Jul 14 2016
Rogue Resources Inc. is pleased to provide an update on the bulk sample currently being analyzed by Dorfner ANZAPLAN, and continued progress on permitting for its 100% owned Silicon Ridge Project, located approximately 42 kilometres ("km") north of Baie-Saint Paul, Québec, and 4 km northeast of Sitec's operating silica mine.
Bulk Sample Update
Bulk sample results indicate that a glass sand product (0.1 -0.3 mm fraction) exhibits good potential for all considered high value applications after utilizing a simplified process with floatation as a single processing step as detailed in the following table:
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Table 1: High Value Applications of Glass Sand 0.1 – 0.3 mm Fraction after Floatation |
Container Glass (coloured & clear), Float Glass (window, automotive) |
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Fibreglass (insulation & fabrics) |
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Borosilicate Glass, Pyrex |
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White Float Glass, Opal Glass, Crystal Glass |
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Solar Glass, Borofloat |
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Quartz Powder & Engineered Stone |
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Silicon Carbide, Fused Silica, Sodium/ Potassium Silicate |
X |
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X |
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X |
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X |
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X |
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X |
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X |
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ANZAPLAN has provided the company with the second progress update on the further comminution and classification test work into 0.1 - 0.3 mm fraction for the 1,500 kg bulk sample shipped to Germany. Further comminution by jaw and roll crushing followed by dry screening, resulted in classification of the silica in a mass distribution of 70.4 weight percent ("wt%") of the material in the 0.1 - 0.3 mm fraction and 29.6 wt% of the material in the <0.1 mm fraction.
Due to the improved quality of the feed material with fewer impurities when compared to the previous drill cores, which tested the entire width of the quartzite, a simplified process with floatation as a single processing step was applied to the 0.1 - 0.3 mm fraction.
Chemical analysis of the floatation is presented in the following table. The slightly elevated iron content (Fe2O3) of the 0.1 - 0.3 mm fraction after classification is due to contamination from abrasion of the roll crusher which is expected to be reduced by using a crushing process that uses a "rock to rock impaction technology" at production scale, which will lead to less iron contamination.
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Table 2: Chemical analyses, 0.1 – 0.3 mm fraction after classification and floatation |
Sample ID |
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SiO2 (wt%) |
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Al2O3 (wt%) |
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Fe2O3 (wt%) |
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TiO2 (wt%) |
0.1 - 0.3 after classification |
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98.9 |
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0.43 |
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0.029 |
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0.043 |
Glass sand (after floatation) |
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99.7 |
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<0.05 |
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<0.05 |
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0.009 |
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The glass sand product was achieved without magnetic separation and exhibits good potential for all of the considered applications as provided in Table 1 above. The higher quality feed material used for this testing allowed for the recovery of a high value product with less required processing than in the original test work completed on the drill core samples.
As previously announced on June 7, 2016, the quartzite sample provided to ANZAPLAN for the bulk sample test work showed improved quality with less impurities compared to the previous drill core. After crushing and classification the material was already at ferrosilicon feedstock specifications. Table 3 summarizes the chemical composition of the bulk sample material by size fraction based upon XRF analyses.
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Table 3: Chemical analyses of fraction < 20 mm, together with calculated chemical composition of feed fraction and fractions 20 – 120 mm after crushing and grinding, composition are based on XRF analyses. |
Size Fraction |
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SiO2 (wt%) |
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Al2O3 (wt %) |
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Fe2O3 (wt%) |
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TiO2 (wt%) |
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Mass (wt %) |
Bulk Sample Feed 50 – 400 mm (calc.) |
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99.2 |
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0.41 |
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0.012 |
|
0.04 |
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100.0 |
Crushed Fraction 20 – 120 mm (calc.) |
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99.2 |
|
0.40 |
|
0.011 |
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0.04 |
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89.4 |
Crushed Fraction <20 mm |
|
99.0 |
|
0.50 |
|
0.020 |
|
0.04 |
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10.6 |
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The bulk sample was crushed and optically sorted to determine the amount of material that meets the specifications for high value silica products. The test work determined yield distributions, when crushed, of 89.4 wt% of the material ranging in size from 20 to 120 mm, meeting the thresholds required for ferrosilicon quality and that 10.6 wt% of the sample was <20 mm and meets the feedstock quality for further beneficiation to fulfill the requirements for certain glass, ceramics and fillers (see figure 1). Optical sorting resulted in a slight improvement in quality with some reduction in impurities and increased silica grades.
To view Figure 1, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/RogueFigure1.jpg
This marks a significant improvement over the previous test work that focused on the quartzite as a whole (34.6 wt% yield) and indicates to the Company that much higher yields, qualifying for high value applications, including ferrosilicon and/or silicon metal, can be achieved by targeting higher purity zones within the deposit.
Rogue anticipates receiving the 20 - 120 mm (ferro) silicon sample and the 0.1 - 0.3 mm glass sand sample along with datasheets for these samples in the next few days. The samples are being shipped to the Company and will be subdivided into individual lots to be provided to potential end customers for their own testing and analysis.
Overview of the Permitting Process
Throughout June, the Company worked with SNC-Lavalin to develop a comprehensive strategy to advance permitting. As previously disclosed, SNC-Lavalin will be responsible for completing the project application form for the Certificate of Authorization as required by the Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques ("MDDELCC") under Section 22 of the Québec Environment Quality Act (EQA) for quarrying operations. Baseline studies continue under the supervision of SNC-Lavalin, and are on schedule for completion with the anticipated submission of the Certificate of Authorization application in the fourth quarter of 2016. SNC-Lavalin has had regular consultation with the MDDELCC and the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs ("MDFFP") regarding study protocols and have received comments and agreed amendments for all studies.
The Company is confident that the required certificates and permits to initiate the project are on schedule and should be received by the summer of 2017. The receipt of certificates and permits is not evidence that the project has been determined to be economic and the Company is currently working on a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") of the Silicon Ridge Project with Met-Chem Canada ("Met-Chem"), a division of DRA Americas, scheduled for completion in September 2016 to support any decision by the Company to advance the project.