Avalon Rare Metals
Encyclopedia
Avalon Rare Metals Inc. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on rare metal deposits in Canada
. Its flagship project, the 100%-owned Nechalacho Deposit, Thor Lake, Northwest Territories
, is emerging as one of the largest undeveloped rare earth elements resources in the world. Its exceptional enrichment in the more valuable ‘heavy’ rare earths, which are key to enabling advances in green energy technology and other growing high-tech applications, is one of the few potential sources of these critical elements outside of China, currently the source of 95% of world supply. Avalon is well funded, has no debt and is committed to meeting its developmental milestones. Avalon’s strategy for growth is to develop its rare metals projects to production and cash flow, expand the markets for rare earth minerals, while also operating in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. Avalon’s performance on community engagement in the north earned it the 2010 PDAC Environmental and Social Responsibility Award.
Avalon is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange
(TSX) and the New York Stock Exhange AMEX
(TSX).
Avalon’s principal assets, all located in Canada
, are its 100% owned Thor Lake, Separation Rapids, East Kemptville and Warren Township rare metals and minerals projects
, near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
, Canada
. The Nechalacho deposit is a world class resource of rare metals and minerals now being evaluated primarily for its potential to produce ‘heavy’ rare earth element
s (HREE). Demand for HREE is growing rapidly because of their critical application in high strength permanent magnets which are vital to hybrid car technology and many popular consumer electronic products, yet there is virtually no primary production of HREE outside of China.
The Nechalacho deposit is unusual in its enrichment in the more valuable HREE such as europium
, terbium
, and dysprosium
along with neodymium
. Avalon is currently focusing its efforts on defining high-grade, HREE-rich resources in the very large Basal Zone of the deposit, which contains Indicated Resources
of 57.49 million tonnes grading 1.56% TREO (total rare earth oxides) with 20.72% HREO/TREO (heavy rare earth oxides as a percentage of TREO) as well as 107.59 million tonnes of Inferred Resources
grading 1.35% TREO (18.97% HREO/TREO) at the $260 Net Metal Return cut–off value. A 14.67 million tonne high grade sub-zone is identifiable at a $600 NMR cut-off grading 2.19% TREO with 24.68% HREO/TREO. Nechalacho is also enriched in tantalum
, niobium
, zirconium
, which all represent potential valuable by-products. The reader is referred to the Technical Report SEDAR-filed on March 15, 2011 for further details. An updated economic analysis is being prepared for release in mid 2011.
Since 2005, Avalon has expended over $30 million on exploration and development work on the property involving 59,000 metres of diamond drilling in 266 holes to delineate Indicated and Inferred Resources, metallurgical and mineralogical studies to define a process flow sheet to recover the REE, community consultation and environmental studies. Positive pre feasibility study results were released in June 2010. Work on a final feasibility study is well under way with collection of a bulk sample, pilot plant process development work, initiation of an environmental impact assessment along with additional definition drilling, and product market development work. Initial production is targeted for 2016.
, Avalon is developing a world-class lithium
minerals deposit. The lithium mineralization is being evaluated mainly for direct use in the glass and ceramics industry where because of lithium's powerful fluxing properties, it represents an inexpensive way to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from glass furnaces.
, Avalon is evaluating the potential for re-developing a past producing tin mining operation as a new producer of tin plus copper
, zinc
, and the rare metal indium
. In 2011, a new 43-101 compliant resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment will be completed.
, Ontario
, Avalon has delineated a large resource of high purity calcium feldspar which like lithium, offers potential cost-reducing efficiencies to glass manufacturers and environmental benefits through reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The project is now on hold due to permitting delays.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Its flagship project, the 100%-owned Nechalacho Deposit, Thor Lake, Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
, is emerging as one of the largest undeveloped rare earth elements resources in the world. Its exceptional enrichment in the more valuable ‘heavy’ rare earths, which are key to enabling advances in green energy technology and other growing high-tech applications, is one of the few potential sources of these critical elements outside of China, currently the source of 95% of world supply. Avalon is well funded, has no debt and is committed to meeting its developmental milestones. Avalon’s strategy for growth is to develop its rare metals projects to production and cash flow, expand the markets for rare earth minerals, while also operating in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. Avalon’s performance on community engagement in the north earned it the 2010 PDAC Environmental and Social Responsibility Award.
Avalon is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange
Toronto Stock Exchange
Toronto Stock Exchange is the largest stock exchange in Canada, the third largest in North America and the seventh largest in the world by market capitalisation. Based in Canada's largest city, Toronto, it is owned by and operated as a subsidiary of the TMX Group for the trading of senior equities...
(TSX) and the New York Stock Exhange AMEX
AMEX
AMEX, AmEx or Amex may refer to:*American Stock Exchange*American Express, a global financial services corporation*American Express Community Stadium, association football stadium in Brighton, England, currently sponsored by American Express...
(TSX).
Avalon’s principal assets, all located in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, are its 100% owned Thor Lake, Separation Rapids, East Kemptville and Warren Township rare metals and minerals projects
Nechalacho Rare Earth Elements Deposit
Avalon’s top priority is the Nechalacho Rare Earth Elements Deposit located at Thor LakeThor Lake
Thor Lake is a deposit of rare metals located in the Blachford Lake intrusive complex. It is situated 5 km north of the Hearne Channel of Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada, approximately 100 kilometers east-southeast of the capital city of Yellowknife...
, near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The Nechalacho deposit is a world class resource of rare metals and minerals now being evaluated primarily for its potential to produce ‘heavy’ rare earth element
Rare earth element
As defined by IUPAC, rare earth elements or rare earth metals are a set of seventeen chemical elements in the periodic table, specifically the fifteen lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium...
s (HREE). Demand for HREE is growing rapidly because of their critical application in high strength permanent magnets which are vital to hybrid car technology and many popular consumer electronic products, yet there is virtually no primary production of HREE outside of China.
The Nechalacho deposit is unusual in its enrichment in the more valuable HREE such as europium
Europium
Europium is a chemical element with the symbol Eu and atomic number 63. It is named after the continent of Europe. It is a moderately hard silvery metal which readily oxidizes in air and water...
, terbium
Terbium
Terbium is a chemical element with the symbol Tb and atomic number 65. It is a silvery-white rare earth metal that is malleable, ductile and soft enough to be cut with a knife...
, and dysprosium
Dysprosium
Dysprosium is a chemical element with the symbol Dy and atomic number 66. It is a rare earth element with a metallic silver luster. Dysprosium is never found in nature as a free element, though it is found in various minerals, such as xenotime...
along with neodymium
Neodymium
Neodymium is a chemical element with the symbol Nd and atomic number 60. It is a soft silvery metal that tarnishes in air. Neodymium was discovered in 1885 by the Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach. It is present in significant quantities in the ore minerals monazite and bastnäsite...
. Avalon is currently focusing its efforts on defining high-grade, HREE-rich resources in the very large Basal Zone of the deposit, which contains Indicated Resources
National Instrument 43-101
National Instrument 43-101 is a mineral resource classification scheme used for the public disclosure of information relating to mineral properties in Canada...
of 57.49 million tonnes grading 1.56% TREO (total rare earth oxides) with 20.72% HREO/TREO (heavy rare earth oxides as a percentage of TREO) as well as 107.59 million tonnes of Inferred Resources
National Instrument 43-101
National Instrument 43-101 is a mineral resource classification scheme used for the public disclosure of information relating to mineral properties in Canada...
grading 1.35% TREO (18.97% HREO/TREO) at the $260 Net Metal Return cut–off value. A 14.67 million tonne high grade sub-zone is identifiable at a $600 NMR cut-off grading 2.19% TREO with 24.68% HREO/TREO. Nechalacho is also enriched in tantalum
Tantalum
Tantalum is a chemical element with the symbol Ta and atomic number 73. Previously known as tantalium, the name comes from Tantalus, a character in Greek mythology. Tantalum is a rare, hard, blue-gray, lustrous transition metal that is highly corrosion resistant. It is part of the refractory...
, niobium
Niobium
Niobium or columbium , is a chemical element with the symbol Nb and atomic number 41. It's a soft, grey, ductile transition metal, which is often found in the pyrochlore mineral, the main commercial source for niobium, and columbite...
, zirconium
Zirconium
Zirconium is a chemical element with the symbol Zr and atomic number 40. The name of zirconium is taken from the mineral zircon. Its atomic mass is 91.224. It is a lustrous, grey-white, strong transition metal that resembles titanium...
, which all represent potential valuable by-products. The reader is referred to the Technical Report SEDAR-filed on March 15, 2011 for further details. An updated economic analysis is being prepared for release in mid 2011.
Since 2005, Avalon has expended over $30 million on exploration and development work on the property involving 59,000 metres of diamond drilling in 266 holes to delineate Indicated and Inferred Resources, metallurgical and mineralogical studies to define a process flow sheet to recover the REE, community consultation and environmental studies. Positive pre feasibility study results were released in June 2010. Work on a final feasibility study is well under way with collection of a bulk sample, pilot plant process development work, initiation of an environmental impact assessment along with additional definition drilling, and product market development work. Initial production is targeted for 2016.
Separation Rapids
At Separation Rapids, located near Kenora, OntarioOntario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Avalon is developing a world-class lithium
Lithium
Lithium is a soft, silver-white metal that belongs to the alkali metal group of chemical elements. It is represented by the symbol Li, and it has the atomic number 3. Under standard conditions it is the lightest metal and the least dense solid element. Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly...
minerals deposit. The lithium mineralization is being evaluated mainly for direct use in the glass and ceramics industry where because of lithium's powerful fluxing properties, it represents an inexpensive way to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from glass furnaces.
East Kemptville
At East Kemptville, located in Yarmouth Country, Nova ScotiaNova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Avalon is evaluating the potential for re-developing a past producing tin mining operation as a new producer of tin plus copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
, and the rare metal indium
Indium
Indium is a chemical element with the symbol In and atomic number 49. This rare, very soft, malleable and easily fusible post-transition metal is chemically similar to gallium and thallium, and shows the intermediate properties between these two...
. In 2011, a new 43-101 compliant resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment will be completed.
Warran Township
At Warren Township, located near TimminsTimmins
Timmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada on the Mattagami River. At the time of the Canada 2006 Census, Timmins' population was 42,997...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Avalon has delineated a large resource of high purity calcium feldspar which like lithium, offers potential cost-reducing efficiencies to glass manufacturers and environmental benefits through reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The project is now on hold due to permitting delays.
See also
- Rare earth elementRare earth elementAs defined by IUPAC, rare earth elements or rare earth metals are a set of seventeen chemical elements in the periodic table, specifically the fifteen lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium...
- National Instrument 43-101National Instrument 43-101National Instrument 43-101 is a mineral resource classification scheme used for the public disclosure of information relating to mineral properties in Canada...
- Mineral resource classificationMineral resource classificationMineral resource classification is the classification of mineral deposits based on their geologic certainty and economic value.Mineral deposits can be classified as:...