Defense Metals Corp. announces that it has completed all infrastructure geotechnical field data collection in support of the preliminary feasibility study ("PFS") for its 100% owned Wicheeda Rare Earth Element ("REE") Project located near Prince George, B.C., Canada.

Craig Taylor, CEO of Defense Metals, commented:

"We are very excited to have completed our 2023 Phase 3 geotechnical program. I would like to congratulate the APEX and SRK teams for their safe and professional execution of this work. These multi-phase programs started in early summer and we now have all field geotechnical data in hand necessary for the completion of our PFS study which we expect to be finished in Q2 2024."

Highlights of the 2023 Wicheeda REE Project infrastructure geotechnical programs include:

16 helicopter and track sonic overburden geotechnical drill holes totalling 225.5 metres (Image 1and Image 2);

20 excavated overburden geotechnical test pits totalling 76.8 metres (Image 3);

6 diamond drill holes totalling 1,182 metres within the Wicheeda REE deposit pit shell; inclusive of 4 open pit geochemical drill holes totalling 920 metres, and in pit exploration holes totalling 262 metres;

Shipment of a 2,700 kg metallurgical sample, collected from drill core, to SGS Lakefield, Ontario for continued flotation and hydrometallurgical optimization test-work;

Initiation of humidity cell testwork on 17 samples, and 250 kg sample selection for on-site kinetic leach (barrel) testing of samples representative of anticipated mine waste rock to assess metal leaching and acid rock drainage potential in support of environmental assessment.
The geotechnical work was completed by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. ("SRK") with the support of APEX Geoscience Ltd. ("APEX").

Image 1: Heli-Sonic Overburden Drilling in PFS Tailings Option Study Area

Image 2: Temporary Bridge Installation to Access Tailings Study Area

Image 3: Excavated Overburden Test Pits Underway in Tailings Study Area

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release as it relates to the Wicheeda REE Project has been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (B.C.), Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, Alberta, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101.

 

Source:prnewswire.com

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