Tasman Metals Ltd. (fka TASIF)

[Tommy]

$TAS - Tasman Achieves High Recovery in First Metallurgical Tests From Olserum Heavy Rare Earth Element Project, Sweden

http://investorintel.com/rare-earth-press/tasman-achieves-high-recovery-in-first-metallurgical-tests-from-olserum-heavy-rare-earth-element-project-sweden/

Tasman-Metals-LtdAugust 14, 2013 – Vancouver, Brititsh Columbia (Source: Marketwired) – Tasman Metals Ltd. (“Tasman” or the “Company”) (TSX VENTURE:TSM)(NYSE MKT:TAS)(FRANKFURT:T61) - Mark Saxon, President & CEO, is pleased to announce results of the first phase of metallurgical testing on representative mineralization samples from the Olserum heavy rare earth element (REE) project in Sweden. Magnetic separation and flotation tests completed by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) in Outokumpu produced a mineral concentrate with REErecovery in excess of 90% within a concentrate mass between 6% and 7% of the original sample. This represents a very encouraging increase in REE grade of approximately 14 times. A very high grade magnetite concentrate was also produced as a by-product during testing.

This metallurgical research, and the ongoing testing, was conducted and paid for under the European Commission’s EURARE research project as was press released by Tasman on July 17, 2013.

Olserum has a published Canadian Institute of Mines (“CIM”) resource of inferred and indicated categories as described most recently by Tasman in our press release dated July 23, 2013. Olserum is enriched in the high value heavy REEs with a HREO/TREO (heavy rare earth oxide/total rare earth oxide) ratio of 34%. Mineral Liberation Analysis (MLA) has determined REE mineralogy for Olserum to be a simple combination of the phosphate minerals xenotime, monazite and rare apatite. Tasman recently submitted an application for a 25 year Mining Lease for the Olserum deposit.

“With the financial support Tasman receives under the EURARE project, we have been able to advance the metallurgical research at Olserum with minimal cost to the Company,” said Mark Saxon, Tasman’s President and CEO. “This new set of processing results is a significant step forward, with the concentrate quality and REE recovery approaching targeted levels. We look forward to what the next stages of optimization can deliver for both the REE and magnetite concentrates.”

A well selected and homogenized sample of 75 kg of drill core was provided to GTK for metallurgical testing. Core was selected from across the deposit and is believed to reflect grade and mineralogical variation well. Following a series of grinding tests, a suitable grind size was determined to be -75 microns (P80 75 microns) which was achieved by rod mill.

A testing flow sheet of low intensity magnetic separation (LIMS) followed by REE mineral flotation proved to be the most effective, for which 6 tests were performed. In addition, direct flotation of biotite was tested but did not improve quality or grade of the REE concentrate sample.

As anticipated, the LIMS was extremely efficient in the separation of magnetite from other minerals present. In Test 8 the magnetic concentrate comprised 2.93% of the rock mass and showed a grade of Fe 65.5%, being very close to the iron content of pure magnetite.

The best REE recovery results were obtained where highest REE recovery was achieved in the lowest concentrate mass (mass pull) as described below:
Test Concentrate Mass
(Mass Pull) Ce Recovery
(%) La Recovery
(%) Y Recovery
(%)
3A 6.80 % 88.4 % 88.8 % 92.7 %
3B 8.42 % 89.6 % 90.1 % 93.8 %
8 5.99 % 87.9 % 85.3 % 91.2 %

The above results are the first from rigorous metallurgical testwork of the Olserum deposit and can be considered highly encouraging. Recovery data for all REEs is not available at this time, however heavy REE recovery is anticipated to follow Y recovery due to chemical and physical similarity.

Additional testing is underway to improve the proposed flowsheet and better understand the processing behavior of the Olserum mineralization.

Samples submitted by GTK on Tasman Metals Ltd’s behalf were analyzed by XRF at Labtium Oy’s laboratory in Outokumpu, Finland, where duplicates, repeats, blanks and known standards were inserted according to standard industry practice. The qualified person for the Company’s exploration projects, Mark Saxon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tasman and a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and Fellow of Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, has reviewed and verified the contents of this release.

Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO) includes: La2O3, Ce2O3, Pr2O3, Nd2O3, Sm2O3, Eu2O3, Gd2O3, Tb2O3, Dy2O3, Ho2O3, Er2O3, Tm2O3, Yb2O3, Lu2O3, Y2O3. Heavy Rare Earth Oxides (HREO) includes: Eu2O3, Gd2O3, Tb2O3, Dy2O3, Ho2O3, Er2O3, Tm2O3, Yb2O3, Lu2O3, Y2O3.

About Tasman Metals Ltd.

Tasman Metals Ltd is a Canadian mineral development company focused on Rare Earth Elements (REEs) in Scandinavia. Tasman is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “TSM” and the NYSE-MKT under the symbol “TAS“. REE demand is increasing, due to the metals’ unique properties that make them essential for high technology and environmentally-beneficial applications. Since over 95% of REE supply is sourced from China, the European Commission promotes policy to develop domestic supply of REEs, to ensure the security of high-tech industry. Tasman receives research funding from the European Commission.

Tasman’s exploration portfolio is uniquely placed, with the capacity to deliver REEs from politically stable, mining friendly jurisdictions with developed infrastructure and skills. The Company’s Norra Karr and Olserum projects in Sweden are two of the most significant heavy REE resources in the world, enriched in dysprosium, yttrium, terbium and neodymium. The Company is now focused on the safe, sustainable and responsible development of its Scandinavian mineral portfolio.

About EURARE

The EURARE project has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme ([FP7/2007-2013]) under grant agreement no. 309373. This publication reflects only the author’s view, exempting the Community from any liability”. Project web site:www.eurare.eu.
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