On January 14, 2021 Manganese X (MN.V) published favourable metallurgical results from the Battery Hill phase 2 program that demonstrate “greater efficiency and improved economics”.
Update: by 12:30 p.m. Vancouver time, MN stock is up .27 to .48 (+75%) on 6.6 million shares traded.
The Battery Hill property is located near Woodstock, New Brunswick., Canada, consisting of 55 claims covering 1,228 hectares.
“Metallurgy is the science and technology of metals and alloys,” states Science Direct, “Process metallurgy is concerned with the extraction of metals from their ores and the refining of metals.”
Reading a press release about “air quenching” “collapsibility” and “isothermal annealing” is not going to quicken the pulse of most retail investors.
But this geeky stuff is important because unfavorable metallurgy can kill an exploration project.
Favorable metallurgy indicates you can profitably separate the target minerals from the crap.
At Battery Hill, if manganese is the meal, metallurgy is the recipe.
“Manganese is beginning to play a critical role in the evolution of new off-grid power storage systems, and cutting edge solar energy (storage) technologies,” wrote Equity Guru’s Greg Nolan on September 2, 2020.
Political winds south of the border should be of interest to Manganese X shareholders.
“President-elect Joe Biden calls climate change an existential threat to America’s environment, health, national security and economy,” recounts The Conversation, “Biden has pledged that on his first day in office he will bring the U.S. back into the Paris Climate Agreement.”
“The news keeps getting better in the processing of the Battery Hill manganese ore,” stated Manganese X CEO Martin Kepman on January 14, 2021, “Recovery rates are impressive, and the applied process for purification has been refined to achieve greater efficiency and improved economics.”
“Manganese continues to be spotlighted as a greener and more ethically friendly metal that could replace cobalt,” added Kepman, “We are making excellent progress towards our goal of producing ultrahigh-purity battery-grade manganese products for the growing electric vehicle and energy storage sectors.”
“Manganese X and Kemetco Research are completing the continuing testwork to develop a commercially viable flow sheet to produce battery-grade manganese products using the sustainable and ethical North American mineralization at the Battery Hill property located near Woodstock, N.B., Canada,” stated MN.
“In phase 1, using a series of bench-scale leach, purification and crystallization processes, Kemetco produced a high-purity manganese sulphate product with a purity of up to 99.95%.
This demonstrated MN’s Battery Hill mineralization can be compliant and suitable for battery manufacturing use in electric vehicles, energy storage systems and other high-tech applications.
MN recently drilled 25 holes totaling at least 3,400 meters, with the intent of expanding and upgrade our current classification of mineralization to inferred or higher resource status. Here’s what it looks like on the ground.
Phase 2 of Kemetco’s overall testing consisted of the development of a more efficient, workable extraction process and flow sheet for the generation of high-grade manganese sulphate.
The most recent bench-scale tests consisted of defining suitable unit operations for:
- leach extraction
- solid-liquid separation
- primary purification
- crystallization upgrading
Kemetco noted the most recent results provide a potential route to eliminate a major step in the purification process that would result in major cost benefits, as well as an increase in purification efficiency.
Key Phase 2 Results:
- Overall recovery rate of 85%
- Eliminating purification processes
- Significantly over-all cost reductions
- Improved purification results
- Low levels of base contaminants
- Low levels of alkali metal contaminants
- Enhanced opportunities for commercialization
Manganese Demand Drivers:
- A critical component of the cathode material in modern alkaline, lithium, and sodium batteries
- Green/clean energy credentials – weening off fossil fuels.
- Likely to remain the preferred energy material for the future.
- Well suited for cathode mix in bulk energy storage & energy management.
- Ideal for portable power
- Key material for integrating solar and wind renewable energy.
“There is no manganese production in North America and there is 100% reliance on foreign imports,” stated Kepman, “Manganese X is well positioned to capitalize on this geo gap in the North American supply chain and we are looking forward to continue our discussions for potential offtake agreements.”
Upon completion of the metallurgical work, Manganese X will expediate work programs to support the company’s planned PEA (preliminary economic assessment).
“The one facet of exploration and development that can trump all others—just ask any seasoned mining man (or woman) in this arena—is metallurgy,” confirmed Equity Guru’s Greg Nolan, “Metallurgy is the science (some prefer the word “art”) of extracting valuable metals from their ores and modifying them for their intended use”.
A more advanced report related to the Manganese X phase 2 metallurgical program is expected within the next two to four weeks.
- Lukas Kane
Full Disclosure: Manganese X is an Equity Guru marketing client.
Leave a Reply