VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwired – March 3, 2017) – Alset Energy Corp. (TSX VENTURE:ION) (“Alset” or “the Company”) is pleased to report on recent laboratory results. This work tested leaching characteristics of soils, or unconsolidated salar infill material, collected at three of the Company’s lithium-rich salars in Mexico. These tests were done to better understand the recovery potential of lithium. The results demonstrate 79%, 86%, and 97% Lithium (“Li”) recovery using a weak acid leach and are summarized in Table 1.
Allan Barry Laboucan, President and CEO of Alset Energy stated: “After we received very encouraging lab results on the chemical compositions of 30 historical samples [see Alset PR December 7, 2016], our team is now delighted that we have passed another important milestone with the recovery of up to 97% of the lithium from soil samples using a weak acid leach. This shows that our salars soils are a promising source of lithium that warrants further investigation. Our next major milestone will be the granting of drill permits – these applications are well underway. The goal of drilling will be to better understand the historical work conducted to date, to explore for brines within the salars and provides an opportunity to collect new soil samples to further investigate the lithium recovery potential from this material. The body of historical results are significant to our investigation and are currently being interpreted. We are also excited to announce that we have entered into a consulting agreement with Synexus (Pty) Limited (“Synexus”) as we move forward in investigating cost-effective process options for the recovery of lithium and other values from the salars.”
Synexus is unique in their utilization of membrane separation technology for the selective recovery of lithium. Membrane technology has significant advantages compared to traditional evaporation pond-type lithium recovery methods, amongst others; dramatically reducing production time, higher recovery rates, mitigating challenges associated with higher Mg/Li ratios, and allows recovery of other values found at economic concentrations within our salars.
Table 1: Lithium Results
Activation Laboratories – Report Number: A16-13646 (report dates: 2/2/2017; 21/2/2017; 22/2/2017)
| 4-Acid Digestion | Weak Acid Leach | Recovery | ||||||
| Composite Sample Number | Salar | Li (ppm) | Li (ppm) | (%) | ||||
| COMPOSITE A16-10795 (1-10) | Santa Clara | 464 | 368 | 79 | ||||
| COMPOSITE A16-10795 (11-20) | La Salada | 1460 | 1250 | 86 | ||||
| COMPOSITE A16-10795 (21-30) | Caliguey | 1040 | 1010 | 97 | ||||
Lithium head assay results range from 464 to 1460ppm Li, which closely mirrors of recent and historical results. The weak acid leachate results range from 368 to 1250ppm Li representing 79 to 97% recovery of lithium from soils.
In addition to the encouraging lithium leach results potassium (“K”) leach results, summarized in Table 2 indicate this value may represent a by-product with economic significance. The potassium head assays range from 24700 to 41000ppm K. The weak acid leach demonstrated a recovery of 40 to 82%, or 15500 to 20300ppm K.
Table 2: Potassium Results
Activation Laboratories – Report Number: A16-13646 (report dates: 2/2/2017; 21/2/2017; 22/2/2017)
| 4-Acid Digestion | Weak Acid Leach | Recovery | ||||||||
| Composite Sample Number | Salar | K (%) | K (ppm) | K (%) | K (ppm) | (%) | ||||
| COMPOSITE A16-10795 (1-10) | Santa Clara | 4.1 | 41000 | 1.97 | 19700 | 48 | ||||
| COMPOSITE A16-10795 (11-20) | La Salada | 2.47 | 24700 | 2.03 | 20300 | 82 | ||||
| COMPOSITE A16-10795 (21-30) | Caliguey | 3.84 | 38400 | 1.55 | 15500 | 40 | ||||
These results are considered preliminary investigations into the leaching characteristics of the soils, or unconsolidated salar infill material. The favorable Li recoveries using a weak acid leach indicate further sampling and leach testing is warranted. Selected results of interest are reported; the complete table of results will be posted on Alset’s website or can be obtained by request.
Methodology: In order to achieve representative leach results of material from the Santa Clara, La Salada and Caliguey salars, one composite sample was created for each salar. The composite sample was created by combining material from thirty historical samples that were collected during historical sampling efforts completed by LitioMex (2009-2011) and submitted to Activation Laboratories (Zacatecas, Mexico and Ancaster, Ontario) in 2016 for geochemical evaluation and X-ray diffraction analysis (see Alset NR October 4, 2016 and Alset NR December 7, 2016). Upon completion of these analyses, the remaining material was used to create composite samples by mixing and homogenizing ten samples from each salar into one composite sample to represent each salar. A portion of the sample was then analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) procedure with a four-acid total digestion to determine the geochemical composition or “head” grade. The remaining material from each composite sample was divided into two aliquots, one was leached with hot water and the other with weak acid (aqua regia). Both leachates were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine their composition.
Emily Hanson, PGeo, Vice-President of Exploration for Alset Energy Corp., is the qualified person responsible for this release and has prepared, supervised and approved the preparation of the scientific and technical disclosure contained within the release.
About Alset Energy (ION.V)
Alset Energy is a TSX-V listed junior exploration company focused on exploring and acquiring mineral properties containing the metals needed by today’s high-tech industries. The Company is actively exploring in Mexico and Canada.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Alset Energy Corp.,
Allan Barry Laboucan, President and CEO
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Allan Barry Laboucan
(604) 505-4753
www.alsetenergy.ca