November 13, 2018 (Source) — Imperial Mining Group Ltd. (“Imperial” or the “Corporation”) (TSX VENTURE: IPG) is pleased to provide an update on its numerous strategic scandium marketing initiatives for the Crater Lake Project, in Québec. This month Imperial will be participating in two major European conferences where it will be presenting the Crater Lake scandium opportunity to industrial users concerned about security of supply in the face of rapidly growing demand.
Imperial has been active in attracting strategic partnerships in order to advance the development of the Crater Lake scandium project since the beginning of the year. With the support of Nick Parry, Imperial’s Strategic Advisor on scandium market development, the Corporation has secured several important introductions to consumers and manufacturers of products and alloy materials that utilize scandium. Scandium has been variously referred to as the “Miracle Metal” and a “Spice Metal” because, when alloyed with aluminium in small quantities (0.2% to 0.4%), it produces strong, flexible and weldable lightweight materials critical for next-generation airplanes and automobiles, in particular Electric Vehicles (EVs).
“Even at this early stage in the development of the Crater Lake Project, it is important to begin identifying scandium market opportunities and establishing partnerships with customers interested in securing future supplies and supporting project development,” said Peter Cashin, Imperial President & CEO. “With the drive towards lightweighting in these important manufacturing sectors, scandium demand is expected to grow rapidly because of its ability to greatly strengthen aluminium alloys, rendering them corrosion resistant and significantly improving the alloy’s mechanical properties. Imperial fully intends to be a critical supply-chain contributor to the expanding scandium market.”
To introduce the Crater Lake scandium opportunity to new European audiences, Imperial will participate in the European Union’s Raw Materials Symposium in Brussels, Belgium, November 12-16. Organized by the European Commission, the event provides an opportunity for market participants to discuss and exchange views on all relevant critical materials supply chain issues. Subjects from mineral policy, technology and international cooperation on policy framework matters will be reviewed. The event will conclude with Imperial’s participation as a Canadian representative at an invitation-only Stakeholders Raw Materials Dialogue meeting in the context of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union. Topics on policy, material sourcing, technology development and mutual R&D initiatives in the Canada-EU context will be discussed. With concerns being expressed by the EU on the reliability of scandium supply from China and Russia, involvement in these discussions will provide Imperial with an opportunity to highlight the Crater Lake development as a long-term, sustainable scandium supply solution for European industry.
The EU Raw Materials event will be followed on November 26-27 by the Scandium Aluminium Europe (SCALE) symposium in Berlin, Germany where Imperial’s President & CEO, Peter Cashin, will present on the Crater Lake scandium project. SCALE, an EU Horizon 2020 initiative, has a mandate to identify and secure a long-term, sustainable supply of scandium for the EU aerospace, automotive and high-tech industries. SCALE’s focus is on scandium sources related to reprocessing bauxite residues and titanium waste streams and the development of efficient extraction, separation, refining and alloying techniques. It is management’s view that Imperial’s Crater Lake Project represents a far more sustainable long-term scandium supply source than reprocessing of titanium waste streams or bauxite red muds, currently the EU’s only available source of this critical aluminium alloy agent. In parallel with this event, Imperial management will be meeting with UK and EU industry and academic leaders to provide awareness of the Crater Lake project and to develop sector-focused materials R&D initiatives.
In addition to its strategic marketing initiatives, Imperial plans to drill the area of the recently discovered high grade scandium mineralization in early 2019 to establish an initial resource estimate, while continuing to define an efficient process flowsheet for recovering the scandium into a form suitable for aluminium alloy manufacturers. For more news and information on the Scandium markets access Imperial’s Tech Metal Markets portal at https://www.imperialmgp.com/tech-metal-markets/ or visit our Twitter portal for scandium updates at: @imperial_mining .
ABOUT IMPERIAL MINING GROUP LTD.
Imperial is a new Canadian mineral exploration and development company focused on advancing its copper-zinc, gold and technology metals properties in Québec. Imperial is publicly listed on the TSX Venture Exchange as “IPG” and is led by an experienced team of mineral exploration and development professionals with a strong track record of mineral deposit discovery in numerous metal commodities.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements relating to the Company’s operations or to its business environment. Such statements are based on the Company’s operations, estimates, forecasts, and projections, but are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict or control. Several factors could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed. These factors include those set forth in the corporate filings. Although any such forward-looking statements are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot guarantee that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. In addition, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, for any reason. We also do not commit in any way to guarantee that we will continue reporting on items or issues that arise. Investors are cautioned that this press release contains quoted historical exploration results. These are derived from filed assessment reports and compiled from governmental databases. The Company and a QP have not independently verified and make no representations as to the accuracy of historical exploration results: these results should not be relied upon. Selected highlight results may not be indicative of average grades.
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