
Smaller and simpler bismuth circuit with high metal recoveries align with new market demand
International Graphite’s mine-to-market strategy, leveraging its compelling graphite resource, places the company in a strategic position to become an important player in the development and expansion of Western Australia’s battery supply chain.
International Graphite (ASX:IG6) is a front-runner in the global graphite industry and is aiming to be one of the first new graphite producers.
The company’s vision for a complete mine-to-market supply chain in Western Australia leverages the state’s global reputation as a secure, reliable and technically advanced resource jurisdiction.
Primary focus is the production of active anode materials for lithium-ion batteries to address growing global demand and the forecast shortage looming for allied markets, particularly the US, Europe, Korea and Japan.
Since listing on the ASX in 2022, the company has made rapid headway in the development of two major assets – a planned graphite mine at Springdale and downstream processing facilities at Collie.
The company has been awarded AU$13.2 million in grants from Australian state and commonwealth governments in recognition of its significance to the development of Australia’s sovereign battery minerals capability.
International Graphite also secured a $4.5 million grant funding from the Western Australian Government to construct the first purpose-built commercial graphite micronising plant. About $2 million will be applied towards the ~3,000 tpa micronising facility to be built in Collie at an estimated capital cost of $4 million and the remaining $2.5 million will be applied to expand the facility and at least double capacity (Stage 2).
In addition, the Western Australian government has further earmarked AU$4 million from the Investment Attraction Fund's New Energies Industries Funding Stream to support the progression of the Springdale graphite project and the development of the Collie Processing Facility.
Market attention worldwide is swinging to graphite which is essential for global decarbonization and fast becoming one of the most politically contested of all the critical battery minerals. The graphite market is projected to reach US$24.21 billion by 2031 driven by a CAGR of 5.20 percent.
Graphite is flexible, conductive, heat and corrosion resistant. For decades it has been used to manufacture everything from ceramics and lubricants to plastics and steel.
It is also a major ingredient in batteries of all kinds, making up 95 percent of the active anode in lithium-ion batteries which are the gold standard for electric vehicles, renewable energy storage and advanced medical, defense and aerospace devices.
Of all the components in a lithium-ion battery, the biggest volume is in graphite. It can take 50 to 100 kilograms of graphite to make a single EV battery – up to 10 times more graphite than lithium.
Currently, China supplies over 80 percent of the world’s processed graphite, so its decision to restrict exports to western customers came as a shock in late 2023.
Western nations are scrambling to find alternative supplies to meet existing commitments – and new supplies to meet the shortage of battery materials forecast in the next five years.
With limited graphite sources of its own, and limited prospects in the near term, the US is leading the way, closely followed by Europe, offering unprecedented incentives to fast-track graphite supply from reliable domestic and allied sources.
International Graphite owns 100 percent of the Springdale graphite project in the established mining centre of Hopetoun/Ravensthorpe, on the south coast of Western Australia.
Springdale is one of the largest graphite deposits in Australia and was named Discovery of the Year in the respected 2023 Prospect Awards.
Following an extensive drilling campaign in 2022-23, the resource estimate increased by more than 240 percent to 49.3 Mt @ 6.5 percent total graphitic content (TGC). This is expected to grow in the future as only 10 percent of the tenement area and 20 percent of initial geological targets have been drilled to date.
Springdale is the site of the company’s planned graphite mine which will provide a consistent and reliable feed of graphite concentrates for downstream processing and give the company full control of its supply chain. A scoping study, released in January 2024, showed the planned open pit operation would be globally cost competitive with a long, multi-decade mine life.
The planned mine is on cleared farmland, with easy access to established roads and infrastructure. Permitting activities are well underway and two mining leases have been granted. The regional community relies heavily on the mining sector and has applauded moves to establish a new operation in their area.
Metallurgical testwork on Springdale concentrates, completed by specialist testing laboratories in Australia and overseas, shows the high-grade, fine flake Springdale ore is ideally suited for the production of battery anode material. Bench scale micronising, spheroidising and purification testwork on graphite concentrates were undertaken by industry specialists ProGraphite GmbH and produced outstanding results. The tests produced two spherical graphite products – SpG11 and SpG18 – with a yield of up to 76 percent. Purification testwork reached 99.99 percent graphite purity – well above the usual specification for battery anode material at 99.97 percent.
International Graphite’s vision for a complete mine-to-market business is designed to achieve maximum value from its Springdale natural graphite resource and is closely aligned with the Australian government's critical minerals strategy and the Western Australian government's vision to establish new world-class industries in Collie.
International Graphite’s Collie R&D and Process Facility is a first for Australia and a key link in the company’s mine-to-market strategy.
Backed by an ISO 9001 quality assurance certificate, the Collie facility is home to pilot scale graphite micronizing and spheroidizing equipment, thermal purification equipment, and a qualification-scale micronizing plant that is currently producing sample products for assessment by potential customers in the industrial manufacturing and battery markets.
As well as being widely used in industrial products such as lubricants, plastics and polymers, micronized graphite is a critical conductive additive in battery cathodes. It is also the first stage in the production of active anode material for lithium-ion batteries.
International Graphite plans to expand micronizing at Collie to commercial scale with construction scheduled in 2025. At the same time, it is progressing plans for a separate advanced battery anode material manufacturing facility. The plant design will be tailored to process Springdale graphite concentrates.
Located 450 km by road from Springdale, and close to major export ports, the regional township of Collie is the centre of Western Australia’s electricity generating infrastructure.
Top left: Collie R&D and Process Facility. Top right: Micronizing qualification plant.
Bottom left: Qualification plant in operation. Bottom right: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese inspects the Collie facility.
One of Australia’s leading metallurgists and an authority on graphite project development, Phil Hearse founded International Graphite in 2018 and continues to lead the company’s growth and development. An engineer with more than 40 years of experience in diverse and challenging projects around the world, his extensive career has taken him from operational and technical roles at Broken Hill, Bougainville Copper, Queensland Nickel (QNI) and Gove Alumina to senior executive and managerial positions in engineering and operating companies.
Hearse is the owner and managing director of Battery Limits, one of Australia’s leading graphite metallurgy and process engineering firms. The company has assisted many listed public companies to develop bankable feasibility studies for graphite mines and concentrators and has generated significant intellectual property in downstream processing and knowledge of the end use market. Hearse has an MBA from Hull University UK and a Bachelor of Applied Science in primary metallurgy from the University of SA. He is a fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Andrew Worland is a mining executive and experienced ASX/TSX director with over 25 years in senior finance, corporate, project management and marketing roles in the Western Australian mining sector.
Worland's commodity experience includes exploration, development and operations in lead, zinc, nickel, cobalt, gold, iron ore, molybdenum, copper and uranium. He has a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in finance and marketing from the University of Western Australia and is a qualified chartered company secretary and has achieved Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia.
David Pass has played a key role in the technical development of International Graphite since the company’s inception. A metallurgist with 30 years in the mining industry, he brings a mix of operational processing, process design, project, due diligence skills and management experience including mine operations experience with Barrick Gold.
Pass is chief executive officer of Battery Limits and an acknowledged expert in graphite primary and downstream processing and has led several studies in graphite project development to definitive feasibility level. He holds a Bachelor of Science in metallurgy from Murdoch University and is a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Matthew O’Kane is a senior mineral industry executive and company director with 25 years’ experience in the mining, commodities, and automotive sectors. He has held senior leadership roles in Australia, the US and Asia, in both developed and emerging markets, from start-up companies through to MNC’s. He has served on the board of mining companies in Canada, Hong Kong and Australia, and is currently managing director of Comet Resources (ASX:CRL) and a non-executive director of Azarga Uranium (TSX:AZZ) and Pursuit Minerals (ASX:PUR). O’Kane has been a non-executive director of International Graphite since the company was listed in April 2022.
Robert Hodby is a finance and accounting specialist with more than 20 years’ experience in the Australian resource and energy sector, including seven years as CFO and company secretary of Kibaran Resources(ASX:KNL), the predecessor to Australian graphite company EcoGraf (ASX:EGR). A member of CPA Australia and member of the Governance Institute of Australia, Hodby specializes in the financial management and administration of public and listed companies at both operational and corporate levels. During his career, he has held numerous executive and project management positions as well as CFO, board and company secretarial roles, with a strong track record in corporate finance, capital raising and international product marketing, particularly in the emerging graphite market.
Australian battery graphite from mine-to-market
Smaller and simpler bismuth circuit with high metal recoveries align with new market demand
Fortune Minerals Limited (TSX: FT) (OTCQB: FTMDF) (" Fortune " or the " Company ") ( www.fortuneminerals.com ) is pleased to report that metallurgical test work validation is essentially complete for the bismuth circuits for the Company's 100% owned NICO cobalt-gold-bismuth-copper critical minerals project in Canada (" NICO Project "). The Process Design Criteria has been compiled and delivered to Worley Canada Services Ltd. (" Worley ") to engineer the facilities and incorporate them into the Company's updated Feasibility Study. With 12% of global bismuth reserves, development of the NICO Project aligns with the increasing demand for bismuth in traditional and new market applications and the historic high prices (~US$ 27 per pound), compounded by China's recent export restrictions on this, and other critical minerals.
The vertically integrated NICO Project consists of a planned mine and concentrator in the Northwest Territories (" NWT ") and a hydrometallurgical process facility in Lamont County, Alberta where concentrates from the mine, and other feed sources, will be processed to value-added products needed in diverse industries, the energy transition, new technologies, and defense. Development of the NICO Project will provide a reliable North American supply of cobalt sulphate, gold doré, bismuth ingots, and copper cement enhancing domestic production of three critical minerals. The 1.1 million ounces of in-situ gold in the NICO Project Mineral Reserves is also a highly liquid and countercyclical co-product to mitigate metal price volatility.
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Bismuth Process Highlights
- Improved bismuth leaching and cementation circuits with an expected reduction in capital and operating costs and higher metal recoveries
- Efficient and cost-effective regeneration of ferric chloride lixiviant used to leach bismuth prior to cementation to reduce reagent costs and safely dispose of excess process water
- Validation of high-quality 4N bismuth ingot production from smelting and refining bismuth cement
- Positive preliminary test results from blending Fortune bismuth concentrate and Rio Tinto bismuth oxychloride with no adverse impacts on product quality or metal recovery
- Historic high bismuth prices from increasing demand and restricted supply
Test Work Results
Fortune has completed the hydrometallurgical phase of its test work program for the NICO Project bismuth circuit at SGS Canada Ltd. (" SGS ") in Lakefield, Ontario. The scope for this program was validation of the leaching, cementation and lixiviant regeneration unit operations, and compilation of the Process Design Criteria for detailed engineering. The results exceeded the Company's expectations, supporting a material reduction in the bismuth circuit size and the expected capital and operating costs at the planned Alberta hydrometallurgical facility.
Bismuth recovery in cement was ~98% after factoring in the ferric chloride leaching, washing and iron cementation efficiencies, compared with lower initial recovery targets. The bismuth cement produced averaged ~95% bismuth, rendering it suitable for smelting and subsequent refining to high-purity metal ingots. Ferric chloride leaching was optimized to a single-stage configuration, resulting in an ~65% volume reduction for the equipment. Cementation using iron powder was also optimized to a single stage configuration, resulting in an ~75% equipment volume reduction. The work also proved that the ferric chloride lixiviant used to leach the bismuth can be regenerated using chlorine with ~95% oxidation efficiency, consistent with well-established industrial processes. Therefore, the process streams can be recycled to save reagent costs while also allowing for safe disposal of the excess process water.
Exploratory testing of Rio Tinto bismuth oxychloride blended with Fortune bismuth concentrate at the estimated production ratio during operations produced a high quality bismuth cement with no adverse impacts on recoveries. Additional work is planned in collaboration with Rio Tinto aiming to maximize the blend-ratio and overall product output. The Rio Tinto feed is produced from waste streams at the Kennecott Smelter in Utah enhancing its goals for total orebody effectiveness and supporting domestic critical minerals production.
Fortune retained XPS Industry Relevant Solutions (" XPS ") to conduct the bismuth smelting and refining test work for the pyrometallurgical circuits for the Alberta facility. Bismuth cement samples produced at SGS were submitted for pyrometallurgical testing to prove the production of 99.99% (" 4N ") bismuth ingots, the desired specification for many metal applications as well as for making bismuth oxide and other chemicals. A crude ingot was initially produced assaying 99.8% bismuth (" 2N "), which was subsequently refined with liquation, sulphuration and chlorination steps to increase the purity and achieve the 99.99% bismuth (" 4N ") target grade. The pyrometallurgical investigation is nearing completion, pending the results of a second series of smelting and refining tests and receipt of the final report with the Process Design Criteria needed for the Feasibility Study.
Government Support
Fortune is working with the Canadian and U.S. governments to expand domestic critical minerals production and enhance North American supply chain resilience and security. The Company has been awarded ~C$17 million of non-dilutive contribution funding from the U.S. Department of Defense through its Defense Production Act Title III program, Natural Resources Canada's Global Partnerships Initiative and Critical Minerals Research Development and Demonstration programs, and Alberta Innovates Clean Resource Intake program. This financial support is helping Fortune advance the NICO Project to a project finance and construction decision (see news releases dated, May 16, 2024, and December 5, 2023). Specifically, the funds are supporting metallurgical test work to validate process improvements, update the Feasibility and Front-End Engineering and Design (" FEED ") studies, and secure the remaining permits and authorizations needed to construct and operate the mine and concentrator in the NWT and hydrometallurgical facility in Alberta.
About Bismuth
The NICO Project contains four payable metals, including the largest known resource of bismuth in the world. Bismuth has unique physical and chemical properties that are essential for important industrial and technological uses, but the supply chains are vulnerable to disruption because China controls over ~90% of refined bismuth supply. Consequently, bismuth is identified on both the Canadian and U.S. government's Critical Minerals Lists. Notably, China recently imposed controls over the export of bismuth and other critical minerals resulting in shortages of supply and a precipitous increase in price.
Bismuth is widely used in the automotive industry for glass and steel coatings, paints and pigments and abrasives used in brake pads. It is also used in low melting temperature and dimensionally stable alloys and compounds, fire depressant sprinkler systems, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Bismuth consumption is increasing primarily as an environmentally safe and non-toxic replacement for lead in brass, solder, free machining steel and aluminum, glass, radiation shielding, ceramic glazes and ammunition. Bismuth-tin alloy is used to make environmentally safe plugs to properly seal decommissioned oil and gas wells, preventing greenhouse gas leakage, blowouts and groundwater migration that can contaminate aquifers. Bismuth is also used in high performance semiconductors and manganese-bismuth magnets that are resistant to demagnetization from heat and are a potential replacement for rare earth elements in electric motors, including electric vehicle powertrains. In the nuclear industry, bismuth coolants are used in some reactor designs and to make radiation shielding with unique gamma ray blocking properties. The dimensional stability of bismuth alloys is also used to align jet engine turbine blades and for lens blocking.
About the NICO Project
Fortune has expended approximately C$145 million to advance the NICO Project from an in-house mineral discovery to a near construction-ready development asset with environmental assessment approval and the major mine permits already secured in the NWT. NICO and the Company's nearby Sue-Dianne copper deposit are IOCG-type mineral deposits with multiple payable metals, reducing the Company's vulnerability to price volatility or market manipulation of any single metal. The Open Pit and Underground Mineral Reserves for the NICO deposit contain 33.1 million metric tonnes of ore containing 1.1 million ounces of gold, 82.3 million pounds of cobalt, 102.1 million pounds of bismuth and 27.2 million pounds of copper. Development of the NICO Project would provide a vertically integrated domestic supply of three critical minerals and gold with custody control of the metals from ore through to the production of value-added products to help diversify the supply chains from foreign entities of concern.
For more detailed information about the NICO Mineral Reserves and certain technical information in this news release, please refer to the Technical Report on the NICO Project, entitled "Technical Report on the Feasibility Study for the NICO-Gold-Cobalt-Bismuth-Copper Project, Northwest Territories, Canada", dated April 2, 2014 and prepared by Micon International Limited which has been filed on SEDAR and is available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com .
The disclosure of scientific and technical information contained in this news release have been approved by Robin Goad, M.Sc., P.Geo., President and Chief Executive Officer of Fortune and Alex Mezei, M.Sc., P.Eng. Fortune's Chief Metallurgist, who are "Qualified Persons" under National Instrument 43-101.
About Fortune Minerals
Fortune is a Canadian mining company focused on developing the NICO cobalt-gold-bismuth-copper project in the NWT and Alberta. Fortune also owns the Sue-Dianne copper-silver-gold satellite deposit located 25 km north of the NICO deposit and a potential future source of incremental mill feed to extend the life of the NICO concentrator.
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This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. This forward-looking information includes statements with respect to, among other things, the construction of the proposed mine and concentrator in the NWT and the hydrometallurgical process facility in Alberta, the potential for expansion of the NICO Deposit and the Company's plans to develop the NICO Project. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management as well as certain assumptions at the date the information is given (including, in respect of the forward-looking information contained in this press release, assumptions regarding: the successful completion of the Company's updated feasibility study, the Company's ability to secure the necessary financing to fund the working capital required for the government funded work, the Company's ability to complete construction of a NICO Project hydrometallurgical process facility; the Company's ability to arrange the necessary financing to continue operations and develop the NICO Project; the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals for the construction and operation of the NICO Project and the related hydrometallurgical process facility and the timing thereof; growth in the demand for bismuth; the time required to construct the NICO Project; and the economic environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of gold, cobalt, bismuth and other by-product metals, anticipated costs and the volumes of metals to be produced at the NICO Project. However, such forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. These factors include the risks that the Company may not be able to complete the metallurgical test work to validate process improvements, update the Feasibility and FEED studies and secure the remaining permits and authorizations needed to construct and operate the mine, concentrator in the NWT and hydrometallurgical facility in Alberta, the Company may not achieve the anticipated reductions in capital and operating costs for the bismuth circuit, the Company may not be able to finance and develop NICO on favourable terms or at all, uncertainties with respect to the receipt or timing of required permits, approvals and agreements for the development of the NICO Project, including the related hydrometallurgical process facility, the construction of the NICO Project may take longer than anticipated, the Company may not be able to secure offtake agreements for the metals to be produced at the NICO Project, the Sue-Dianne Property may not be developed to the point where it can provide mill feed to the NICO Project, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties and in the mining industry in general, the market for products that use cobalt or bismuth may not grow to the extent anticipated, the future supply of cobalt and bismuth may not be as limited as anticipated, the risk of decreases in the market prices of cobalt, bismuth and other metals to be produced by the NICO Project, discrepancies between actual and estimated Mineral Resources or between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries, uncertainties associated with estimating Mineral Resources and Reserves and the risk that even if such Mineral Resources prove accurate the risk that such Mineral Resources may not be converted into Mineral Reserves once economic conditions are applied, the Company's production of cobalt, bismuth and other metals may be less than anticipated and other operational and development risks, market risks and regulatory risks. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information because it is possible that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forms of forward-looking information will not be achieved by the Company. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise it to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250509583965/en/
For further information:
Fortune Minerals Limited Â
Troy Nazarewicz
Investor Relations Manager
info@fortuneminerals.com
Tel: (519) 858-8188
www.fortuneminerals.com
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 OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Brunswick Exploration Inc. (" Brunswick " or the " Corporation ") (TSX-V: BRW, OTCQB: BRWXF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Red Cloud Securities Inc., to act as co-lead agent and sole bookrunner along with Canaccord Genuity Corp. as co-lead agent (collectively, the " Agents "), in connection with a "best efforts" private placement (the " Marketed Offering ") for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$2,500,000 from the sale of (i) units of the Corporation (the " LIFE Units ") at a price of C$0.13 per LIFE Unit (the " Offering Price ") and (ii) units of the Corporation (the " Non-LIFE Units ", and collectively with the LIFE Units, the " Offered Securities ") at a price of C$0.15 per Non-LIFE Unit. A strategic investor has made a lead order to subscribe for Non-LIFE Units under the Offering.
Each LIFE Unit will consist of one common share of the Corporation (each, a " Unit Share ") and one half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a " LIFE Warrant "). Each whole LIFE Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Corporation (each, a " Warrant Share ") at a price of C$0.20 at any time for a period of 36 months following the Closing Date (as defined herein).
Each Non-LIFE Unit will consist of one Unit Share and one common share purchase warrant (each, a " Non-LIFE Warrant "). Each Non-LIFE Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Warrant Share at a price of C$0.25 at any time for a period of 36 months following the Closing Date.
The Agents will have an option, exercisable in full or in part, up to 48 hours prior to the Closing Date, to raise up to C$1,000,000 in additional gross proceeds from the sale of LIFE Units at the Offering Price (the " Agents' Option ", and together with the Marketed Offering, the " Offering ").
Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions (" NI 45-106 "), the LIFE Units will be offered for sale to purchasers in all the provinces of Canada (the " Canadian Selling Jurisdictions ") pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106. The securities to be issued pursuant to the sale of LIFE Units are expected to be immediately freely tradeable under applicable Canadian securities legislation if sold to purchasers resident in Canada.
The Non-LIFE Units will be offered by way of the "accredited investor" and "minimum amount investment" exemptions under NI 45-106 in the Canadian Selling Jurisdictions. The securities to be issued pursuant to the sale of Non-LIFE Units will be subject to a four-month hold period in Canada pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.
The Offered Securities may also be issued to purchasers outside of Canada, including to purchasers resident in the United States pursuant to one or more exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the " U.S. Securities Act "), as amended.
The Corporation intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for exploration activities at the Company's Québec and Greenland projects, as well as for general corporate purposes and working capital.
The Offering is scheduled to close on May 28, 2025 (the " Closing Date "), or such other date as the Corporation and the Agents may agree. Completion of the Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.
There is an offering document related to the Offering that can be accessed under the Corporation's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Corporation's website at www.brwexplo.ca. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act, as amended or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
About Brunswick Exploration
Brunswick Exploration is a Montreal-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSX-V under symbol BRW. The Corporation is focused on grassroots exploration for lithium in Canada, a critical metal necessary to global decarbonization and energy transition. The Corporation is rapidly advancing the most extensive grassroots lithium property portfolio in Canada and Greenland.
Investor Relations/information
Mr. Killian Charles, President and CEO (info@brwexplo.ca)
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements concerning the Corporation's expectations with respect to the use of proceeds and the use of the available funds following completion of the Offering; the completion of the Offering and the date of such completion, approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and the filing of the offering document. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; changes in equity markets; inflation; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects; the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry; and those risks set out in the Corporation's public documents filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Corporation believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
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Saga Metals Corp. ("SAGA" or the "Company") (TSXV: SAGA) (OTCQB: SAGMF) (FSE: 20H) a North American exploration company specializing in the discovery of critical minerals, is pleased to announce the addition of 97 new claims covering 2,425 hectares, increasing the total area of the Radar Ti-V-Fe Project to 24,175 hectares.
The Company's 100%-owned Radar Property is strategically located just 10 kilometres from the coastal city of Cartwright, Labrador. The location offers excellent infrastructure advantages, including:
With the recent expansion, the Radar Property now fully encompasses the Dykes River intrusive complex, a recently identified Mesoproterozoic layered mafic intrusion (Gower, 2017). The complex has garnered significant interest due to its geological resemblance to large AMCG-type intrusions and the presence of an extensive titanium-vanadium-iron (Ti-V-Fe) enriched layer containing vanadiferous titanomagnetite ("VTM").
Regional airborne magnetic surveys highlighted the mafic oxide layer, revealing an arcuate exploration target extending over 20 kilometers in length.
Michael Garagan, CGO & Director of SAGA commented: "To lay claim to the entire Dykes River Intrusion is an important milestone for SAGA and its shareholders. Throughout history, many of these mineralized geological settings have been shared amongst multiple companies vying to advance their projects. It's a unique and significant opportunity to hold the entire 160 square km intrusion mapped at the surface and benefits from tremendous infrastructure. The claim acquisition consolidates the entire intrusion and allows the company to delegate zones for both additional infrastructure and further exploration. We've only just begun uncovering the true potential and extent of the oxide layering hosted within the intrusion."
Figure 1: Map of the Radar project highlighting the oxide layering, road access, and proximity to the town of Cartwright, Labrador. SAGA's 2024 field programs now confirm compilation of historical airborne geophysics.
Saga Metals Confirms Geological Success with Drilling:
The Company recently reported assays from the first two of seven holes drilled on the Hawkeye zone of the Radar Ti-V-Fe property. Please click here to review the full press release on drill holes #1 and #4. Highlights are listed below.
Highlights:
Drilling also confirmed massive to semi-massive oxide layering, hosting VTM mineralization, with significant widths up to 210 meters within the drill core. The geological context identified by Dr. Al Miller's petrographic studies substantially advanced the understanding of Radar Property mineralization. These findings indicate that the VTM mineralization system is advantageous for simplified metallurgical processing and potentially improves economic outcomes.
Figure 2: The prospective oxide layering zone on the Radar property extends for an inferred 20km strike length, as shown on a compilation of historical airborne geophysics, which SAGA confirmed in the 2024 field programs.
Figure 3: Hawkeye Zone displays a  500m strike by 350m width magnetic anomaly drilled in the winter 2025 program. (2024 Saga Metals. TMI Magnetic Survey).
Given the success of the maiden drill program within the Hawkeye zone over a 500 m strike and the strong correlation between drill core, rock samples and geophysics (Figure 3), SAGA plans to repeat this model over the five priority targets along the 20 km strike length of the oxide layer. The geophysical anomaly drilled in the Hawkeye zone is potentially one of the lesser anomalies. Early indications from geophysics being conducted over the Trapper zone report an even stronger magnetic response.
Qualified Person
Paul J. McGuigan, P. Geo. is an Independent Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information related to the Radar Ti-V-Fe Project disclosed in this news release.
About Saga Metals Corp.
Saga Metals Corp. is a North American mining company focused on the exploration and discovery of critical minerals that support the global transition to green energy. The company's flagship asset, the Double Mer Uranium Project, is located in Labrador, Canada, covering 25,600 hectares. This project features uranium radiometrics that highlight an 18km east-west trend, with a confirmed 14km section producing samples as high as 0.428% U 3 O 8 and uranium uranophane was identified in several areas of highest radiometric response (2024 Double Mer Technical Report).
In addition to its uranium focus, SAGA owns the Legacy Lithium Property in Quebec's Eeyou Istchee James Bay region. This project, developed in partnership with Rio Tinto, has been expanded through the acquisition of the Amirault Lithium Project. Together, these properties cover 65,849 hectares and share significant geological continuity with other major players in the area, including Rio Tinto, Winsome Resources, Azimut Exploration, and Loyal Lithium.
SAGA also holds additional exploration assets in Labrador, where the company is focused on the discovery of titanium, vanadium, and iron ore. With a portfolio that spans key minerals crucial to the green energy transition, SAGA is strategically positioned to play an essential role in the clean energy future.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Mike Stier, Chief Executive Officer
For more information, contact:
Saga Metals Corp.
Investor Relations
Tel: +1 (778) 930-1321
Email: info@SAGAmetals.com
www.SAGAmetals.com
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VANCOUVER, BC TheNewswire - MAY 7 th 2025 American Salars Lithium Inc. ("AMERICAN SALARS" OR THE "COMPANY") (CSE: USLI, OTC: USLIF, FWB: Z3P, WKN: A3E2NY ) announces that it has commenced a Phase 2 sampling program on its 100% owned, highly prospective 18,083 Hectares (180 sq km) Hardrock LCT ("Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum") Pegmatite Project including Rare Earth Elements ("REEs") and Critical Minerals (the "Jaguaribe Project ").
The Jaguaribe Project is located in the Jaguaribe/Solonópole region in the State of Ceará, in Northern Brazil and hosts multiple extensive Lithium and REE bearing pegmatite dykes that have returned initial Phase 1 sample discoveries of up to 3.72% Li 2 O, 2.15% Li 2 O and 1.58% Li 2 O as well as 554.5 ppm of Cesium,
135 ppm of Tantalum, 177 ppm of Niobium. One sample showed high values for Rubidium (>10,000ppm); Tin (675 ppm) and Zinc (387ppm).
American Salars CEO & Director R. Nick Horsley states, " We are thrilled to launch the second phase of exploration at our Jaguaribe Project, building on the promising lithium and rare earth element (REE) discoveries from phase one. Brazil is a global hub for hard rock lithium production, and our Jaguaribe Project, located in a well-known pegmatite district, has already yielded high-grade lithium samples and significant REE values. This next phase will focus on identifying and sampling additional pegmatites to further delineate the scale and quality of this critical mineral-rich region."
The initial phase 1 exploration program revealed multiple long and wide pegmatite dykes that measure up to 30 meters in width and up to 300 meters in length that are largely unexplored. American Salars has secured field crews, a Brazil focussed senior geologist, and lithium specialist QP to oversee a more extensive Phase 2 work program to map new pegmatite outcrops as well as sampling new and known areas of mineralization. The Company has secured sampling and exploration crews and is working with local Brazil based geological consultants to help plan a follow up drilling program to test priority targets.
About the Jaguaribe Property
The Jaguaribe Property covers historic artisanal mining sites previously mined for lithium, coltan (tantalum and niobium) and tin.
Initial sampling of the Jaguaribe Pegmatites returned Spodumene bearing pegmatite samples that graded up to 3.72% Li2O as well as Rare Earth Elements.
Phase 2 sampling will test multiple additional LCT Pegmatite targets.
Ideal project location - Historical Pegmatite Province Brazil.
4-hour drive on paved roads to port and international airport (Fortaleza).
The topography, land use and vegetation at Jaguaribe Property is well suited for exploration activities.
Arid, sparsely populated farmland, no rain forest.
Northern Brazil provides shipping routes and deep-water ports to North American and European battery chemical markets.
Figure 1. Geological Map of the Solonópole/Jaguaribe Region, with location of the Jaguaribe claim blocks shown in YELLOW color .
Multi elements ICP analysis (55 elements) of 13 pegmatites sampled across the Jaguaribe Project, returned: Lithium, Rubidium, Tantalum and Niobium. Of the 13 samples, one (VM-EJ-R-01) is mineralized with Lithium at (3.72% Li2O), a normal occurrence, because it was the first geological reconnaissance work carried out on the Project. The presence of Li bearing Lepidolite and Spodumene minerals were observed in the pegmatites during the initial fieldwork.
Pegmatite VM-EJ-01 is an LCT (Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum) pegmatite, in addition to samples of 3.72 Li2O, anomalous values of 554.5 ppm of Cesium and 135 ppm of Tantalum were recorded, accompanied by 177 ppm of Niobium and high values for Rubidium (>10,000ppm); Tin (675 ppm) and Zinc (387ppm). Initial fieldwork also detected two additional pegmatites with 2.15% and 1.58% Li2O, respectively, which led to the exploration and acquisition of the 10 claim blocks that make up the Jaguribe Property.
Figure 2. LCT pegmatite Outcrops and Surface Samples from vein in a North -Northeast direction and embedded in gneiss.
Figure 3. Location of the Pegmatite Districts of Ceará, Brazil.
Geochemical Characteristics of Pegmatites, Jaguaribe Project, Ceará, Brazil
A multi-element analyse was conducted at the SGS laboratory for 58 elements including REE, from 12 samples from the Jaguaribe Project. These samples were analyzed by the ICM90A method: determination with fusion in sodium peroxide-ICP OES/ICP MS.
Geochemistry of the Pegmatites samples from the Jaguaribe Project area, was compared with the standard sample or standard analysis provided by the SGS laboratory, with the common elements and their contents in an LCT-type Pegmatite (Lithium, Cesium and Tantalum).
The pegmatite from the VM-R-01 Pegmatite sample, which contained Lepidolite and a content of 1.54% Li 2 O, shows a strong geochemical correlation with the standard sample, in terms of the contents of Li, Cs, and Ta, the latter being much higher (135 ppm Ta) than the Ta content of the SGS standard sample (18 ppm Ta). The VM-R-1 sample also shows a correlation with the SGS standard, in terms of Rb, Nb, Sn and P. Other pegmatite samples from the Jaguaribe Project, namely VM-R-6 and VM-R-7, are iron enriched and present less marked correlations, in relation to the contents of the standard sample only in the elements Li, Rb and Ba, although they show anomalous geochemical values of Cs.
The results of the VM-R-8 and VM-R-10 analyses show a good correlation with the results of the SGS standard sample, regarding the contents of Rb, Ba, Cs, Ta, Nb and P, but the Li levels fell, respectively, to 110 ppm and less than 10 ppm. This sharp drop in the Li levels of these samples is mainly due to the leaching of Li minerals by surface waters, notably Spodumene, a phenomenon observed in most of the pegmatites in the region, whose Li levels increase substantially in the subsurface in mining pits, in the companies' research excavations and mainly in drill holes.
QUALIFIED PERSON
The technical content regarding the Jaguaribe Project, in this release has been reviewed and approved by Mitchell E. Lavery, P. Geo, who is an Independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
ABOUT AMERICAN SALARS
American Salars Lithium is an exploration company focused on exploring and developing high-value battery metals projects to meet the demands of the advancing electric vehicle market.
All Stakeholders are encouraged to follow the Company on its social media profiles on , , TikTok , and Instagram .
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
" R. Nick Horsley "
R. Nick Horsley, CEO
For further information, please contact:
American Salars Lithium Inc.
Phone: 604.740.7492
E-Mail: info@americansalars.com
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding American Salar's intention to continue to identify potential transactions and make certain corporate changes and applications. Forward looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance, or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits American Salars will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect managements' current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including American Salars results of exploration or review of properties that American Salars does acquire. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and American Salars assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results differed from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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The Board of Directors of Albemarle Corp. (NYSE: ALB) announced today that it declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.405 per share. This marks Albemarle's 126 th consecutive quarterly cash dividend.
The dividend, which has an annualized rate of $1.62 , is payable July 1, 2025 , to shareholders of record at the close of business as of June 13, 2025 .
About Albemarle Â
Albemarle Corp. (NYSE: ALB) leads the world in transforming essential resources into critical ingredients for mobility, energy, connectivity and health. We partner to pioneer new ways to move, power, connect and protect with people and planet in mind. A reliable and high-quality global supply of lithium and bromine allows us to deliver advanced solutions for our customers. Learn more about how the people of Albemarle are enabling a more resilient world at Albemarle.com , LinkedIn and on X (formerly known as Twitter) @AlbemarleCorp .
Albemarle regularly posts information to www.albemarle.com , including notification of events, news, financial performance, investor presentations and webcasts, non-GAAP reconciliations, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings and other information regarding the company, its businesses and the markets it serves.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements concerning our expectations, anticipations and beliefs regarding the future, including, without limitation, statements related to future dividends and results, which may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from the views expressed. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement include, without limitation: changes in economic and business conditions; expected market pricing of lithium and spodumene and other underlying assumptions and our 2025 outlook considerations; adverse changes in liquidity or financial or operating performance; changes in the demand for our products or the end-user markets in which our products are sold and the other factors detailed from time to time in the reports we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including those described under "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. We assume no obligation to provide any revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.
Media Contact: Peter Smolowitz, +1 (980) 308-6310, media@albemarle.com Â
Investor Relations Contact: +1 (980) 299-5700, invest@albemarle.com
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