This NI 43-101 Technical Report released in mid-2020 on the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element (REE) Property has been prepared for Defense Metals Corp. (“Defense Metals”) by APEX Geoscience Limited (“APEX”). In 2019, Defense Metals retained APEX to conduct a diamond drilling program on the Property. The Report presents the exploration work, the 2019 results, and the subsequent resource modelling and mineral resource estimation (MRE) results.
The Wicheeda Property is located in the Central Mining Division in central British Columbia, NTS map sheet 93J06, approximately 80 km northeast of Prince George, BC and 50 km east of Bear Lake, BC. The Property consists of 6 contiguous mineral claims that cover approximately 1,708 hectares. Currently all claims are 100% owned by Spectrum Mining Corporation, under an option agreement with Defense Metals. The claims cover Wicheeda Lake and straddle a segment of Wichika Creek. The principal area of interest is the Wicheeda Rare Earth Element (REE) Carbonatite Deposit.
The Wicheeda REE Property is located in the Foreland Belt of the Canadian Cordillera, within the structurally dominant NW-trending Rocky Mountain Trench. The Rocky Mountain Trench is recognized for the occurrence of several Devonian – Mississippian, carbonatite-syenite intrusion-related complexes that were geologically deformed, tilted, and transported to the east in thrust panels. The REE-enriched carbonatites located on the Property is part of a narrow, elongate, south-trending intrusive carbonatite-syenite complex utilizing a structural panel within sedimentary sequences of the Cambrian to Ordovician Kechika Group.
The Wicheeda REE Property was discovered in 1976 by Kol Lovang during follow-up of ca. 1961 Geological Survey of Canada aeromagnetic anomalies. The Property was initially staked and optioned by Teck in 1986. Subsequently soil and rock geochemical sampling, geological mapping, trenching and ground magnetic surveying completed by Teck identified a pronounced cerium anomaly and REE-bearing carbonatite intrusion within the George grid confident with the present day Wicheeda REE Deposit. The claims were later allowed to lapse, and the area was re-staked in March 2001 by Mr. Chris Graf, a principal of Spectrum, who then transferred ownership of the claims to Spectrum in September 2008.
During 2008 and 2009 Spectrum completed diamond drilling of 19 holes 2,690 m. A total of 14 drill holes tested the Wicheeda REE Deposit, and the remaining five holes tested carbonatite outcrops and REE soil anomalies located west of Wicheeda Lake that did not return significant results. During 2010 Spectrum collected a total of 977 soil samples at 50 m sample spacing along as series of 100 m spaced east-west oriented grid lines. The soil sampling confirmed the presence of a prominent REE soil geochemical anomaly coincident with the Wicheeda Deposit and also identified in number of secondary REE anomalies to the west and south of the Wicheeda Deposit.
During 2019, Defense Metals completed a diamond drilling exploration program at the Wicheeda Property. Thirteen diamond drill holes totaling 2,007.5 meters were collared from three separate drill pads. The program was designed to test the northern, southern and western extent of the Wicheeda Carbonatite and further delineate the relatively highergrade near surface dolomite-carbonatite unit. All drill holes intersected variable lengths of significant REE mineralization, mainly in the carbonatite dolomite body and, to a lesser extent, in the lithologies enveloping the Wicheeda Carbonatite. Assay results
returned 4.43% LREO over an interval of 83 m, and up to 5.47% LREO over an interval of 33 m.
REE-enriched carbonatites of the Wicheeda Deposit are part of a narrow, elongate, northwest-southeast trending intrusive carbonatite-syenite sill complex. The carbonatite is intruded into syenite, mafic dykes, limestone and calcareous sedimentary wall rocks. The Wicheeda REE Deposit has dimensions of approximately 400 metres north-south by 100-250 metres east-west. Diamond drilling data supports the interpretation of a moderately north-northeast dipping, shallowly north plunging, layered sill complex
having syenite at its base, overlain by hybrid matrix to clast-supported limestone or mafic intrusive xenolithic carbonatite (fenite), and finally significantly REE-bearing dolomite-carbonatite rocks, which form the main body of the Wicheeda REE Deposit outcropping at surface. This layered sill complex occurs
within an unmineralized limestone waste rock. The Wicheeda Project mineral resource estimate (MRE) discussed in this report has been classified in accordance with guidelines established by the CIM “Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines” dated November
29, 2019 and CIM “Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves” dated May 10th, 2014.
The updated Wicheeda MRE comprises an Indicated Mineral Resource of 4,890,000 tonnes averaging 3.02% LREO, in addition to Inferred Mineral Resource of 12,100,000 tonnes averaging 2.90% LREO reported at a cut-off grade of 1.5% LREE (light rare earth elements sum of Ce, La, Nd, Pr, and Sm; in addition to Nb percentages).
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