Upper Fir reached the PEA level in 2011 and a resource update in 2013.

Best known for the advanced-stage Ashram rare earths deposit in Quebec, Commerce Resources’ (TSXV:CCE) rare metals interests also include the Upper Fir tantalum-niobium deposit in southeastern British Columbia. Now a proprietary processing method has brought successful results, leading the company to work on a definitive agreement to acquire global rights to the process.

Named after Alexander Krupin, an expert with 35 years’ experience in tantalum and niobium recovery, the method was applied to a 1,300-kilogram sample shipped to Krupin’s Estonia facility last year. A visit by Commerce chairperson Axel Hoppe, another internationally recognized expert in tantalum and niobium, verified the Krupin Method’s success. As a result, the parties now have a definitive agreement under negotiation.

Part of Commerce’s Blue River property, Upper Fir reached PEA in 2011. A 2013 resource update used a tantalum price of $381 per kilogram for an estimated: 

• - indicated: 48.41 million tonnes averaging 197 ppm Ta₂O₅ and 1,610 ppm Nb₂O₅for 9,560 tonnes Ta₂O₅ and 77,810 tonnes Nb₂O₅ 

• - inferred: 5.4 million tonnes averaging 191 ppm Ta₂O₅ and 1,760 ppm Nb₂O₅ for 1,000 tonnes Ta₂O₅ and 9,600 tonnes Nb₂O₅

Adjacent to a 20-MW run-of-river electricity project, the 105,373-hectare property has road, rail and power lines.

More niobium-tantalum potential, this time early-stage, has been identified on Commerce’s Eldor property in northern Quebec, which hosts the Ashram rare earths deposit. Last month the company announced that Saville Resources TSXV:SRE had taken on a 75% earn-in to work the property’s niobium claims, where an exceptional sample assay of 5.9% Nb₂O₅ sparked additional attention in the property.

Ashram remains Commerce’s focus, however, as one of the most advanced REE projects outside China moves towards pre-feasibility. In December the company announced new research that could further streamline the project’s metallurgy, already benefitting from host minerals that are well understood and amenable to conventional processing.

Source: http://resourceclips.com/2018/02/20/tantalum-niobium-recovery-tests-prompt-commerce-resources-to-negotiate-world-rights-to-process/