Key Findings
- Beaver samples contain magnesium-rich minerals such as brucite and hydrotalcite group minerals that react quickly with CO2 in the atmosphere
- 60% of analysed samples contain moderate to substantial levels of brucite, a form of magnesium key to carbon capture and storage
- Beaver tailings are good candidates for CO2 capture using techniques developed by UBC
Summary of Study
Ultramafic rocks like those that host magnesium and nickel-rich mineralization at Beaver can be among the largest carbon capture and storage reservoirs on Earth. Ultramafic mine tailings can be reactive to CO2 and therefore have the potential to reduce or eliminate the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of mine operations.
Analysis by
On the basis of the positive test results,
Carbon Mineralization
Led by Dr.
Carbon mineralization sequesters carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, via the reaction of CO2 with alkaline earth metal-bearing silicate and hydroxide minerals to form carbonate minerals that store CO2 in a stable form. During the mining process, a significant amount of rock material must be removed and processed (tailings) in order to access valuable commodities below the surface. The carbon mineralization process can utilize the enormous amount of tailings produced by the mining industry to drawdown CO2 and safely store it for millions of years (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Certain mine tailings can permanently remove CO2 directly from the atmosphere through a process known as carbon mineralization. CarbMinLab have developed proprietary technologies to optimize and accelerate the process, creating the potential for gigaton-scale capture and permanent storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Illustration by
To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:
https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3069/128988_85e5996b64c47883_001full.jpg
Thus in addition to supplying critical minerals to power electric vehicles and green technologies, carbon capture is another way mining can play an important part to fight climate change. Carbon capture and storage is also beneficial to mine owners and ESG-conscious investors. A substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions could enable mines to become carbon neutral and lower operating costs. Even greater emission reductions could create carbon negative mines and the opportunity to generate carbon credits - the "holy grail" for mining operations and green investment.
The Beaver Property
The Beaver property comprises the 7,582 hectare (ha) northern claim block of Inomin's Beaver-Lynx project, collectively approximately 20,000 hectares. Beaver is ideally located in south-central
Inomin's inaugural 2021 drilling program at Beaver generated a significant discovery of high-grade magnesium and other critical minerals including nickel, chromium, and cobalt.
Drill-hole B21-02 intersected 252.1 metres (827 feet) grading 20.6% magnesium, 0.16% nickel, and 0.33% chromium. B21-02 is the longest mineralized hole ever drilled at Beaver, and the first-ever drilling in the Spur zone, one of four mineralized zones on the eastern side of the property covering a 7 kilometre-long strike length.
The Company's drilling at Beaver hit substantial near-surface mineralization in all drill holes. Furthermore, all holes ended in mineralization leaving the discoveries open to extension at depth.
The 12,662 ha Lynx block is geologically similar to Beaver with even larger mineral targets as defined by magnetics.
Given the positive drill and carbon capture test results - plus district size - the Beaver-Lynx project has the potential to be among the world's largest greenest deposits of high-grade magnesium and other critical minerals.
Inomin Mines Director,
About
On behalf of the board of
Per: "John Gomez"
President and CEO
For more information please contact:
Tel. 604.566.8703
info@inominmines.com
Forward Looking Statements:
The test results reported in this news release are preliminary in nature and may not be representative of the mineralization in other areas of the Beaver property, as well as results or conditions in an operating environment. This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
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(C) 2022 M2 COMMUNICATIONS, source