies. supplies and product from site to
Port for delivery to markets.
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Separate electric power requirements Single power requirements for a
for Port/Mill and Mine. combined Mine/Mill and reduced
requirements for Port.
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Two environmental assessments for Single Mine/Mill environmental
Mine & Mill in separate provincial assessment for the Province of
jurisdictions. Quebec.
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Process water usage across two Single-jurisdiction water-use permit
Provincial jurisdictions. for Quebec.
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Process flowsheet developed using Process flowsheet developed using
conceptual information results of detailed laboratory test
work
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High-level capital and operating Capital and operating costs will be
costs developed developed to a level of accuracy
appropriate to the study
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Project development schedule reflects Project development schedule includes
construction phase only time required for study completion,
public consultation, permitting,
financing and construction phases
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"The work on revising the project scope when compared to our 2010 PEA will serve to optimize the economic potential of the B-Zone deposit over its notional production life," said Reno Pressacco, Vice President, Operations for Quest. "This revised project scope offers the advantage of using a single power supply for the entire project, removes the risks associated with a pipeline transportation system in those climate and terrain conditions, improving the management of the operation and simplifying and streamlining the permitting processes. We have been very encouraged by recent positive findings from our metallurgical test work and are confident that a final metallurgical solution for Strange Lake mineralization will be developed."
2012 Pre-Feasibility Study and Definitive Feasibility Study Work Program
In order to accelerate the delivery of both pre-feasibility and definitive feasibility (FS) studies, a parallel-path of required work programs has been established for the project in 2012.
The pre-feasibility study work program will include completion of the metallurgical solution for the B-Zone, finishing of the preliminary engineering for the project, execution of the financial analysis for the project and delivery of the final National Instrument 43-101 compliant Pre-Feasibility Study technical report. A budget of $2.5 million has been allocated for completion of this work.
The parallel-path, FS work program includes completion of an updated mineral resource estimate, pilot plant test work, mining studies, environmental baseline studies, detailed engineering (infrastructure, tailings storage), transportation studies, separation plant studies, completion of a detailed rare earth market study and stakeholder consultation activities. This program has been budgeted at $21.0 million for Quest's 2012 fiscal year.
Project Schedule Delivery Expectations
Due to the significantly expanded nature of the Strange Lake B-Zone deposit scope and delay in the delivery of the final metallurgical flow sheet, it is anticipated that the pre-feasibility study will be delivered during the second half of calendar 2012. At that time, Quest will have a more accurate idea as to the delivery timelines for its definitive feasibility study and for mine start-up.
Quality Control
Mr. Peter Cashin, P. Geo., and Mr. Reno Pressacco, P. Geo., are the qualified persons on the Strange Lake Project under National Instrument 43-101 and are responsible for this news release.
About Quest Rare Minerals
Quest Rare Minerals Ltd. is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on the identification and discovery of new and significant Rare Earth deposit opportunities. Quest is publicly listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and NYSE Amex as "QRM" and is led by a highly-respected management and technical team with a proven mine finding track record. Quest is currently advancing several high-potential projects in Canada's premier exploration areas: the Strange Lake and Misery Lake areas of northeastern Quebec and the Plaster Rock area of northwestern New Brunswick. Quest's 2009 exploration led to the discovery of a significant new Rare Earth metal deposit, the B-Zone, on its Strange Lake property in northeastern Quebec. Quest recently filed a 43-101 Indicated and Inferred Resource Estimate on the B-Zone deposit and has completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the deposit. In addition, Quest announced the discovery of an important new area of REE mineralization on its Misery Lake project, approximately 120 km south of the Strange Lake project. Quest continues to pursue high-value project opportunities throughout North America. As a result of a marketed equity financing completed in October 2010, Quest has a strong working capital position of $42.5 million.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation. Forward-looking information and statements may include, among others, statements regarding the future plans, costs, objectives or performance of Quest Rare Minerals Ltd. ("Quest"), or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. In this news release, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "estimate" and similar words and the negative form thereof are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at or by which, such future performance will be achieved. No assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that Quest will derive. Forward-looking statements and information are based on information available at the time and/or management's good-faith belief with respect to future events and are subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond Quest's control. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those described under "Risk Factors" in Quest's annual information form dated January 23, 2012, and under the heading "Risk Factors" in Quest's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011 both of which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Quest does not intend, nor does Quest undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements contained in this news release to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except if required by applicable laws.
To view Figure 1, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/qrm0215fig1.pdf.
To view Figure 2, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/qrm0215fig2.pdf.
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 INFORMATION:
Quest Rare Minerals Ltd.
Peter J. Cashin
President & CEO
(416) 916-0777 or toll-free: 1-877-916-0777
Fax: (416) 916-0779
or
Quest Rare Minerals Ltd.
Reno Pressacco
Vice President, Operations
(416) 916-0777 or toll-free: 1-877-916-0777
Fax: (416) 916-0779
info@questrareminerals.com
www.questrareminerals.com
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| INDUSTRY: Manufacturing and Production - Mining and Metals | |
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