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Texas Rare Earth Resources Testing Indicates Potentially Significant Economic Recoveries of Scandium
SIERRA BLANCA, TX--(Marketwired - Aug 17, 2015) - Texas Rare Earth Resources Corp. (OTCQX: TRER)
- Tests Indicate a Minimum of 5,400 Kilograms Per Year Potentially Produced At Full Anticipated REE Production
- Scandium Demand Increasing Dramatically Worldwide Led by Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs)
Texas Rare Earth Resources Corp. (OTCQX: TRER), an exploration company targeting the heavy rare earths, reports that review of existing data and additional work by K-Tech Inc. at their lab in Lakeland, Florida indicate that potentially economically significant amounts of scandium are being leached from the Round Top rhyolite.
Initial column leach tests were conducted by RDI Inc. in Denver, Colorado in 2013. These results led to TRER's adoption of the heap leaching model for extraction of rare earth from the Round Top ore. Since that time the Company has reviewed the raw data to evaluate the potential of the high value trace elements, notably scandium. Careful review of the 2013 solution analyses indicates that if the scandium present in these leach solutions were recovered it would produce a projected 5,400 kilograms of scandium oxide per year in the envisioned 20,000 tonnes per day operation at Round Top.
Additional leaching has been carried out in 8" columns installed at the K-Tech lab with the objective of producing a primary leach solution (PLS) for continuous ion exchange and continuous ion chromatography testing. Analysis of this PLS has also shown potential recovery of scandium at even greater levels than being reported today. The behavior of scandium in the continuous ion exchange (CIX) and continuous ion chromatography (CIC) process is similar enough to rare earth elements that its extraction from solution does not require additional procedures or equipment.
Dan Gorski, CEO, commented: Although the production of heavy rare earths is the primary objective at Round Top, the numerous other elements being recovered in leaching of this rock are proving to make a significant contribution to the potential revenue stream. To date, uranium, lithium, beryllium and now scandium show promise of being valuable by-products. Scandium in particular is significant because of its strategic nature, lack of a domestic supply and limited worldwide production."
According to Adamas Intelligence, scandium sells for approximately $2,000-$5,000 per kilogram, depending on quality and purity characteristics. Furthermore, Adamas estimates annual worldwide production and consumption at 5,000-15,000 kilograms. The USGS (United States Geological Service), reports that 100% of US consumption of scandium in 2014 was imported, primarily from China.
Scandium exhibits very good electrical conductivity and excellent heat stabilization qualities. The primary use for scandium today is in solid oxide fuel cells ("SOFCs"), where both of these attributes dramatically improve performance. Incorporation of scandium in SOFCs delivers higher power outputs and promotes the desired chemical reaction at a lower operating temperature, resulting in dramatically improved unit life cycles. Numerous other applications have been identified and are under development, most notably for strength and superior conductivity in high voltage power transmission lines. Relatively small scandium additions into aluminum alloys produce stronger, lighter, heat and corrosion resistant, aluminum products. The aircraft industry depends on advanced aluminum alloys, and would incorporate aluminum-scandium alloys if consistent scandium supply was available. The automotive sector is increasingly incorporating aluminum alloys into its products to achieve weight reductions and better fuel efficiency.
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."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 potential economic extraction of scandium, potential development and production at Round Top, potential revenue streams from such production, anticipated production methods and results and other similar statements. 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 the development of the Round Top project, up-scaling of extraction testing, risks related to changes in future operating costs and working capital balance, risks related to mining results not matching preliminary tests and risks related to the ability of TRER to raise adequate working capital and continue as a going concern, 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 12, 2014, 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 Information
Company Contact:
Texas Rare Earth Resources Corp.
Anthony Marchese
Chairman
E-mail: AMarchese@trer.com
Anthony Marchese
Chairman
Texas Rare Earth Resources
www.trer.com
908.451.4234
Skype: amarchese0819