7 December 2022

Canadian mining and technological company SEARCH MINERALS Inc. joins REIA

Search Minerals Inc. (TSXV: SMY | OTCQB: SHCMF) is focused on developing the Critical Rare Earths Elements (CREE), Zirconium (Zr) and Hafnium (Hf) resources within the emerging Port Hope Simpson – St. Lewis CREE District of South-East Labrador, Canada. Search controls two resources (Deep Fox and Foxtrot), the advanced exploration Fox Meadow deposit and the drill ready Silver Fox prospect) and numerous other REE prospects, along a 64 km long mineralized belt forming a REE District in Labrador.

In 2022, Search completed 1) a preliminary economic assessment report for Deep Fox and Foxtrot, 2) a 14000m drill program at Deep Fox, and a 2000m drill program at Fox Meadow, 3) processed a 70t bulk material from Deep Fox and Foxtrot using our grinding and magnetic separation flowsheet and 4) conducted regional exploration within the Search controlled REE district. Search will be advancing its Deep Fox project towards a feasibility study and is now working towards a production start date in early 2026.

Search has continued to optimize its patented Hydrometallurgy Direct Extraction Process technology. The company has completed two pilot plant operations and produced highly purified mixed rare earth carbonate concentrate (99%) and mixed REO concentrate (56%) for further separation and refining. In 2023, Search anticipates to process, using its hydrometallurgy flowsheet, approximately 20t of concentrate from its grinding/magnetic work completed in 2022.

Greg Andrews, President and CEO states, “Search Minerals is very pleased to join REIA at this time. We attended the REIA conference in Hanau in October 2022. The conference presentations were very informative, and it was invaluable to connect with European and global industry leaders. We look forward to working with REIA and its partners as Search continues to move quickly to production and contribute to the establishment of a stable and secure rare earth element North American and European supply chain.”

Dr Badrinath Veluri, President of REIA, said: “Search Minerals Inc., who already have demonstrated the production of REE concentrate, is aiming to become an environmentally responsible key new supplier of CREE with production due to start in 2026. Search engages with universities on topics such as ‘Could tailings be used for something else?’. We are very pleased to welcome Greg Andrews and his team to our network of members.”

For more information, please contact:
Florence Gomez
REIA’s CCO/Press relations
+33 699464346
Florence.gomez@global-reia.org