Commerce Resources Corp. announced that it has successfully scaled-up its process flowsheet with the production of approximately 1.2 kg of mixed rare earth carbonate ("mixed REC") concentrate. Further, the Company is preparing to ship an approximate 0.5 kg sample of this of mixed REC concentrate produced to both a major global processor of rare earth elements ("REEs") as well as a major producer /emerging global processor of REEs.

The samples (combined 1.0 kg) meet typical market specifications and was produced as part of the Company's scale-up from gram quantities to larger kilogram quantities. In addition, the Company has received requests of interest in the remaining 200 grams of the mixed REC, and will look to deliver this to these industry companies. The Company reported the new sample of mixed REC has a neodymium (Nd) plus praseodymium (Pr) distribution - i.e. % of Nd+Pr oxide of the total rare earth oxide ("REO") - of 21.9%,which is significantly higher than that reported by several major global producers, and is in line with that of the previous samples produced (21.6% and 24.2% NdPr).

Additionally, the mixed REC sample, with a formula of REE2(CO3)3(H2O)8 as determined by XRD, contains approximately 52% REO, <0.1 ppm Th, and <0.1 ppm U. The two (2) half-kilogram samples are part of a total 1.2 kg mixed REC batch that was produced as part of a process scale-up run, which followed the gram quantity batches previously produced. Therefore, the Company has now successfully scaled up from gram quantities to kilogram quantities of mixed REC concentrate to market specifications, with NdPr distributions ranging from 21.6% to 24.2%. The strong NdPr distributions that characterize these Ashram samples rank among the highest in the world for non-cerium depleted mixed REC concentrates and exceeds that of several major global producers.

These samples were produced with the Company's conventional flowsheet developed at Hazen Research, CO, in which several process operations have been demonstrated at a continuous pilot-scale level. The Company is currently in the process of producing another ~1.5 kg of mixed REC concentrate to satisfy additional third-party requests. The additional kilogram quantity sample(s) is expected to be completed in the first quarter 2023 and will be delivered to the relevant parties immediately following.

The ~1.2 kg mixed REC concentrate sample as described herein was produced from the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit using a conventional recovery flowsheet, which results in high grade monazite concentrate exceeding 40% REO. The monazite concentrate was processed through a sulphuric acid pot digestion, to ‘crack' the monazite, which was then followed by a water leach to liberate the individual REEs into solution at high recovery (98% for NdPr in the sulphuric acid + water leach stage - see news release dated September 9, 2021). The thorium was then selectively removed using solvent extraction and the REEs subsequently isolated - also using solvent extraction - and precipitated as a mixed REC concentrate, meeting typical market specifications.

In the rare earth industry, a mixed REC concentrate is typically viewed as the initial marketable product in the REE value chain. A mixed REC is readily saleable as it is the most common feedstock to REE solvent extraction facilities globally, which separate the individual REEs and allow for them to be individually refined into marketable products and disseminated throughout downstream value chains. The Ashram Deposit ranks as one of the largest REE (and fluorspar) deposits globally, consisting of a monazite dominated, single mineralized body outcropping at surface, and has a footprint approximately 700 m along strike, over 300 m across, and 600 m deep, remaining open in several directions.

The deposit hosts a measured resource of 1.6 million tonnes (Mt) at 1.77% rare earth oxide (REO) and 3.8% F, an indicated resource of 27.7 Mt at 1.90% REO and 2.9% F, and an inferred resource of 219.8 Mt at 1.88% REO and 2.2% F, at a cut-off grade of 1.25% REO (Effective Date July 5th, 2012). Note, mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resources will be converted into Mineral Reserves.