Search Minerals Inc. (SHCMF)

[Middleborder]

bombero77; Thanks. I will check in from time to time and see what happens with managment.

https://searchminerals.ca/news-media/news/search-minerals-to-receive-5-million-in-funding-from-the-government-of-canada-under-the-critical-minerals-research-development/

Vancouver, B.C. March 7, 2023 – Search Minerals Inc. (“Search Minerals”) (TSXV: SMY | OTCQB: SHCMF) is pleased to announce that the Government of Canada has contributed $5 million in non-dilutive support to Search Minerals via a Contribution Agreement which will be used to fund the construction and operation of a demonstration plant for rare earth extraction and recovery. The total project cost is estimated at approximately $9.3 million with a further $1 million of funding under application from other sources. Search Minerals’ contribution to the construction costs is expected to be approximately $3.3 million.

The demonstration plant will process ~20 tonnes of rare earth concentrate prepared from 72 tonnes of Deep Fox and Foxtrot mineralization using Wet High Intensity Magnetic Separation (Search Minerals News Release dated September 16, 2022). The work will be completed by SGS Canada and completion of the program is expected in early 2024.

The funding of the demonstration plant helps Search Minerals to:

Confirm application of the Direct Extraction Process to the rare earth concentrate materials
Obtain engineering data for feasibility study completion, expected in 2024
Prepare ~1 tonne of high purity mixed rare earth carbonate precipitate to be used to validate separation of individual rare earth products

“These funds will help us to move toward a bankable feasibility study assessment of rare earth mining, extraction and separation in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Chairman and Interim President and CEO Leo Power. “The demand for “magnet” rare earth elements such as neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium is increasingly rapidly driven by the demand for permanent magnets, for electric vehicle traction motors, wind turbines for power generation and for robots. This demonstration plant program will position Search as a reliable provider of rare earth materials to support a Canadian and North American supply chain for these critical materials.”

Mr. Power added, “We thank Natural Resources Canada, the Government of Canada and our other financial supporters for helping to fund this critical step in the transition of Search from explorer to developer.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources Canada, said, “Canadian innovators are leading the way towards a cleaner future. Today’s investment of $5 million in Search Minerals will help to advance the development of a dynamic and competitive critical minerals sector through the development and demonstration of innovative processing technologies. This means good jobs for workers, more investment in Canadian innovation, and lower emissions across the country - all part of our plan to build a cleaner Canada and a prosperous, sustainable economy that works for everyone.”

Search Minerals is also working on establishing an important collaboration agreement with Memorial University and the College of the North Atlantic to support the Demonstration Plant project and to build capacity and knowledge in rare earth processing in Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada.

About Search Minerals Inc.

Search Minerals is focused on finding and developing Critical Rare Earths Elements (CREE), Zirconium (Zr) and Hafnium (Hf) resources within the emerging Port Hope Simpson – St. Lewis CREE District of South East Labrador. Search controls two deposits (Foxtrot and Deep Fox), two drill ready prospects (Fox Meadow and Silver Fox) and numerous other REE prospects, including Fox Valley, Foxy Lady and Awesome Fox, along a 64 km long belt forming a REE District in Labrador. Search has completed a preliminary economic assessment report for DEEPFOX and FOXTROT. Search is also working on three exploration prospects along the belt which include: FOX MEADOW, SILVER FOX and AWESOME FOX.

Search Minerals has continued to optimize our patented Hydrometallurgy Direct Extraction Process technology with the support from the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and from the Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency. We have completed two pilot plant operations and produced highly purified mixed rare earth carbonate concentrate and mixed REO concentrate for separation and refining. We also recognize the continued support by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for its Junior Exploration Program.

Search Minerals was selected to participate in the Government of Canada Accelerated Growth Service (“AGS”) initiative, which supports high growth companies. AGS, as a ‘one-stop shop’ model, provides Search with coordinated access to Government of Canada resources as Search continues to move quickly to production and contribute to the establishment of a stable and secure rare earth element North American and European supply chain.

For further information, please contact:

Leo Power
Chairman of the Board
709-682-3543
E-mail: [e-mail]

Dr. David Dreisinger
Director and Vice President of Metallurgy
604-613-4434
E-mail: [e-mail]