Texas Rare Earth Resources Further Defines Heavy Rare Earth Mineralogy and Initial Leaching Characteristics of Round Top Deposit
- Independent lab testing continues to see recoveries as high as 94% in heavy and critical rare earth minerals
- Mineralogy continues to suggest possible, simple sulfuric acid leaching process
SIERRA BLANCA, Texas, April 16, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Texas Rare Earth Resources Corp. (OTCQX:TRER) ("Texas Rare Earth"), an exploration company developing its Round Top property whose rare earth content is approximately 70% heavy rare earth elements* is pleased to announce highly encouraging results of acid bake extraction of whole ore samples from the Round Top deposit with testing done at Hazen Research Inc of Golden, Colorado and analysis from Act Labs in Canada.
% Extraction** | |||||||||||||||
Ce | Dy | Er | Eu | La | Nd | Pr | Th | Y | Yb | U | Sm | Gd | Tb | Lu | Hf |
92 | 92 | 85 | 59 | 90 | 95 | 94 | 81 | 92 | 77 | 65 | 94 | 96 | 94 | 73 | 20 |
The testing by Hazen Research, was on ground whole rock treated with concentrated sulfuric acid and baked for one hour at 325 degrees C followed by a water leach. Analysis was done at Actlabs Ltd., in Canada.
These data confirm that it is possible to obtain high recoveries of all the REE's during this crucial "first step" of the separation process. Of particular importance is the high recoveries of Dysprosium (Dy), Yttrium (Y) and Neodymium (Nd) which are considered to be "critical" rare earth elements.
Additional work continues on optimizing the leach parameters and on improving flotation recoveries. The potential for heap leaching the Round Top Deposit is also being independently tested.
Dan Gorski, CEO, stated: "These results are encouraging and serve to support the earlier findings disclosed in our press release of March 20, 2013, that the REE bearing minerals, principally Yttrofluorite, are soluble in sulfuric acid. We are pleased with the high recoveries of the three "critical" rare earth's, (Dy, Y and Nd) which aggregate approximately 42% of the contained rare earth elements at Round Top. "
These results are preliminary in nature and more research needs to be done. Acid consumption and process development designs must be determined before an economic process can be defined and a determination of potential preliminary economic viability of the process can be made. The Round Top project does not contain proven and probable reserves under the Securities and Exchange Commission's Industry Guide 7 and our activities are exploratory in nature.
*Heavy rare earth elements are defined as being those elements whose atomic wt. is heavier than Gadolinium (Gd).
**Ce= Cerium, Dy= Dysprosium, Er= Erbium, Eu= Europium, La= Lanthanum, Nd= Neodymium, Pr= Praseodymium, Th= Thorium, Y= Yttrium, Yb= Ytterbium, U= Uranium, Sm= Samarium, Gd= Gadolinium, Tb= Terbium, Lu= Lutetium, Hf= Hafnium
About Texas Rare Earth Resources Corp.
Texas Rare Earth Resources Corp.'s primary focus is exploring and, if warranted, developing its Round Top rare earth minerals project located in Hudspeth County, Texas, 85 miles east of El Paso. The Company's common stock trades on the OTCQX U.S. tier under the symbol "TRER." For more information on Texas Rare Earth Resources Corp., visit its website at www.trer.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, but not limited to, statements regarding possible simple sulfuric acid leaching processing at our Round Top project, ongoing work to optimize leach parameters and on improving floatation recovery and continued independent testing of the potential for heap leaching the Round Top Deposit. When used in this press release, the words "potential," "indicate," "expect," "intend," "hopes," "believe," "may," "will," "if, "anticipate," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to changes in future operating costs and working capital balance, risks related to mineralogy processes, risks related to mineral estimates, risks related to the inherently dangerous activity of mining, as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's latest annual report on Form 10-K, as filed on November 15, 2012, and other documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.
Contact
Texas Rare Earth Resources Corp.
John C. Tumazos, CFA, Chairman of the Board
Phone: 732.444.1083
E-mail: john@veryindependentresearch.com
Investor Contact:
Alliance Advisors, LLC
Alan Sheinwald
(914) 669-0222
asheinwald@allianceadvisors.net
Valter Pinto
(914) 669-0222 x201
valter@allianceadvisors.net