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Stockholm, 19 June 2023 – The mining company Eurobattery Minerals AB (Nordic Growth Market: “BAT” and Börse Stuttgart: “EBM”; in short: “EBM”, “Eurobattery” or “the Company”) has received an additional report from the scientists in the research partnership with Uppsala University in collaboration with AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, Poland.
The new report further confirms the viability of the new method for large-scale extraction of rare earth elements in Eurobattery Minerals Fetsjön project in Sweden. The method allows recovery of rare earth elements through chemical treatment at low temperatures, thus avoiding costly and time-consuming mechanical treatment. Low-temperature treatment allows for the circular use of the chemicals. In addition, the scientists conclude that the method, patented in Poland, can also be used to extract these critical raw materials from other geological formations.
“To mine rare earth elements from Europe is a key priority for the region. It would secure our supply of these critical minerals for the green transition and release us from our unhealthy dependency on conflict minerals. This new method for very effective extraction allows for exploration of European minerals deposits, such as our project in Fetsjön”, said Roberto García Martínez, CEO of Eurobattery Minerals.
The research project Eurobattery Minerals is supporting is conducted by Prof. Jaroslaw Majka at Uppsala University and Prof. Maciej Manecki at AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, supported by Ph. D. candidate Julia Sordyl representing both universities. The parties are investigating the opportunity for a large-scale pilot.
More information about the project: https://investors.eurobatteryminerals.com/en/press-releases/new-ground-breaking-method-allows-nearly-100-recovery-of-rees-in-fetsjoen/.
Stockholm, 27 March 2023 – The mining company Eurobattery Minerals AB (Nordic Growth Market: “BAT” and Börse Stuttgart: “EBM“; in short: “EBM”, “Eurobattery” or “the Company”) received the first results from the research partnership with Uppsala University in collaboration with AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, Poland. The results outline new methods for large-scale extraction of rare earth elements (REEs) in its Fetsjön project in Sweden. REEs are critical raw materials for the battery industry & new energy solutions. With almost 100% imports from outside the EU, the region has set a target to increase its self-sufficiency.
Key points
- The new ground-breaking method developed and tested allows close to 100% recovery of REEs from Fetsjön and bordering Rönnberget apatite minerals.
- Previous analysis of the complete REE-bearing shale formation that covers Eurobattery Minerals Fetsjön and Rönnberget exploration targets is estimated to be 165,000 to 180,000 tons of REEs. The magnitude of the exploration target was confirmed in a NI43-101 technical report by a qualified person.
- Recovery of the REEs can be made through chemical treatment at low temperatures, thus avoiding costly and time-consuming mechanical treatment. Low-temperature treatment allows for the circular use of the chemicals.
- Next step: additional tests on detailed characterization of the REE-bearing minerals and possibly large-scale pilot plant shortly.
“These are extremely exciting results from our joint research project. According to previous analyses, we know that our Fetsjön project, and bordering Rönnberget, have large occurrences of REEs. As these first results suggest, with a close to 100% recovery rate, this would mean that we have a very significant rare earth elements deposit in hand, where we could apply a new revolutionary recovery method,” said Roberto García Martínez, CEO of Eurobattery Minerals.
Based on drill core samples from Eurobattery Minerals Fetsjön prospect area in northern Sweden (see appendix 1 for more details about Fetsjön and Rönnberget), the scientists have performed a detailed mineralogical and geochemical study of shales and identified the minerals carrying REEs, mainly apatite. Due to its composition, the Fetsjön carbonate-apatite shale is particularly well suited for leaching REEs by modern methods according to the scientists.
The Uppsala-Krakow team has developed a new, low-cost, and efficient method for beneficiation of REEs from apatites and similar mineralization (please see appendix 2 for more details) to obtain as high as 100% of the REEs from the Fetsjön deposits containing apatites, carbonate minerals, and other REE carriers. Further to this, the process identified is very efficient both from a cost and time perspective as it enables the extraction of REEs using only chemical treatment at low temperatures, thus avoiding the step of mechanical pretreatment and heating. Furthermore, the low-temperature treatment means that the chemical can be recycled and reused again.
“REEs consist of scandium, yttrium, and the lanthanides which are critical components for electrification, so there is a huge demand for raw materials. However, extracting REEs, particularly from apatites, is often very challenging. Therefore, I am excited about the preliminary results from our project showing that our new approach allows obtaining such high percentages and do it solely with chemical treatment of the carbonate-apatite rock,” said Prof. Jaroslaw Majka at Uppsala University.
EU classifies REEs as critical raw materials; today, the region is almost 100% dependent on imports. EU is therefore pushing for more European recovery of REEs.
“In this context, Eurobattery Minerals, its project in Fetsjön and the research collaboration play a significant role in increasing Europe’s self-sufficiency of responsibly mined battery minerals,” said Roberto García Martínez.
The project will now continue with additional tests on detailed characterization. Further, the parties are investigating the opportunity for a large-scale pilot plant in the near future.
The research project is conducted by Prof. Jaroslaw Majka at Uppsala University and Prof. Maciej Manecki at AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow supported by Ph.D. candidate Julia Sordyl representing both universities.
For more information, please see the enclosed attachment.
About Eurobattery Minerals
Eurobattery Minerals AB is a Swedish mining company listed on Swedish Nordic Growth Market (BAT) and German Börse Stuttgart (EBM). With the vision to make Europe self-sufficient in responsibly mined battery minerals, the company’s focus is to realize numerous nickel-cobalt-copper projects in Europe to supply critical raw materials and, as such, power a cleaner world.
Please visit www.eurobatteryminerals.com for more information. Feel free to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter as well.
Contact Eurobattery Minerals AB
Roberto García Martínez – CEO
E-mail: info@eurobatteryminerals.com
Contact Investor Relations
E-mail: ir@eurobatteryminerals.com
Mentor
Augment Partners AB is the mentor to Eurobattery Minerals AB
Phone: +46 (0) 86 042 255
E-mail: info@augment.se
Eurobattery Minerals AB (Nordic Growth Market: “BAT”), a growth company in the mining and exploration industry with the vision to help Europe become self-sufficient in ethical battery minerals, announced a positive first result from its collaboration with the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow. The joint research project has two goals; to identify the main mineral carriers of the battery mineral vanadium and to develop optimal sustainable methods for extracting the metal from vanadium-rich minerals. Vanadium is a critical raw material in batteries and a key component for the electric vehicle (EV) industry.
Key points:
- Positive first results from AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow on developing an optimal technology of extracting vanadium and rare earth elements (REE) from minerals in black shales
- The technology used in the experiment allows cost-effective and sustainable enrichment of vanadium and REE at relatively low temperatures and no use of chemicals
- The research further concludes that the previously confirmed large quantities of vanadium in the Fetsjön black shales is partly tied to the mineral rutile and partly to clays and mica fraction
- Next step is further tests on separation and extraction of vanadium and REE
- The research project is part of the ongoing collaboration between the universities in Krakow and Uppsala and Eurobattery Minerals.
Via experimental studies on vanadium-rich black shales from Eurobattery Minerals Fetsjön-project, the scientists have concluded that part of the vanadium is tied to the mineral rutile (TiO2) and part to clays and mica minerals. The scientists have managed to thermally concentrate vanadium-enriched fractions to identify the vanadium-bearing minerals and additional rare earth elements (REE) in the black shales. The separation has been successful already at relatively low temperatures meaning that less power is needed. Furthermore, the process allows for separation without using chemicals. Producing a low-cost metal-enriched concentrate may be a new method in extracting vanadium.
“We are thrilled about these early results suggesting that the vanadium in our Fetsjön project, and elsewhere, can be obtained more sustainably and cost-effectively than what we have known to date”, said Roberto García Martínez, CEO of Eurobattery Minerals.
Dr Maciej Manecki runs the research project at the Department of Mineralogy, Petrography and Geochemistry at AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, Poland, and he is optimistic about the results:
“The research supports my hypothesis, as well as previous research at Fetsjön and other parts of the world with similar rock formations – vanadium in black shales is bound to oxide and/or mica minerals and it’s possible to thermally concentrate the metal at relatively low temperatures and without the use of chemicals. I am looking forward to seeing the outcome from further tests on the separation and extraction of vanadium and REE”, Dr Maciej Manecki concludes.
For further information, please contact:
Roberto García Martínez, CEO
roberto@eurobatteryminerals.com
https://eurobatteryminerals.com/en/
About Eurobattery Minerals
Eurobattery Minerals AB is a Swedish mining company listed on NGM Nordic SME (BAT) and Börse Stuttgart (EBM). As the foundation of the battery value chain the company’s vision is to help Europe become self-sufficient in ethical and fully traceable battery minerals for the electric vehicle industry. The company is focused on exploration and development of several nickel-cobalt-copper projects in Europe to supply raw material critical to the expanding electric vehicle battery market. Please visit www.eurobatteryminerals.com for more information.
Augment Partners AB, e-mail: info@augment.se, phone: +46 8 505 651 72, is the company’s Mentor.
- Collaboration between Eurobattery Minerals and the AHG University of Science and Technology in Krakow advances to next stage
- The project goal is to identify the main mineral carriers of vanadium in the black shales at Fetsjön
- The ultimate objective is to form a base to develop an optimal technology for the extraction of the metal from vanadium-rich minerals
- Vanadium is a crucial element in batteries for the electric revolution.
Eurobattery Minerals AB (Nordic Growth Market: “BAT”), a growth company in the mining and exploration industry with the vision to help Europe become self-sufficient in ethical battery minerals, and the AHG University of Science and Technology in Krakow in Poland, today announced an extension of its existing project collaboration.
The goal of the project is to identify the main mineral carriers of the battery mineral vanadium and methods to extract the metal efficiently. In this research project, scientists will use black shale rock material from Eurobattery Minerals exploration project Fetsjön in northern Sweden. Previous results from 52 exploration boreholes and chemical analyses confirm that the black shales at Fetsjön include large quantities of vanadium.
“Vanadium plays a key role in the electrification of the society as it’s included in high capacity chargeable batteries. As a provider of critical raw material, supporting groundbreaking research projects on efficient extraction of these minerals is one important part of our business”, said Roberto García Martínez, CEO of Eurobattery Minerals.
Dr Maciej Manecki at the Department of Mineralogy, Petrography and Geochemistry at AGH University of Science and Technology conducting this scientific project, hypothesize that vanadium in this kind of rock is bound to oxide and mica minerals. This hypothesis is supported by previous research at Fetsjön and other parts of the world with similar rock formations.
To identify the vanadium-bearing minerals, the scientists will thermally remove the carbonaceous substance of the shales and then use a sequence of procedures for the separation of mica and heavy minerals to obtain and identify the vanadium-enriched fractions.
“The preliminary work carried out on the core samples a year ago strengthened my confidence that there is a raw material potential in Fetsjön shales and I am happy to continue the project with support from Eurobattery Minerals”, said Dr Maciej Manecki. “If vanadium-enriched fractions are obtained and identified in the way we believe is possible, works can be undertaken in the future to develop an optimal technology for the extraction of vanadium”.
For further information, please contact:
Roberto García Martínez, CEO
roberto@eurobatteryminerals.com
https://eurobatteryminerals.com//en/
About Eurobattery Minerals
Eurobattery Minerals AB is a Swedish mining company listed on NGM Nordic SME (BAT). As the foundation of the battery value chain the company’s vision is to help Europe become self-sufficient in ethical and fully traceable battery minerals for the electric vehicle industry. The company is focused on exploration and development of several nickel-cobalt-copper projects in Europe to supply raw material critical to the expanding electric vehicle battery market. Please visit www.eurobatteryminerals.com for more information.
Augment Partners AB, e-mail: info@augment.se, phone: +46 8 505 651 72, is the company’s Mentor.
- Project on new and modern industrialised methods to extract Rare Earth Elements (REE)
- REE rich black shales from Eurobattery Minerals exploration project in Fetsjön will be part of the project
- Eurobattery Minerals will support with funding as part of the Vinnova application submitted by the Uppsala University with final approval at the beginning of spring 2021.
Eurobattery Minerals AB (Nordic Growth Market: “BAT”), a growth company in the mining and exploration industry with the vision to help Europe become self-sufficient in ethical battery minerals, announced an extension of its ongoing collaboration with Uppsala University. The company supports the university in its application to the Swedish innovation agency Vinnova in a project that focuses on new and modern methods of extracting REE from the shales in Fetsjön and other apatite rich discoveries in Sweden. As part of this project, Eurobattery Minerals will provide both mineralised samples from Fetsjön as well as financial funding. Vinnova is expected to announce their decision in the beginning of spring 2021.
The scientist from the Department of Earth Sciences at Uppsala University has figured out an efficient way of extracting REE from phosphates typically located in black shales, such as in Fetsjön. The next step is now to create a small experimental plant and run the University led REE beneficiation experiments on a bigger scale.
“We are thrilled to continue to support the scientists at Uppsala University. In Fetsjön, we know from previous comprehensive drilling and analyses that the REE level in the black shales is high. As critical components to the electric revolution, we are interested in finding efficient and sustainable methods to obtain those minerals from our projects”, said Roberto García Martínez, CEO of Eurobattery Minerals.
The project that is headed by Dr Jaroslaw Majka, Associate Professor in Metamorphic Petrology at the Department of Earth Sciences at Uppsala University, is pleased with the continued support from Eurobattery Minerals.
“We are excited about the possibility to conduct larger-scale testing of this new industrialised method for extracting rare earth elements. We believe that it will enable more efficient and sustainable extraction of these key components in electric vehicles and other battery-run equipment”, said Dr Jaroslaw Majka.
For further information, please contact:
Roberto García Martínez, CEO
roberto@eurobatteryminerals.com
https://eurobatteryminerals.com//en/
This information is the sort of information that the company is obliged to disclose under the EU market abuse regulation. The information was submitted by the above contact person for publication on 19 November 2020 at 08:00 CEST.
About Eurobattery Minerals
Eurobattery Minerals AB is a Swedish mining company listed on NGM Nordic SME (BAT). As the foundation of the battery value chain the company’s vision is to help Europe become self-sufficient in ethical and fully traceable battery minerals for the electric vehicle industry. The company is focused on exploration and development of several nickel-cobalt-copper projects in Europe to supply raw material critical to the expanding electric vehicle battery market. Please visit www.eurobatteryminerals.com for more information.
Augment Partners AB, e-mail: info@augment.se, phone: +46 8 505 651 72, is the company’s Mentor.
- First results from Eurobattery Mineral’s collaboration with Uppsala University and the AGH University of Science & Technology in Krakow
- According to field studies and microprobe analyses conducted by the scientists from the universities, a certain type of the mineral Rutile is the carrier of vanadium in Eurobattery Mineral’s prospect area in Fetsjön
- Next step in research project is to initiate test to obtain the vanadium in a sustainable way
Eurobattery Minerals AB (NGM; “BAT”), a growth company in the mineral exploration industry with a corporate vision to help Europe become self-sufficient in ethical battery minerals, are pleased to share the results from the preliminary experiments on prospects of vanadium recovery from shales conducted by scientists from Uppsala University and AGH University of Science & Technology in Krakow.
The scientists have conducted both field studies and microprobe analysis of material from Eurobattery Mineral’s prospect area in Fetsjön in Västerbotten located in the Northern parts of Sweden as part of the collaboration that was announced in December 2019.
Previous vanadium, which is a key component in a vast number of electronic equipment including electric vehicles, smart phones and computers, has been identified in the bedrock in the prospect area without detailed knowledge about the specific carrier of the metal. Following the analysis that was carried out on thin section cuts from drill core samples, the scientists can now conclude that a certain type of the mineral Rutile is the carrier of vanadium in Fetsjön.
– Even if early results, it’s encouraging to see that the scientists have now identified the carrier of the vanadium in our prospecting area in northern Sweden, said Roberto García Martínez, CEO of Eurobattery Minerals. In order to provide ethical and fully traceable minerals and support the electric revolution, it is important that all stakeholders collaborate, why we are looking forward to continue to support this important research project.
The research project continues in accordance with the plan and the next step is to initiate test on sustainable ways to extract vanadium from this specific mineral.
The full report written by Dr. Maciej Manecki at the AGH University of Science & Technology in Krakow and Dr. Jaroslaw Majka at the Uppsala University is attached to this press release.
About Eurobattery Minerals
Eurobattery Minerals is a mineral exploration company focused on battery minerals such as nickel, cobalt, copper and rare earth elements. Business activities and operations are conducted exclusively in Europe with a focus on Spain and northern Sweden. The company has one mining license and eight exploration licenses. The headquarters is located in Stockholm.
Augment Partners AB, e-mail: info@augment.se, phone: +46 8 505 651 72, is the company’s Mentor
For further information, please contact:
Roberto García Martínez, CEO