Avalon receives encouraging ore-sorting test results from East Kemptville Tin Project, Yarmouth Co., Nova Scotia

Toronto, ON – Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSX: AVL and OTCQX: AVLNF) (“Avalon” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that the Company has received positive results from an ore-sorting testwork program conducted on samples of tin mineralization from its East Kemptville Tin Project (“East Kemptville” or the “Project”). As discussed in the Company’s news release dated July 24, 2018, these results provide further encouragement that ore-sorting technology can be successfully implemented at East Kemptville to reduce both capital and operating costs and to reduce the volume of tailings generated from the proposed operation.

Sensor-based ore-sorting (“SBS”) is an emerging technology seeing increasing application in the mining industry. It involves the scanning of individual rock particles on a conveyor using various types of available sensor technologies. Depending on the chemical, mineralogical or physical characteristics, the particles of value are individually identified and separated from the “rejects” by applying either a mechanical, hydraulic or, in the case of East Kemptville, a pneumatic process.

The successful application of an ore-sorting process offers a number of potential benefits through the rejection of low or non-mineralized waste rock before it is fed into the processing plant. This can lead to a significant reduction in the size of the plant, along with attendant reductions in both capital and operating costs. It may also allow for the economic processing of low grade feed materials that would otherwise be un-economic to treat.

The recent work was conducted by Cronimet Mining Processing SA (Pty) Ltd (“CMPSA”), who are providing technical and metallurgical services to Avalon in relation to the East Kemptville Project. CMPSA has also expressed interest in partnering with Avalon on the development of the Project.

Drill core samples from the in-ground resources at East Kemptville were delivered in July 2018 to a test facility in Kentucky, USA in order to determine the amenability of East Kemptville tin mineralization for beneficiation utilizing sorting technology. Samples varying from relatively high-grade to low-grade tin concentrations were scanned using a multisensory sorter platform. Based on these scans an algorithm was developed to allow for the separation of the material during the test campaign.

The feed stock used during the test campaign contained 0.11% Sn, 0.06% Cu and 0.11% Zn. The first step of the testwork produced an upgraded product containing 0.47% Sn and a product mass yield of 12%. Recovery versus grade data also showed that SBS can be used to recover the zinc ore mineral sphalerite (which also contains indium) from this resource. The zinc-indium feed was successfully upgraded to 0.23% Zn in the first step, while copper content remained low.

Similar positive results were achieved in a preliminary ore sorting test program conducted in 2017 using material from the low grade stockpile, confirming that SBS can be successfully employed to upgrade both the in-ground tin resource as well as the stockpiled material.

Next Steps

Based on these results, CMPSA has recommend that a detailed sampling campaign be conducted on the low grade stockpile, followed by an extensive bulk testwork program using a pilot scale ore sorting plant to test the recovery of valuable minerals on a pilot scale. CMPSA will be visiting the East Kemptville site in September to meet with Avalon and site representatives in order to design and schedule the sampling program which is likely to involve the extraction of a bulk (~10 tonne) composite sample sometime in October 2018. The test program, including writing of the technical report, is expected to take five to six months to complete. This testwork, combined with a confirmation drilling program on the stockpile, will be utilized to finalize the small-scale site re-development model to the Feasibility level of confidence, following which it is contemplated Avalon and Cronimet would enter into a partnership for the joint development of the Project.

About CMPSA

CRONIMET Mining Processing SA (Pty) Ltd is a company that focuses on the processing of tailings and historically low-grade stockpiles around the world using niche technologies with an aim of reducing the carbon foot print of mines and mineral processing plants while still achieving high quality results for each project. CMPSA is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Switzerland based mineral processing company CRONIMET Mining Processing AG which forms part of the CRONIMET Mining Group, a multi-national corporation with projects around the world. For more information on CMPSA, please see the link to their website: http://www.cronimet-mining.com/en/processing/who-we-are/.

East Kemptville Technical Report

Further to the Company’s news release of July 24, 2018, in which the results of its Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) were disclosed, the report entitled “The East Kemptville Tin Production and Site Remediation Project Preliminary Economic Assessment, Nova Scotia, Canada” has now been filed on SEDAR and is available on the Company’s website. In accordance with the regulations under NI 43-101, it is noted that the PEA must be considered preliminary in nature, as it includes Inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized.

The technical information included in this news release has been reviewed and approved by David Marsh, FAusIMM (CP), Senior Vice President, Metallurgy and Technology Development.

About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. 

Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. is a Canadian mineral development company specializing in niche market metals and minerals with growing demand in new technology. The Company has three advanced stage projects, all 100%-owned, providing investors with exposure to lithium, tin and indium, as well as rare earth elements, tantalum, niobium, and zirconium. Avalon is currently focusing on its Separation Rapids Lithium Project, Kenora, ON and its East Kemptville Tin-Indium Project, Yarmouth, NS. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones.

For questions and feedback, please e-mail the Company at [email protected], or phone Don Bubar, President & CEO, at 416-364-4938.