Electric Metals (USA) Limited Updates Emily Manganese Deposit Metallurgical Test Work

Current direct leaching results successful in achieving high manganese extractions of more than 90% using a reductant

Previous leach test work confirmed +80% recovery of manganese and produced a number of chemical grade manganese products including EMD, EMM, and MnCO₃ in the lab

Focus is now on developing a viable optimized flow sheet

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 22, 2024 / Electric Metals (USA) Limited ("EML" or the "Company") (TSXV:EML)(OTCQB:EMUSF) is pleased to provide a review and progress report on the manganese metallurgical test work with Kemetco Research Inc., of Richmond, BC, Canada, from samples obtained from the Company's Emily manganese deposit, located in central Minnesota. Kemetco is one the leading metallurgical firms specializing in the extraction and processing of manganese ores and compounds worldwide.

As reported in the 2022 NI 43-101, Kemetco was commissioned in 2013 to undertake parametric leach tests on Emily manganese ore to provide an initial determination of leaching conditions and the ultimate manganese recovery potential. Using a leaching protocol that utilizes SO₂ as a reducing agent, Kemetco demonstrated that more than 80% of the manganese could be recovered from the feed without requiring pre-concentration. Kemetco also performed a larger batch leach and used the purified leach solution in laboratory-scale electrowinning to produce of chemical grade manganese dioxide (MnO₂), electrolytic manganese metal (EMM) and chemical grade manganese carbonate (MnCO₃).

In 2023, Electric Metals recommissioned Kemetco to continue working on the metallurgy and commercial processing. The 2023-4 metallurgical test work at Kemetco utilized two manganese composites weighing approximately 228 kilograms taken from 40 samples:

Higher grade whole rock composite sample (37.0% Mn, 19.03% Fe, and 4.61% SiO₂), and

Lower grade whole rock composite sample (15.57% Mn, 20.61% Fe, and 38.45% SiO₂)

The leach optimization tests are leveraging off of the earlier studies and have been conducted to determine appropriate conditions and likely leach yields. The acid leach tests indicate that high manganese extractions recovered more than 90% manganese using a reductant. The metallurgical test work is ongoing with expectations of developing a viable process flowsheet for the project in the coming months. Future work will focus on the optimization of the proposed approaches.