Avalon recently announced that a $750,000 pilot plant program has commenced on the Company’s Separation Rapids Lithium Project located near Kenora, Ontario. The 2015 pilot plant program will provide a trial of the new lithium minerals process flow sheet developed at the bench scale over the past year.
Avalon recently received a letter from NYSE MKT LLC dated July 30, 2015 which states that due to the Company’s recent low selling share price, it has been deemed to be not in compliance with the continued listing standards of the Exchange. The Company’s continued listing is contingent upon the Company effecting a share consolidation within a reasonable period of time or upon a sustained increase in its share price. The company goes “Beyond The Press Release†to discuss this matter further.
Toronto, Ontario–(August 17, 2015) – Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSX: AVL) (NYSE MKT: AVL) (“Avalon” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that a $750,000 pilot plant program has commenced on the Company’s Separation Rapids Lithium Project (“Separation Rapids Project” or “the Project”) located near Kenora, Ontario. The 2015 pilot plant program will provide a trial of the new lithium minerals process flow sheet developed at the bench scale over the past year under the direction of SVP, Metallurgy and Technology Development, David Marsh. A total of 30 tonnes of crushed ore will be shipped to a laboratory in Germany for processing to produce a minimum of 1 tonne of pure lithium mineral (petalite) concentrate.
This petalite concentrate will be used for two purposes: 1) to provide product samples to potential customers in the glass—ceramics industry who have expressed interest in evaluating these samples and 2) to provide concentrate for additional process development toward producing a high purity lithium chemical product for use by customers in the lithium ion rechargeable battery manufacturing business. The lithium chemicals work will be done at the laboratories of the Saskatchewan Research Council (“SRC”) in Saskatoon. The entire program is expected to be completed over the next 6-8 months.
The Opportunity
The Separation Rapids Project hosts an exceptionally large deposit of the rare lithium mineral petalite, which is noted for its lack of contained impurities. For this reason, petalite has a long history of use in specialty glass-ceramic products that require raw materials with a high degree of purity. Demand for petalite in this application has been growing steadily, with users now looking for new long term sources of supply. Avalon re-activated the Project in 2013 after receiving a number of expressions of interest from glass-ceramic manufacturers. In 2014, the Company successfully re-established and improved upon its original process flowsheet at the bench scale to produce high purity petalite concentrate containing an average of 4.2% lithium oxide and less than 0.01% iron oxide (a glass contaminant). Small samples of this material were subsequently analyzed and approved for further evaluation by a number of glass-ceramic end-users, leading to the decision to proceed with a larger scale pilot plant trial in 2015.
High purities have also been increasingly required for lithium chemicals used in the manufacture of lithium ion batteries. Accordingly, the Company is now investigating how its high purity mineral can be used to make ultra-high purity lithium chemicals relatively inexpensively compared to other existing alternative lithium source materials. Laboratory test work performed earlier this year at SRC provided encouraging results with a battery-grade lithium carbonate (>99.5% pure) being produced using proven leaching and precipitation technologies. Further, there is the potential to produce an enhanced grade product, achieving greater than 99.9% purity, with relatively few additional impurity removal steps. The potential for production of high grade lithium hydroxide was also demonstrated during this work.
The opportunity now exists for Avalon to uniquely position itself as a long term supplier of both high purity lithium minerals to the glass ceramics market and lithium chemicals to the rapidly growing lithium ion rechargeable battery market.
Project Background
The Separation Rapids Project is located approximately 70 km north of Kenora, Ontario in the traditional territory of the Wabaseemoong Independent Nations. The Project is 100% owned by the Company, with the deposit held under a 21 year Mining Lease. Avalon has worked on the Project intermittently since 1996, first completing a Pre-feasibility Study in 1999. Expenditures to date total approximately $6.2 million. In 2006, the Company extracted a 250 tonne bulk sample for new market development purposes. This material is being used for the current bulk sample test program, and earlier in 2015, Avalon shipped 2 tonnes of crushed ore to a potential customer in China for independent analysis and market evaluation. No feedback has been received to date.
Lithium Markets
Over the 5 year period ending in 2014, global consumption of lithium increased 80% while consumption of lithium for battery applications (the largest single market segment) grew by 166%, according to independent industrial minerals market analyst, Roskill Information Services.
Growing demand for rechargeable batteries in electric vehicles and home energy storage is expected to result in continued growth in consumption of lithium which is estimated by industry analyst Stormcrow Capital to reach 410,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent per year in 2025. This translates into an impressive compounded annual growth rate of a 7.8%. In their May 2015 Industry Report, Stormcrow further predicts that a supply deficit will emerge in the market as existing producers struggle to meet the rapidly growing demand.
Avalon has commissioned a market study to gain a better understanding of how it can use its unique high purity petalite resource to best serve the rapidly evolving market in energy storage technology. This study will be completed during the fourth quarter of 2015.
Future Plans
Avalon is also preparing for a large scale pilot plant trial involving the processing of over 5,000 tonnes of ore to produce several hundred tonnes of petalite concentrate for full scale production trials by prospective customers in the glass-ceramics industry. Some of the petalite concentrate produced would also be utilized for a pilot plant trial of the lithium chemical production process to be designed over the next 12 months. The lithium chemicals produced from this trial would also be used for market development purposes.
To complete the bulk sampling program Avalon will need to rehabilitate its 2003 access road to the site. Avalon has applied for the necessary work permit and expects to complete this work in September 2015. The timing for the bulk sampling program is still to be finalized and is subject to arranging necessary financing. Avalon is also looking at potential sites for establishing future production facilities in the Kenora area, including at the Separation Rapids Project site itself.
The current pilot plant program will provide the Company with the engineering and design information needed to prepare an updated Pre-feasibility Study in 2016.
The technical information included in this news release has been reviewed and approved by the Company’s Senior Vice President Metallurgy and Technology Development, Mr. David Marsh, FAusIMM (CP), who is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.
About Avalon Rare Metals Inc.
Avalon Rare Metals Inc. is a mineral development company focused on rare metal deposits in Canada, with three advanced stage projects. Its 100%-owned Nechalacho Deposit, Thor Lake, NWT is exceptional in its large size and enrichment in the scarce “heavy” rare earth elements, key to enabling advances in clean technology and other growing high-tech applications. Avalon is also advancing its Separation Rapids Lithium Project, Kenora, ON and its East Kemptville Tin-Indium Project, Yarmouth, NS. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones.
For questions or feedback, please email the Company at [email protected], or phone Don Bubar, President & CEO, at 416-364-4938416-364-4938
416-364-4938
416-364-4938 .
Cautionary Statement
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the commencement and completion of its work programs, that the 2015 pilot plant program will provide a trial of the new lithium minerals process flow sheet, that a total of 30 tonnes of crushed ore will be shipped to a laboratory in Germany for processing, that the petalite concentrate will be used for two purposes, that the lithium chemicals work will be done at the laboratories of SRC, that the entire program is expected to be completed over the next 6-8 months, that there is the potential to produce an enhanced grade product achieving greater than 99.9% purity with relatively few additional impurity removal steps, that growing demand for rechargeable batteries in electric vehicles and home energy storage is expected to result in continued growth in consumption of lithium, that the market study will be completed during the fourth quarter of 2015, that some of the petalite concentrate produced would also be utilized for a pilot plant trial of the lithium chemical production process to be designed over the next 12 months, that the lithium chemicals produced from this trial would also be used for market development purposes, that to complete the bulk sampling program Avalon will need to rehabilitate its 2003 access road to the site and that the current pilot plant program will provide the Company with the engineering and design information needed to prepare an updated Pre-feasibility Study, in 2016. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “potential”, “scheduled”, “anticipates”, “continues”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “scheduled”, “targeted”, “planned”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be” or “will not be” taken, reached or result, “will occur” or “be achieved”. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Avalon to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made. Although Avalon has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expected results described in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to market conditions, the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, and unanticipated results from the work programs, as well as those risk factors set out in the Company’s current Annual Information Form, Management’s Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure documents available under the Company’s profile at www.SEDAR.com. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such forward-looking statements have been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company’s plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Avalon does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Toronto, ON — Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSX and NYSE MKT: AVL) (the “Companyâ€) has received a letter from NYSE MKT LLC (“NYSE MKT” or the “Exchange”) dated July 30, 2015 which states that due to the Company’s recent low selling share price, it has been deemed to be not in compliance with the continued listing standards of the Exchange. Pursuant to Section 1003(f)(v) of the Exchange’s Company Guide, the Company’s continued listing is contingent upon the Company effecting a share consolidation within a reasonable period of time or upon a sustained increase in its share price. A potential share consolidation, if required, will need to be approved by the Company’s shareholders at the Company’s next annual general meeting currently planned for February, 2016.
About Avalon Rare Metals Inc.
Avalon Rare Metals Inc. is a mineral development company focused on rare metal deposits in Canada, with three advanced stage projects. Its 100%-owned Nechalacho Deposit, Thor Lake, NWT is exceptional in its large size and enrichment in the scarce “heavy†rare earth elements, key to enabling advances in clean technology and other growing high-tech applications. Avalon is also advancing its Separation Rapids Lithium Minerals Project, Kenora, ON and its East Kemptville Tin-Indium Project, Yarmouth, NS. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones.
For questions and feedback, please e-mail the Company at [email protected], or phone Don Bubar, President & CEO at 416-364-4938.
Cautionary Statement
This news release contains “forward-looking statements†within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the continued listing of the Company’s securities. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “potentialâ€, “scheduledâ€, “anticipatesâ€, “continuesâ€, “expects†or “does not expectâ€, “is expectedâ€, “scheduledâ€, “targetedâ€, “plannedâ€, or “believesâ€, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “mayâ€, “couldâ€, “wouldâ€, “might†or “will be†or “will not be†taken, reached or result, “will occur†or “be achievedâ€. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Avalon to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made. Although Avalon has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expected results described in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to market conditions, as well as those risk factors set out in the Company’s current Annual Information Form, Management’s Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure documents available under the Company’s profile at www.SEDAR.com. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such forward-looking statements have been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company’s plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Avalon does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
By Kitco News
Tuesday July 21, 2015 10:19
The recent bankruptcy (chapter 11) filing by Molycorp, the U.S.’ only producer of rare earth elements, prompted many comments about the future of this market sector. Once an icon for independence from China for these crucial materials the company now appears to have fallen victim to a sustained period of low prices.
Rare earth elements are key components in almost all technology products these days, ranging from smartphones and flat screen TVs to all sorts of electric motors, high performance metal alloys and even automotive catalysts.
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| Image courtsey of Molycorp |
Analyst comments that Molycorp’s demise was in part due to substitution of rare earth elements are lacking substance, though. Despite statements by Tesla published a while ago saying the electric motors used for propulsion of their Model S are free from REEs, there are plenty of REEs in many other places of the car (power windows, power tailgate, electric seat adjustment, power mirrors, speakers, cameras, sensors,… ect.).
Even comments talking about “the end of the line†for Molycorp seem inaccurate. Only the company’s North American operation is affected by the chapter 11 filing; plants in other parts of the world remain untouched, at least for the time being. The company also reports on its website that short-term financing has been obtained, making a debt restructuring plan and return to normal operation a possibility.
“If anything, Molycorp’s troubles are a good thing for pricesâ€, commented Matthias Rueth, president of Tradium GmbH, a large REE trader. In fact, because there is so little substitution, the market for REEs is not elastic at all in terms of demand. After the price explosion in 2010, more new operations were encouraged to add capacity than was healthy for the market. As a result, prices plummeted in subsequent years to all-time lows.
Recent months did, however, see a much improved conscience in China with respect to environmental and safety issues leading to higher production costs that are now more in line with international levels. On top, China restructured its taxes and tariffs to comply with WTO rulings. The country also shut down some illegal mines, leading to increased legal export volumes. All signs indicate that China is regaining control over this market, which – if successful – would have a positive impact on prices.
Markets will continue to be cyclical but growing. The premise remains: in the absence of non-physical markets for REEs, investing in this exciting group of metals will remain a matter of long term strateiges.
Bodo Albrecht
President – BASIQ Corp.
www.basiq.com
www.bodoalbrecht.com
VANCOUVER, BC / July 7, 2015 – Enertopia Corporation (ENRT-OTCBB) (TOP-CSE) (the “Company” or “Enertopia”) is pleased to announce it has signed with Amazon.ca to sell V-LoveTM across Canada.
The Company’s first shipment to the Amazon.ca main distribution facility in Mississauga, Ontario has been received and V-LoveTM is ready for online consumer purchase throughout Canada. One can simply go to amazon.ca and enter vlove in the search field to locate and purchase V-LoveTM
V-LoveTM is pH balanced specifically for women and provides lubrication and a moisturizing feeling to sooth vaginal dryness.
Click Image To View Full Size
“We are very pleased to now have two major channels for online distribution in Canada as we move forward with our consumer outreach programs,” stated President Robert McAllister.
About Enertopia
The Company’s mission is to empower people with a better way of living through healthy lifestyle choices in helping you live your life your way. Our core values of honesty, integrity, and commitment help to define our corporate practices and demonstrate our dedication in helping individuals whether they are encountering health issues based on age, diet or have suffered a traumatic physical, mental or an emotional event.
Enertopia’s shares are quoted in Canada with symbol TOP and in the United States with symbol ENRT. For additional information, please visit www.enertopia.com or call Robert McAllister, the President: (250) 765-6412
This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. The Company makes forward-looking public statements concerning its expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, potential and financing of its medical marihuana projects, evaluation and sale of sexual creams and other items, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, including statements that include words such as “anticipate,” “if,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “will,” and other similar expressions that are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are estimates reflecting the Company’s best judgment based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that other factors will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking statements., foreign exchange and other financial markets; changes of the interest rates on borrowings; hedging activities; changes in commodity prices; changes in the investments and exploration expenditure levels; litigation; legislation; environmental, judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments in areas in which Enertopia Corporation operates. The User should refer to the risk disclosures set out in the periodic reports and other disclosure documents filed by Enertopia Corporation from time to time with regulatory authorities. There is no assurance that V-Love TM will have any meaningful impact on the Company or the Company will be able to obtain future financings.
The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release
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By Yvonne Colbert, CBC News Posted: Jul 06, 2015 6:00 AM AT Last Updated: Jul 06, 2015 6:00 AM AT
Avalon Rare Metals Inc. plans to invest $1.3 million into preliminary work to determine the feasibility of re-starting the East Kemptville Mine. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)|
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A Canadian mining company and politicians in southwest Nova Scotia are hoping an idle tin mine in the area will help the economy rebound.
Toronto-based Avalon Rare Metals Inc. was granted a special licence by the province in March of this year for the East Kemptville Mine formerly owned by Rio Algom.
Avalon plans to invest $1.3 million into preliminary work to determine the feasibility of re-starting the mine.
The site is located about 45 kilometres northeast of Yarmouth.
Rio Algom closed the mine in 1992 because of falling tin prices, but Avalon president and CEO Don Bubar says a lot has changed since then, including a recovery in the price of tin and potentially higher prices in the future.
“There’s [also] lots of new demand for tin from its new application in the use of lead-free solders and electronics,” says Bubar.
He says the mine also contains the rare metal indium which was not previously mined at the site. Mining it could make the mine even more viable.
“In the past it had limited commercial use, but now it’s got growing application in electronics, is in demand,” said Bubar.
He expects a dozen people to be employed at the remote site this summer, the majority of them Nova Scotians.
If the project moves forward, he said as many as 200 people could be employed there.
“We know that part of the province suffers from high unemployment,” he said. “There’s a good skilled labour force there that would love the opportunity to work in an operation like that close to home, so we think we can fill most of our employment needs in Nova Scotia,” said Bubar.
All of this is music to the ears of politicians in the nearby town of Shelburne. Mayor Karen Harris-Matattall says the prospect of that many jobs is exciting in an area that has been struggling.
“Like most rural communities, we’re losing people because they need employment and it’s a struggle to get employment in rural Nova Scotia, so this may well be something that’s going to work out very well and be very positive for this community,” she said.
The mayor said the town is also hoping to convince the company to use the port of Shelburne to ship its product.
Bubar says if all goes as planned, it will be three or four years before the mine is operating.
Canada’s Avalon Rare Metals (TSX:AVL), until now mostly known for its incursion in the rare earths market, is proceeding with a $1.3 million work program in South-western Nova Scotia to reopen a historic tin-indium mine.
The company, working on completing a Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) for the project by November this year, is betting on recently approved legislation in Europe, which bans all products containing conflict minerals from war zones in Africa.
Speaking at the 128th Annual Meeting of The Nova Scotia Mining Society late in June, Avalon’s President and CEO Don Bubar said the European Union anti “blood metals†rules, together with the U.S. Dodd-Frank Act, which forces US stock exchange-listed companies to disclose the use of minerals from a conflict zone in their supply chains, gives Avalon’s tin project huge advantages.
The miner was granted a special exploration licence to search 22 claims totalling 356.12 hectares. It also received a $40,000 project grant from the province earlier this year to assist with test drilling.
“We’re hopeful, at this point,†Natural Resources Minister Zach Churchill told MINING.com in an interview mid-June, adding that since market prices for tin have improved, the Nova Scotia government is optimistic about the prospects at the location.
“Any activity on that site is encouraging, but we need to wait and see what the results of the ongoing exploration drilling are before we rise our hopes too much,†Churchill said. He also noted there would have to be an environmental assessment done before any work can resume at the site.
Victim of falling prices
Avalon’s President and CEO, Don Bubar, in March 2014. (Image courtesy of Avalon)
The Rio Algom tin mine in East Kemptville operated in the area from the mid-1980s to 1992, employing 200 people from Yarmouth and Shelburne counties. At the time, it was North America’s only open-pit tin mine, but it had to close after prices for the metal dropped to levels reaching well below US$3 per pound.
And while the metal used in electronics and packaging is now trading at more than double that price, it is down 23% so far this year, which makes it the worst-performing industrial metal on the London Metal Exchange.
No wonder analysts are not optimistic about the short-term outlook for it. Steve Hardcastle, head of client services for industrial commodities at Sucden Financial Ltd. in London, is one of them. He told Bloomberg last week that tin prices were set for the biggest first-half decline in 25 years because of abundant supplies and weak demand.
“The long-term future for tin is not brilliant, and it’s been reflected in the price,†Hardcastle said. “The big unknown 18 months ago was Myanmar, which is now filling the gap.â€
In addition to East Kemtpville, Avalon Rare Metals has projects underway in Separation Rapids near Kenora, Ontario and Nechalacho, Thor Lake, in the North West Territories.
Source: http://www.mining.com/avalon-banks-on-new-blood-metals-rule-for-canadas-tin-mine-success/
LONDON Shrinking tin stocks, dwindling supplies from Myanmar and new Indonesian rules to curb exports are at last creating conditions for bulls who for some time have expected to see higher prices.
But the optimism is tinged with caution as much depends on whether top exporter Indonesia can limit its shipments abroad, something it has failed to do in recent months.
That’s one reason why benchmark tin prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME), at around $15,000 a tonne, are down about 25 percent since early January this year.
Stocks of tin at 6,810 tonnes in LME-approved warehouses are about half the levels seen in December, the lowest in more than six years and only a fraction of global consumption estimated at 350,000 tonnes this year.
“There is a clear trend toward a depletion of stocks,” said Nicholas Snowdon, metals analyst at Standard Chartered.
“Indonesian exports will be increasingly constrained in the second half of the year. Chinese refined production has become more constrained with less Myanmar concentrate and altogether that points to a tightening trend in the market.”
Stronger growth in top consumer China in the second half of this year and the feed-through into demand for semiconductors and tin are also expected to be a plus for prices.
Solder used in electronics is the most important consumer of tin, accounting for about half of global use of the metal.
To halt illegal exports, Indonesian producers from Aug. 1 will need to prove that their tin comes from government-certified mines before it can be shipped.
One factor that has weighed on global prices is a surprising surge in supply as China’s imports of tin ore from Myanmar spiked, with shipments up over 80 percent so far this year.
But May imports at 21,456 tonnes are down 35 percent from April, which suggests the peak may already have been seen. Additionally, the concentrate from Myanmar is said to contain little tin.
“Some of it can be as low as 10 percent, most internationally traded concentrate has 55 to 75 percent tin,” said Peter Kettle, manager of markets at industry group ITRI.
“To some extent, people (in Indonesia) are exporting while they can … volumes will probably fall after August 1 when there will be more scrutiny of export licenses.”
However, there are doubts the new rules will be applied rigorously, and if they are, traders expect metal to be smuggled out of the country.
The country’s tin smelters in March agreed to limit monthly exports at 4,500 tonnes, which was subsequently lowered to 4,000 tonnes. But exports in April, May and June exceeded that number.
“The market needs to see exports much lower before it believes the curbs will work,” said Stephen Briggs, metals analyst at BNP Paribas. “The bullish side is low stocks.”
(Editing by Veronica Brown and Dale Hudson)
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/29/us-tin-supply-prices-idUSKCN0P902C20150629
Avalon is focused on rare metal deposits in Canada, with three advanced stage projects. Its 100%-owned Nechalacho Deposit, Thor Lake, NWT is exceptional in its large size and enrichment in the scarce “heavy” rare earth elements, key to enabling advances in clean technology and other growing high-tech applications. Avalon is also advancing its Separation Rapids Lithium Minerals Project, Kenora, ON and its East Kemptville Tin-Indium Project.
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