MGX Minerals Announces Completion of Gasification Scoping Study

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA / November 21, 2018 / MGX Minerals Inc. ("MGX" or the "Company") (CSE: XMG / OTCQB: MGXMF / FKT: 1MG) and Highbury Energy Inc. ("Highbury") are pleased to report completion of a comprehensive study analyzing beneficial gasification routes from Petroleum Coke ("Petcoke") to three products of value: Hydrogen, FT Liquids and Fuel Gas. Each of these products has potential markets in the oil sands and heavy oil industry. The report outlines a variety and comparison of plant design parameters and a Petcoke-to-Hydrogen process with metals concentration via gasification, utilizing Highbury's patented dual-bed gasification technology, which requires no fine grinding or air separation unit. The goal of ongoing joint research with Highbury is to develop fuel source alternatives and concentrated battery metals by-products including vanadium, nickel and cobalt, which can be seamlessly integrated into existing refinery operations. The study is viewed as positive and the project will now move to the demonstration plant design phase and preliminary pre-feasibility analysis.

Metals in Pet Coke and AshPreviously released assay results of Petcoke samples collected from stockpiles produced from the Fort McMurray area mining and upgrading operation as well as an Edmonton refinery are summarized below. Both samples originated from Delayed Coking operations. Samples were obtained and prepared by Highbury and metal contents analyzed by Acme Labs of Vancouver, British Columbia using standard ICP analyses.

Ash ContentAsh content was determined by weighing residues after burning coke samples of about 200 g in air in a muffle oven over extended periods at 815 ?C. Table A indicates the average ash content of 6 to 7 samples of each coke.

Table A. Ash Content of Coke Samples

Upgrader Coke A had about nine times as much ash as was in Refinery Coke B.

Proximate AnalysesThe cokes contain over 95 % organic (non-mineral) matter. Thermogravimetric analyses on 10 mg quantities are shown below.

Table B. Proximate Analyses of Coke by the Thermo-gravimetric Analyser Method

Residue refers to residual mineral matter left after the thermo-gravimetric test. Except for the % Residue, the two cokes have similar combustion properties.

Metals Analysis in the Coke SamplesLithium borate fusion ICP-MS method measures 45 trace metal concentrations in the coke. Results are expressed as (mg/kg) or ppmwt. Table C lists concentrations of selected metals.

Table C. Selected Metal Concentrations in Coke (mg Metal/kg Coke)