TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2024 / Aclara Resources Inc. ("Aclara" or the "Company") (TSX:ARA) is pleased to announce that the second patent for its groundbreaking process to extract heavy rare earths in an environmentally friendly way has been received. The patent has been granted in Chile and is valid for 20 years. It centers around the innovative Circular Mineral Harvesting (CMH) process created by Aclara, a groundbreaking technique for processing ionic clays housing rare earths. CMH establishes a fully enclosed flowsheet, setting a new standard for sustainable rare earth extraction.

Circular Mineral Harvesting - Environmental Attributes:

• No crushing or milling required
• 95% of water used is recirculated
• 99% of the reagent (a common fertilizer) recycled back into the process
• No liquid residues and no tailings dam needed
• No radioactivity

Figure 1 - Circular Mineral Harvesting Process flowsheet schematic

This patent grants Aclara the right to exclude others from using or selling products made by our unique process. Special emphasis has been placed on two parts of the process; the water and the reagent recirculation components of the flowsheet, recycled with 95% and 99% efficiency respectively. Aclara stands apart from other mining operations in our sector by not having a tailings dam, a distinction achieved through the absence of liquid residues. At the end of the extraction process, Aclara's environmentally friendly spent clays are suitable for revegetation with native species, reinforcing the eco-friendly nature of the Company's extraction process.

Barry Murphy, COO commented:

"This is a great milestone for Aclara, putting the company on track to become the cleanest source of heavy rare earths in the world. This patent underscores our commitment to innovation in the Rare Earths industry. Our team's ongoing dedication to advancing environmental standards goes hand in hand with our continuous efforts to optimize both CAPEX and OPEX, solidifying our leadership in responsible resource extraction."

Our process has been successfully tested at our Pilot Plant in Concepcion, Chile, with ionic clays from our Chilean project last year, and where the ionic clays from our Brazilian project are being processed. We are expecting to produce around 10 kilograms of a high-purity heavy rare earths concentrate for commercial uses, and we should have the results of this piloting campaign in the next month.

About Aclara

Aclara Resources Inc. (TSX:ARA) is a development-stage company that focuses on heavy rare earth mineral resources hosted in Ion-Adsorption Clay deposits. The Company currently has two projects under development: the Penco Module in the Bio-Bio Region of Chile, and the Carina Project in the State of Goiás, Brazil.

Aclara's rare earth extraction process offers several environmentally attractive features. It does not involve blasting, crushing, or milling, and therefore does not generate tailings, thus eliminating the need for a tailings storage facility. The extraction process developed by Aclara minimizes water consumption through high levels of water recirculation made possible by the inclusion of a water treatment facility within its patented process design. The ionic clay feedstock is amenable to leaching with a common fertilizer, ammonium sulfate. Further, harmful levels of radionuclides, typical of hard rock rare earth deposits, are not concentrated within the Aclara flowsheet.

Simultaneously, alongside the development of the Carina and Penco projects, the Company intends to identify and evaluate further opportunities to increase future production of heavy rare earths. This will involve greenfield exploration programs and the development of additional projects within the Company's concessions in Brazil, Chile, and Peru.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects the Company's current expectations regarding future events, including statements with regard to: the expectations of the Company's management as to the operation of the pilot plant and expected success resulting therefrom. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated as of March 28, 2023 filed on the Company's SEDAR profile. Actual results, timing, performance, achievements or future events or developments could differ materially from those expressed or implied herein. Unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise indicates, the forward-looking information contained in this news release is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required under applicable securities laws.

For further information, please contact:

Ramon Barua
Chief Executive Officer
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