Commerce Resources Corp Advances Ashram Deposit Processing

Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXV:CCE)(FSE:D7H0)(OTCQX:CMRZF) has announced substantial progress in refining the mineral processing and hydrometallurgical treatments of the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit in Quebec, Canada. This development marks a significant simplification in the processing of one of the world's most significant undeveloped monazite dominant rare earth deposits, enhancing the potential for efficient resource extraction.

The company reported a notable simplification in the Ashram Deposit's front-end mineral processing flowsheet, achieving 30-35%+ REO monazite mineral concentrates at 60-70% recoveries through flotation alone, using conventional mechanical flotation cells. This advancement, validated by SGS Canada, promises not only to simplify operations but to simultaneously optimize outcomes comparably to the more complex prior process.

Additionally, significant strides were made in streamlining the hydrometallurgical flowsheet for downstream processing, using a standard acid bake - water leach process to achieve high recovery rates for critical rare earth elements like NdPr (>95%) and TbDy (>82%). The collaboration with Trois-Rivieres-based L3 Process Development yielded a process capable of significant sulfuric acid consumption reduction, setting a new standard in mineral processing efficiency for the deposit.

Chris Grove, President of Commerce Resources, expressed optimism regarding the ongoing development of the Ashram Deposit, highlighting the deposit's advantageous mineralogy and geology. The company aims to leverage these advancements to further position the deposit as a globally significant source of rare earth elements and fluorspar, enhancing its strategic value in the market.