MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Sept. 22, 2015) - Canadian Metals Inc. ( the "Corporation") (CSE:CME) is pleased to announce that it has retained Viridis.iQ GmbH (Viridis.iQ) to commence a Preliminary Economic Assessment Study (PEA) regarding the implementation of a ferrosilicon plant in the Province of Quebec, Canada. The contemplated project is to be vertically integrated with CME's Langis Silica Property (the Property) located in the north eastern Matapedia Region of Quebec. The PEA is expected to be completed by Q4-2015. Viridis.iQ is an independent engineering, consulting and technology firm with unique expertise in the areas of ferroalloys and silicon. The project team involved in the preparation of the PEA consists of engineering professionals with decades of accumulated experience in operations and planning of silicon and ferroalloy production factories on a global basis.
Mr. Stephane Leblanc President and CEO of Canadian Metals stated: "We are taking the Langis project to the next level with Viridis.iQ initiating the Preliminary Economic Assessment."
Mr. Lou Parous, Executive Director at Viridis stated, "Viridis.iQ is very pleased that Canadian Metals has retained our services recognizing our firm's expertise in the silicon and ferrosilicon manufacturing industries. The Viridis.iQ team will assist Canadian Metals in developing its Preliminary Economic Assessment Study using our in-house technical specialists with decades of global experience in engineering and operations of large and small factories and we are happy to bring reputable knowhow to the Canadian Metals ferrosilicon project".
Langis silica deposit characterization
A general characterization study of the Langis silica deposit was conducted in December 2013 by Genivar (now WSP Global). Laboratory tests were completed in order to provide information on chemical, physical and thermal properties. Based on the preliminary test work by the CTMP laboratory, the basic properties of the Langis sandstone indicated its potential to be a usable source of silica. Thermal shock tests on twelve representative lump samples revealed that this material has relatively strong cementation, making it a potential source for lump silica applications in high temperature furnaces.
A critical aspect of characterizing lump silica for high temperature applications is its resistance to thermal shock. Nine samples from drill cores and three samples from the surface were provided for thermal shock resistance tests. A test result at more than 80% typically demonstrates that the material has a high resistance to thermal shock. Results from thermal shock analyses for the twelve Langis samples indicate an average value of 95.1%, thus confirming a relatively strong cementation suitable for lump quartz. Based on the test conducted at CTMP, the characterization study reported that the Langis silica deposit can meet the requirements for the production of ferrosilicon as well as a flux agent for base metal smelting.
Between the end of May 2015 and early June 2015, a series of prototype tests was successfully run at the MINTEK state-of-the art facilities in Randburg, South Africa and ferrosilicon was produced from the Langis quartzite. This first phase of testing was intended to give a preliminary indication of the technical feasibility of producing ferrosilicon from the Langis quartzite. During the tests the excellent thermal shock resistance of the Langis quartzite was confirmed considering the low carry-over of fines that was observed. All the samples were independently analyzed by MINTEK confirming that ferrosilicon can be produced from the Langis quartzite.
About Viridis.iQ GmbH (http://www.viridis-iq.de/home.html)
Viridis.iQ GmbH is an independent German engineering, consulting and technology firm with unique expertise in the silicon and ferroalloy value chain. Viridis.iQ provides process design and optimization as well as operations knowhow transfer and technical project development to international green-field manufacturing projects from metallurgical silicon and ferroalloys production, in the metals field, to polysilicon, solar cell and module production in the photovoltaics sector. With its in-house experts, engineers and specialists on silicon based manufacturing from quartz ores to solar panels, Viridis.iQ provides independent engineering, consulting and operating knowhow to private and corporate project developers, investors and lenders, and industry associations and governmental institutions worldwide.
About Canadian Metals Inc.
Canadian Metals Inc. is focused exclusively on the development of its Langis Project, a high-purity silica deposit located in the province of Quebec. The Company is rapidly positioning itself to eventually become a North American ferrosilicon producer.
For almost a decade, quartz from the Langis quarry has been exported to Europe for ferrosilicon production. Canadian Metals has rapidly built an international management team with local talent with a view to implementing a ferrosilicon plant in Quebec for converting the Langis silica into high grade ferrosilicon. With the goal to create approximately one hundred highly qualified direct jobs and some three hundred indirect jobs, Canadian Metals strongly believes that the Province of Quebec benefits from all of the required infrastructures, including transportation, port facilities, clean and renewable energy sourceand skilled labor in order to successfully implement this metals and minerals project.
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Contact Information:
President and CEO
(418) 717-2553
sleblanc@canadianmetalsinc.com
www.canadianmetalsinc.com