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Scandium International Mining Corp.

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FY2016 Annual Report · Scandium International Mining Corp.
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UNITED STATES  
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
Washington, D.C. 20549 

FORM 10-K 

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE 
ACT OF 1934 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 

[  ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES 
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 

For the transition period from _______________ to _______________ 

000-54416 
(Commission File Number) 

Scandium International Mining Corp. 
(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its charter) 

British Columbia, Canada 
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation 
or organization) 

98-1009717 
(I.R.S. Employer  
Identification No.) 

1430 Greg Street, Suite 501 
Sparks, Nevada 
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) 

89431 
(Zip Code) 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including area code:  (775) 355-9500  

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:  None 

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  Common Shares without par value 

(Title of class) 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the 
Securities Act.   Yes [  ]  No [X] 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) 
of the Act.   Yes [  ]  No [X] 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period 
that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for 
the past 90 days.  Yes [X]  No [  ] 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Indicate  by  check  mark  whether  the  registrant  has  submitted  electronically  and  posted  on  its  corporate 
Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of 
Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required 
to submit and post such files).     Yes [X]   No [  ] 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not 
contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or 
information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this 
Form 10-K.   [X] 

Indicate  by  check  mark  whether  the  registrant  is  a  large  accelerated  filer,  an  accelerated  filer,  a  non-
accelerated  filer  or  a  smaller  reporting  company.   See  the  definitions  of  “large  accelerated  filer,” 
“accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one): 

Large Accelerated Filer             
Non-Accelerated Filer                                       

  Accelerated Filer                   
Smaller Reporting Company 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange 
Act).  Yes [  ]   No [X] 

State  the  aggregate  market  value  of  the  voting  and  non-voting  common  equity  held  by  non-affiliates 
computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was sold, or the average bid and asked 
price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second 
fiscal quarter:  $20,607,985 as at June 30, 2016.  

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common equity, as of the 
latest practicable date: 227,372,200 common shares as at March 13, 2015. 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 

Portions of the registrant's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by 
reference into Part III of this Form 10-K, which Proxy Statement is to be filed within 120 days after the end 
of the registrant's fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Note about Forward-Looking Statements ..................................................................................................... 4 

Glossary of Terms ......................................................................................................................................... 4 

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS .................................................................................................................................... 8 

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS ...................................................................................................................... 11 

ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES ............................................................................................................................. 13 

ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ........................................................................................................... 35 

ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES ............................................................................................... 35 

ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANTS’ COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER 

MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES .................................................... 35 

ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA .............................................................................................. 37 

ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITIONS AND 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS ................................................................................................................... 37 

ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK ........ 44 

ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA............................................ 44 

ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND 

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE ..................................................................................................................... 44 

ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES ........................................................................................ 45 

Item 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION .......................................................................................................... 45 

ITEM 15.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULES ...................................................... 46 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note about Forward-Looking Statements 

PART I 

Certain  statements  contained  in  this  annual  report  on  Form  10-K  and  the  documents  incorporated  by 
reference herein constitute "forward-looking statements".  Forward-looking statements may include, but 
are not limited to, statements with respect to the future price of commodities, the estimation of mineral 
resources,  the  realization  of  mineral  resource  estimates,  the  timing  and  amount  of  estimated  future 
production, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, 
success of exploration activities, our ability to fund property acquisition costs, our ability to reach targeted 
time  frames  for  establishing  feasibility,  permitting  time  lines,  currency  fluctuations,  requirements  for 
additional  capital,  government  regulation  of  mining  operations,  environmental  risks,  unanticipated 
reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims, our ability to raise funds necessary for ongoing and planned 
expenditures and operations, and regulatory approvals.  In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be 
identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "scheduled", 
"estimates", "intends",  "anticipates"  or "believes",  or variations of  such  words  and  phrases or  state that 
certain  actions,  events  or  results "may",  "could", "would"  or  "will  be  taken", "occur"  or "be achieved".  
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may 
cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, 
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking statements. Such factors may 
include, among others, risks related to our joint venture operations; actual results of current exploration 
activities or production technologies that we are currently testing; actual results of reclamation activities; 
future metal prices; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining 
governmental or regulatory approvals or financing or in the completion of development activities, as well 
as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this Form 10-K. Although 
we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ 
materially from those described in forward looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, 
events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-
looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from 
those  anticipated in such statements.  Accordingly,  readers  should  not  place  undue  reliance  on  forward-
looking statements.  

Glossary of Terms 

“Company”, “SCY”, “we”, “us”, “our” and similar words of similar meaning refer to Scandium 
International Mining Corp. 

$, A$, C$ 

mean respectively, United States dollars, Australian dollars and Canadian dollars. 

Alteration  

Usually referring to chemical reactions in a rock mass resulting from the passage of 
hydrothermal fluids. 

Assay  

An  analysis  to  determine  the  presence,  absence  or  quantity  of  one  or  more 
components, elements or minerals. 

. 

4 

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Core 

The long cylindrical piece of a rock, up to several inches in diameter, brought to the 
surface by Diamond drilling. 

Diamond drilling  A drilling method in which the cutting is done by abrasion using diamonds embedded 
in a matrix rather than by percussion.  The drill cuts a core of rock, which is recovered 
in long cylindrical sections.  

Fractures  

Breaks in a rock, usually due to intensive folding or faulting. 

Grade 

The concentration of a valuable mineral within an Ore. 

Hydrothermal  

Hot fluids, usually water, which may, or may not carry metals and other compounds 
in solution to the site of mineral deposition or wall rock alteration. 

Igneous  

A rock formed by the cooling of molten silicate material. 

Intrusion  

A general term for a body of igneous rock formed below the surface of the earth. 

Kg 

Km 

Kilogram which is equivalent to approximately 2.20 pounds. 

Kilometer which is equivalent to approximately 0.62 miles. 

Mineralization  

A term used to describe the presence of minerals of possible economic value.  Also 
used to describe the process by which concentration of economic minerals occurs. 

Net Smelter 
Returns Royalty 

NI 43-101 

A share of the net revenues generated from the sale of metal produced by a mine. 

National Instrument 43-101 – Standards for Disclosure of Mineral Projects, being the 
regulation  adopted  by  Canadian  securities  regulators  that  governs  the  public 
disclosure of technical and scientific information concerning a mineral property. 

Ore  

A naturally occurring solid material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be 
profitably extracted. 

Outcrop  

An exposure of rock at the earth’s surface. 

ppm 

Pyrite  

Parts per million. 

Iron sulphide mineral. The most common and abundant sulphide mineral and often 
found in association with copper and gold. 

Qualified Person  Means  a  Qualified  Person  as  defined  in  National  Instrument  43-101,  including  an 
engineer or geoscientist in good standing with their professional association, with at 
least five years of relevant experience. 

Quartz  

The second most common rock forming mineral in the earth’s crust. SiO2. 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Resource 

Means any of a measured, indicated or inferred resource as used in NI 43-101, and 
having the following meanings: 

“measured resource” is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or 
quality, densities, shape, and physical characteristics are so well established that they 
can be estimated with confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of 
technical and economic parameters, to support production planning and evaluation of 
the economic viability of the deposit. The estimate is based on detailed and reliable 
exploration,  sampling  and  testing  information  gathered  through  appropriate 
techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes 
that are spaced closely enough to confirm both geological and grade continuity. 

“indicated resource” is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or 
quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics, can be estimated with a level of 
confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic 
parameters, to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the 
deposit.  The  estimate  is  based  on  detailed  and  reliable  exploration  and  testing 
information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, 
trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that are spaced closely enough for geological 
and grade continuity to be reasonably assumed. 

“inferred resource” is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade 
or quality can be estimated on the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling 
and  reasonably  assumed,  but  not  verified,  geological  and  grade  continuity.  The 
estimate is based on limited information and sampling gathered through appropriate 
techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. 

For  the  purposes  of  the  above  a  “mineral  resource”  means  a  concentration  or 
occurrence of diamonds, natural solid inorganic material, or natural solid fossilized 
organic material including base and precious metals, coal, and industrial minerals in 
or on the Earth’s crust in such form and quantity and of such a grade or quality that 
it  has  reasonable prospects  for  economic  extraction. The  location,  quantity,  grade, 
geological characteristics and continuity of a Mineral Resource are known, estimated 
or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge. 

(Please refer to “Item 2. Properties - Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Regarding 
Resource Estimates” in regards to the use of the above terms in this Form 10-K.) 

Sulphide  

A class of minerals characterized by the linkage of sulphur with a metal (such as Pyrite 
(FeS2)). 

Tpd/Tpa 

Tonnes per day/tonnes per annum. 

Tonnes 

A metric ton which is equivalent to approximately 2,204 pounds.   

Sediments  

The debris resulting from the weathering and breakup of other rocks that have been 
deposited by or carried by runoff, streams and rivers, or left over from glacial erosion 
or sometimes from wind action. 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vein  

A geological feature comprised of minerals (usually dominated by quartz) that are 
found filling openings in rocks created by faults or replacing rocks on either side of 
faults or Fractures. 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 1.  BUSINESS 

General 

We were incorporated on July 17, 2006 under the laws of British Columbia, Canada under the name Golden 
Predator Mines Inc.  We were incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Metals Corp. for the 
purpose of holding precious metals and certain specialty metals assets.  In order to focus on specialty metals, 
during  February  2009  we  transferred  most  of  our  precious  mineral  assets  to  our  then  wholly-owned 
subsidiary Golden Predator Corp. and on March 6, 2009 we completed a spin-out of Golden Predator Corp. 
to our shareholders. Effective March 12, 2009, we changed our name to EMC Metals Corp. In order to 
reflect a new emphasis on mining for scandium minerals, effective November 19, 2014, we changed our 
name to Scandium International Mining Corp. 

We  are  a reporting  issuer  in  the  Canadian  Provinces of  British  Columbia,  Alberta  and  Ontario  and  our 
common shares are listed for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “SCY”.   

Our  head  office  is  located  at  1430  Greg  Street,  Suite  501,  Sparks,  Nevada    89431.  The  address  of  our 
registered office is 1200 - 750 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6C 2T8.      

Our focus of operations is the development of the Nyngan Scandium project located in New South Wales, 
Australia (the “Nyngan Scandium Project”).  We also hold a scandium minerals property located nearby 
Nyngan known as the “Honeybugle Scandium property”. 

Our plan of operation for the remainder of 2017 is to obtain the required mining permits on our Nyngan 
Scandium Project and seek additional funding for project construction and corporate working capital.  We 
will  also  continue  to  seek  offtake  sales  agreements  with  counterparties  for  Nyngan  Scandium  Project 
product, and will continue to test and develop unique scandium recovery and finishing techniques, including 
the processing of intermediate scandium aluminum products. 

Intercorporate Relationships 

The chart below illustrates our corporate structure on December 31, 2016, including our subsidiaries, the 
jurisdictions of incorporation, and the percentage of voting securities held. 

8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recent History 

Nyngan Feasibility Study 

On April 18, 2016 the Company announced the results of an independently prepared feasibility study on 
the Nyngan Scandium Project.  The technical report on the feasibility study entitled “Feasibility Study – 
Nyngan Scandium Project, Bogan Shire, NSW, Australia” is dated May 4, 2016 and was independently 
compiled pursuant to the requirements of NI 43-101.  The report was filed on May 6, 2016 and is available 
on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on the Company’s website (www.scandiummining.com) and the SEC’s 
website  (www.sec.gov).    A  summary  of  the  report  is  provided  herein  under  “Item  2.  Properties  – 
Description of Mineral Projects – Nyngan Scandium Project – Nyngan Feasibility Study”.   

June 2014 Financing Transaction 

On June 24, 2014 SCY entered into a $2.5 million loan facility with Scandium Investments LLC (“SIL”), 
a company owned by a US private investor group (the “2014 Loan”).  

In accordance with the terms of the 2014 Loan, the outstanding principal and interest  were converted in 
2015 into a 20% ownership interest in EMC Metals Australia Pty Ltd (“EMC Australia”), with SCY holding 
an  80%  ownership  interest.    EMC  Australia  holds  our  interests  in  the  Nyngan  Scandium  Project  and 
Honeybugle Scandium property.   Under the terms of the 2014 Loan, upon conversion of the loan EMC 
Australia will be operated as a joint venture between SIL and SCY with SIL holding a carried interest in 
the Nyngan Scandium Project until the Company meets two development milestones: (1) filing a feasibility 
study on SEDAR, and (2) receiving a mining lease on either joint venture property.  At such time as the 
two development milestones are met, SIL becomes fully participating on project costs thereafter. 

Completion of the development milestones by the Company, as described above, activates a second one-
time, limited period option for SIL to elect to convert the fair market value of its 20% joint venture interest 
in  the  Nyngan  Scandium  Project  and  Honeybugle  Scandium  property  into  an  equivalent  value  of  the 
Company’s common shares, at then prevailing market prices, rather than continue with ownership at the 
project level.    

Business Operations 

Company Summary 

We are a mineral exploration and development company that is focused on the development of scandium, 
rare  earth  minerals,  and  other  specialty  metals,  including  nickel,  cobalt,  boron,  manganese,  tantalum, 
titanium and zirconium. We have not commenced development of any of our projects, and as a result we 
are an exploration stage company.  We have not established mineral reserves on any of our projects. 

Our principal project is the Nyngan Scandium Project located in New South Wales, Australia, which we 
own 80% of the rights to, including exploration licenses. In April of 2014 we also acquired an exploration 
license  referred  to  as  the  Honeybugle  Scandium  property,  a  prospective  scandium  exploration  property 
located 24 kilometers from the Nyngan Scandium Project.   

Corporate Objective and Strategy 

Our corporate focus is to produce and sell scandium (Sc) and scandium-based products. None of our current 
properties has advanced to the development or production stage and we are currently an exploration stage 

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
company.      We  have  completed  an  independently  prepared  definitive  feasibility  study  of  the  Nyngan 
Scandium Project.  Subject to successfully financing of construction costs, we intend to develop the Nyngan 
Scandium Project for production, with a view to supplying anticipated future demand for scandium oxide 
and scandium-content materials.  For further information on the Nyngan Scandium Project, please refer to 
“Item 2. Properties - Description of Mineral Projects – Nyngan Scandium Project” and “Item 1A. Risk 
Factors”.   

Concurrently  with  our analysis  of  the  Nyngan  Scandium  Project,  we  are  developing  and  testing  unique 
mineral recovery techniques as well as techniques to produce high quality intermediate scandium-content 
aluminum alloy products.  If effective at a commercial level, these mineral recovery techniques, scandia 
finishing techniques and intermediate product developments are expected to provide increased economic 
margins and returns on capital on any future scandium production.   

Presently our recovery and finishing technology is  completed to a degree that supports engineering and 
flow sheet design for our +15%/-5% DFS, although further development work will continue in both areas.  
There is no guarantee that we will be able to benefit from the commercial application of such techniques or 
that we will have scandium production in the future. 

Global Scandium Production and Market  

Scandium is the 31st most abundant element in the earth’s crust (average 33 ppm), which makes it more 
common  than  lead,  mercury  and  precious  metals,  but  less  common  than  copper.    Scandium  has 
characteristics that are similar to rare earth elements, and it is often classified as a member of that group, 
although it is technically a light transition metal. Scandium occurs in nature as an oxide, rarely occurs in 
concentrated quantities because it does not selectively combine with the common ore-forming anions, and 
is very difficult to reduce to a pure metal state.  Scandium is typically produced and sold as scandium oxide 
(Sc2O3), and is properly known as scandia. 

Global annual production estimates of scandium range from 10 tonnes to 15 tonnes, but accurate statistics 
are not available due to the lack of public information from countries in which scandium is currently being 
produced.  There are four known, primary production sources globally today:  stockpiles from the former 
Zhovti Voty uranium mine in Ukraine, the rare earth mine at Bayan Obo in China,  apatite mines on the 
Kola  Peninsula  in  Russia,  and  by-product  production  from  titanium  dioxide  (TiO2)  pigment  refiners  in 
China. 

There is no reliable pricing data on global scandium oxide trading. The U.S. Geological Survey (“USGS”) 
in  its  latest  report  (February  2017)  documents  the  2016  price  of  scandium  oxide  (99.99%  grade)  at 
US$4,600/kg, a reduction of approximately 10% off the 2015 price estimate. Small quantities of scandium 
oxide are currently offered on the internet by traders for prices at this level, although product of slightly 
lower grade is commonly available at lower prices.  Scandium oxide grades of 95% or greater are considered 
commercially suitable, with 99.9% grade used for electrical applications, and grades higher than 99.9% 
reserved  for  science  and  new  technical  applications.    Scandium  oxide  grades  of  95-99%  are  generally 
considered suitable for aluminum alloy applications.   

Scandium oxide is typically traded in small quantities, between private parties, and pricing is not transparent 
to other buyers or sellers as there is no clearing facility as is more common with more commonly traded 
metals and commodities.  Prices do vary, based on purity and quantity supplied.  Small sale quantities tend 
to command premium prices, and large quantities  (over one tonne) are simply not available to establish 
appropriate commercial pricing. 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scandium  can  also  be  effectively  purchased  in  the  form  of  aluminum-scandium  (Al-Sc)  master  alloy, 
typically containing 2% scandium by weight. This product is tailored for use in aluminum alloy production 
containing  scandium.    The  2017  USGS  report  indicates  the  2016  price  for  Al-Sc  2%  master  alloy  at 
US$340/kg.  This 2016 price estimate represents a higher estimate than the 2015 USGS average.  USGS 
estimated prices for Al-Sc 2% master alloy over the last five years show significant year-by-year volatility, 
ranging from a low of US$ 220/kg (2012) to a high of US$386/kg (2014).  

Principal  uses  for  scandium  are  in  high-strength  aluminum  alloys,  high-intensity  metal  halide  lamps, 
electronics, and laser research.  Recently developed applications include welding wire and fuel cells which 
are expected to be in future demand.  Approximately 15 different commercial aluminum-scandium alloys 
have  been  developed,  and  some  of  them  are  used  for  aerospace  applications.    In  Europe  and  the  U.S., 
scandium-containing alloys have been evaluated for use in structural parts in commercial airplanes, high 
stress  parts  in  automobile  engines  and  brake  systems,  and  high  tension  electrical  wires.    Military  and 
aerospace applications are known to be of interest, although with less specificity.  The combination of high 
strength and light weight makes aluminum-scandium alloys generally suitable for a number of applications 
where existing aluminum alloys made with other metals are used today. 

Competitive Conditions  

We compete with numerous other companies and individuals in the search for and the acquisition or control 
of attractive rare earth and specialty metals mineral properties. Our ability to acquire further properties will 
depend not only on our ability to operate and develop our properties but also on our ability to select and 
acquire suitable properties or prospects for development or mineral exploration.   

In regards to our plan to produce scandium, there are a limited number of scandium producers presently.  If 
we are successful at becoming a producer of scandium, our ability to be competitive will require that we 
establish  a  reliable  supply  of  scandium  to  the  market,  delivered  at  purity  levels  demanded  by  various 
applications,  and  that  our  operating  costs  generate  margins  at  prices  that  will  be  set  by  customers  and 
competitors in a market yet to mature.   

Governmental Regulations and Environmental Laws 

The  development  of  any  of  our  properties,  and  specifically  the  Nyngan  Scandium  Project,  will  require 
numerous  local  and  national  government  approvals  and  environmental  permits.  For  further  information 
about governmental approvals and permitting requirements, please refer to “Item 1A. Risk Factors”.  

Employees 

As at January 1, 2017, we have 6 full and part time employees and 1 individual working on a consulting 
basis. Our operations are managed by our officers with input from our directors. We engage geological, 
metallurgical, and engineering consultants from time to time as required to assist in evaluating our property 
interests and recommending and conducting work programs.  

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS 

In addition to the factors discussed elsewhere in this Form 10-K, the following are certain material risks 
and uncertainties that are specific to our industry and properties that could materially adversely affect our 
business, financial condition and results of operations.   

Risks Associated with the Nyngan Scandium Project  

11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
There are technical challenges to scandium production that may render the Nyngan Scandium Project 
not economic.  The economics of scandium recovery are known to be challenging.  There are very few 
facilities  producing  scandium  and  the  existing  scandium  producers  are  secretive  in  their  techniques  for 
recovery. In addition, the recovery of scandium product from laterite resources, such as are found on the 
Nyngan  property,  has  not  been  demonstrated  at  an  operating  facility.    The  Nyngan  processing  facility 
design,  if  constructed,  will  be  the first of  its  kind for  scandium  production.   These  factors increase  the 
possibility that we will encounter unknown or unanticipated production and processing risks.  Should we 
encounter any of these risks, they could increase the cost of production thereby reducing margins on the 
Nyngan Scandium Project or rendering ituneconomic.  

There is no guarantee that we will be able to finance the Nyngan Scandium Project for production.  Any 
decision to proceed with production on the Nyngan Scandium Project will require significant production 
financing.    Scandium  projects  are  uncommon,  and  economic  and  production  uncertainty  may  limit  our 
ability to attract the required amount of capital to put the project into production.  If we are unable to source 
production financing on commercially viable terms, we may not be able to proceed with the project and 
may have to write off our investment in the project.  

If  we  are  successful  at  achieving  production,  we  may  have  difficulty  selling  scandium.    Scandium  is 
characterized  by  unreliable  supply,  resulting  in  limited  development  of  markets  for  scandium  oxide. 
Markets may take longer to develop than anticipated, and Nyngan and other potential scandium producers 
may have to wait for products and applications to create adequate demand. Certain applications may require 
lengthy  certification  processes  that  could  delay  usage  or  acceptance.  In  addition,  certain  scandium 
applications require very high purity scandium product, which is much more difficult to produce than lower 
grade product. If we commence production, our inability to supply scandium in sufficient quantities, in a 
reliable and timely manner, and in the correct quality, could reduce the demand for any scandium produced 
from our projects and possibly render the project uneconomic. 

General Risks Associated with our Mining Activities and Company 

We  may  not  receive  permits  necessary  to  proceed  with  the  development  of  a  mining  project.    The 
development of any of our properties, including the Nyngan Scandium Project, will require the acquisition 
and sustained possession of numerous local and national government approvals and permits.  Our ability to 
secure  all  necessary  permits  required  to  develop  any  of  our  projects  is  unknown  until  such  permits  are 
received.  If we cannot obtain all necessary permits, the Nyngan Scandium Project cannot be developed, 
and our investment in the project will likely be lost.  While many of the critical permits for the Nyngan 
Scandium Project have been received, other critical permits remain outstanding at this time.  Our future 
market value will likely be significantly reduced to the extent one or more of our projects cannot proceed 
to the development or production stage due to an inability to secure all required permits.   

Mineral Resource Estimates on our properties are subject to uncertainty and may not reflect what may 
be  economically  extracted.    Resource  estimates  included  for  scandium  on  our  Nyngan  property  are 
estimates only and no assurances can be given that the estimated levels of scandium minerals will actually 
be produced or that we will receive the metal prices assumed in determining our resources.  Such estimates 
are expressions of judgment based on knowledge, mining experience, analysis of drilling and exploration 
results  and  industry  practices.    Estimates  made  at  any  given  time  may  significantly  change  when  new 
information becomes available or when parameters that were used for such estimates change.  By their 
nature resource estimates are imprecise and depend, to a certain extent, upon statistical inferences which 
may ultimately prove unreliable.  Furthermore, market price fluctuations in scandium, as well as increased 
capital or production costs or reduced recovery rates, may limit our ability to establish reserves  at some 
future point  on Nyngan, or on  any of our properties.  The extent to which resources may ultimately be 

12 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
reclassified as proven or probable reserves is dependent upon the demonstration of their profitable recovery. 
The evaluation of reserves or resources is always influenced by economic and technological factors, which 
may change over time.  Accordingly, current resource estimates on our material properties may never be 
converted into reserves, or be economically extracted, and we may have to write off such properties or incur 
a loss on sale of our interest on such properties, which will likely reduce the value of our shares. 

Our  potential  for  a  competitive  advantage  in  specialty  and  rare  metals  production  depends  on  the 
availability of our technical processing abilities, as currently provided by our Chief Technology Officer.  
We are dependent upon the personal efforts and commitment of Willem Duyvesteyn, our CTO, a director 
and significant shareholder of the Company, for the continued development of new extractive technologies 
related  to  scandium  and  other  rare  and  specialty  metals  production.    The  loss  of  the  services  of  Mr. 
Duyvesteyn will likely limit our ability to use or continue the development of such technologies, which 
would remove the potential competitive and economic benefit of such technologies.   

Our operations are subject to losses due to exchange rate fluctuation.  We maintain accounts in Canadian, 
Australian and U.S. currency.  Our equity financings have to date been priced in Canadian dollars. All of 
our material projects and non-cash assets are located outside of both Canada and the USA, however, and 
require regular currency conversions to local currencies where such projects and assets are located. Our 
operations are accordingly subject to foreign currency fluctuations and such fluctuations may materially 
affect our financial position and results.  We do not engage in currency hedging activities. 

We do not currently earn any revenue and without additional funding, we will not be able to carry out 
our business plan, and if we raise additional funding existing security holders may experience dilution.  
As an exploration stage mining company, none of our principal properties are in operation and we do not 
currently earn any revenue.  In order to continue our exploration activities and to meet our obligations on 
the Nyngan Scandium Project, we will need to raise additional funds.  Recently, we have relied entirely on 
the sale of our securities to raise funds for operations.  Our ability to continue to raise funds from the sale 
of our securities is subject to significant uncertainty due to volatility in the mineral exploration marketplace.  
If  we  are  able  to  raise  funds  from  the  sale  of  our  securities,  existing  security  holders  may  experience 
significant dilution of their ownership interests and possibly to the value of their existing securities. 

ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES 

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Regarding Resource Estimates 

Certain terms used in this section are those used in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws 
in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws.  Canadian requirements, 
including  NI  43-101,  differ  significantly  from  the  requirements  of  the  U.S.  Securities  and  Exchange 
Commission (the “SEC”), and resource information contained herein may not be comparable to similar 
information disclosed by U.S. companies.  

In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term “resource” does not equate to 
the term “reserves”.  The requirements of NI 43-101 for identification of “reserves” are not the same as 
those of the SEC, and reserves reported in compliance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as “reserves” under 
SEC  standards.    Under  U.S.  standards,  mineralization  may  not  be  classified  as  a  “reserve”  unless  the 
determination  has  been  made  that  the  mineralization  could  be  economically  and  legally  produced  or 
extracted at the time the reserve determination is made.  We have not established reserves on any of our 
properties. 

The  SEC’s  disclosure  standards  normally  do  not  recognize  information  concerning  “measured  mineral 
resources”,  “indicated  mineral  resources”  or  “inferred  mineral  resources”  or  other  descriptions  of  the 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
amount  of  mineralization  in  mineral  deposits  that  do  not  constitute  “reserves”  by  U.S.  standards,  in 
documents filed with the SEC.  In addition, resources that are classified as “inferred mineral resources” 
have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal 
feasibility.  It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an “inferred mineral resource” will ever be upgraded 
to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimated “inferred mineral resources” may not generally form 
the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies.  Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part 
of an “inferred mineral resource” exists or is economically or legally mineable.   

Disclosure  of  “contained  ounces”  in  a  resource  is  permitted  disclosure  under  Canadian  regulations, 
however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute “reserves” 
by SEC standards as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.  

Accordingly,  information  concerning  mineral  deposits  set  forth  herein  may  not  be  comparable  with 
information presented by companies using only U.S. standards in their public disclosure.  

Description of Mineral Projects  

Nyngan Scandium Project 

Property Description and Location 

The Nyngan Scandium Project site is located approximately 450 kilometres northwest of Sydney, NSW, 
Australia  and  approximately  20  kilometres  due  west  from  the  town  of  Nyngan,  a  rural  town  of 
approximately  2,900  people.    The  deposit  is  located  5  kilometres  south  of  Miandetta,  off  the  Barrier 
Highway that connects the town of Nyngan to the town of Cobar.  The license area can  be reached via 
the paved Barrier Highway, which allows year-round access, but final access to the site  itself is reached 
by  clay  farm  tracks.  The  general  area  can  be  characterized  as  flat  countryside  and  is  classified  as 
agricultural land, used predominantly for wheat farming and livestock grazing. Infrastructure in the area is 
good, with available water and electric power in close proximity to the property boundaries. 

The Nyngan property is classified as an Australia Property for purposes of financial statement segment 
information. 

The scandium resource is hosted within the lateritic zone of the Gilgai Intrusion, one of several Alaskan-
type mafic and ultramafic bodies which intrude Cambrian-Ordovician metasediments collectively called 
the Girilambone Group. The laterite zone, locally up to 40 meters thick, is layered with hematitic clay at 
the surface followed by limonitic clay, saprolitic clay, weathered bedrock and finally fresh bedrock.  The 
scandium mineralization is concentrated within the hematitic, limonitic, and saprolitic zones with values 
up to 350 ppm scandium.  

The general location of the Nyngan Scandium Project is provided in Figure 1 below.   The specific location 
of the exploration licenses that we may earn an interest in are provided in Figure 2 below. 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 1:  Location of Nyngan Scandium Project 

15 

 
 
 
 
Figure 2:  Location of the Exploration Licenses for the Nyngan Scandium Project 

Mineral License Details 

The scandium resource is held under Exploration License (EL) 8316 (Block Number 3132, units d, e, j, k 
and Block no. 3133, unit f) and EL 6096 (Block 3132, unit p, and Block 3133, units l, m, r and s); a total of 
ten (10) graticular units. The exploration licenses allow the license holder to conduct exploration on private 
land  (with  landowner  consents  and  signed  compensation  agreements  in  place)  and  public  lands  not 
including wildlife reserves, heritage areas or National Parks. The scandium resource is fully enclosed on 
private agricultural land.   

The Company’s Australian subsidiary holds legal title to both the surface and mineral exploration rights on 
the Nyngan Scandium Project.    

The exploration licenses cover 29.25 square kilometers (2,925 hectares).  The resource site is located at 
geographic coordinates MGA zone 55, GDA 94, Lat:  - 31.5987, Long: 146.9827, Map Sheets 1:250k  – 
Cobar (SH/55-14) and 1:100k Hermidale (8234). 

The project surface rights (freehold) total 810 acres (370 hectares) on a portion of the exploration license 
area.  The freehold property boundaries are defined by standard land survey techniques undertaken by the 
Lands Department and currently presented in the form of Cadastral Deposited Plans (DP) and Lots. The 
land associated with the project rights is DP 752879, Lots 6 and 7 (Appendix 2, Lots 6 and 7 - Nyngan). 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  Company  is  required  to  lodge  individual  A$10,000  environmental  bonds  with  the  NSW  Mines 
Department for each license, and must meet total minimum work requirements annually of approximately 
A$65,000, covering both licenses.  Annual property costs to the local Shire Council are under A$1,000 per 
year. 

Royalties attached to the properties include a 1.5% Net Profits Interest royalty to private parties involved 
with the early exploration on the property, a 1.7% Net Smelter Returns Royalty payable to Jervois for 12 
years after production commences, subject to terms in the settlement agreement, and a 0.7% royalty on 
gross mineral sales to a private investor. Another revenue royalty is payable to private interests of 0.2%, 
subject to a US$370k cap.  A NSW minerals royalty will also be levied on the project, subject to negotiation, 
currently 4% on revenue. 

Metallurgy Development 

The  Company  has  invested  in  and  developed  methodology  for  extracting  scandium  from  the  Nyngan 
property resource since 2010.   A portion of the work done over this period has been superseded by work 
that  followed,  but  subsequent  test  programs  universally  benefitted  from  prior  efforts.    In  summary,  the 
programs have been as follows: 

•  2010 – The Company inherited work done on Nyngan from Jervois, and applied that work to a 
quick flowsheet and capital estimate done for management by  Roberts & Schaefer of Salt Lake 
City, Utah; 

•  2011 -   The Company employed Hazen Research, Inc., of Golden, Colorado, USA (“Hazen”) to 
test acid baking techniques and solvent extraction (“SX”) processes with Nyngan resource material.  
The Company also employed SGS-Lakefield (Ontario) to test pressure acid leach techniques on 
Nyngan resource, as a replacement for or an enhancement to acid bake techniques done earlier in 
the year by Hazen; 

•  2012 – The Company engaged SNC-Lavalin to do an economic study for management, utilizing an 

acid bake flowsheet and SX work from the Hazen test program; 

•  2014 -  The Company published a preliminary economic assessment (“PEA”) entitled NI 43-101F1 
Technical Report on the Feasibility of the Nyngan Scandium Project, authored by Larpro Pty Ltd, 
utilizing both Hazen and SGS-Lakefield testwork results; and  

•  2015 – The Company amended and refiled the 2014 PEA Report as the “Amended Technical Report 

and Preliminary Economic Analysis on the Nyngan Scandium Project, NSW, Australia”.   

•  2016  –  The  Company  published  an  independently  prepared  definitive  feasibility  study  on  the 
Nyngan Scandium Project.  The technical report on the feasibility study entitled “Feasibility Study 
– Nyngan Scandium Project, Bogan Shire, NSW, Australia” was independently compiled pursuant 
to the requirements of NI 43-101 and incorporated the results of current and previous test work. 

Development Program Review 

The first work phase of the metallurgy development program consisted of detailed metallurgical bench scale 
testing,  and  was intended  to  refine and  enhance the Company’s  existing  material  process  flow  sheet to 
extract scandium from the resource material.  This existing flow sheet, developed by Jervois and external 
consultants, formed the basis of a preliminary, conceptual engineering report for the processing elements 
of the project that was completed by Roberts & Schaefer specifically for use by SCY management.   

The Roberts & Schaefer report included capital and operating cost estimates, based on process flow sheets 
and technical reports previously done for Jervois or SCY on various metallurgical aspects of the resource.  

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
These technical/process reports included work done by METCON, the CSIRO, and by others, proprietary 
to or sourced by Jervois or SCY.  The bulk of the process applied by  Roberts & Schaefer in their Report 
was  defined  by  bench  scale  as  well  as  small  scale  pilot  plant  work  results  compiled  by  others,  and  a 
preliminary flow sheet complied by the CSIRO.   

This  early  stage  Roberts  &  Schaefer  Report  was  carried  forward  into  the  later  metallurgical  test  work 
subsequently  conducted  by  Hazen  and  the  design  work  utilized  in  the  SNC-  Lavalin  economic  study 
presented to management in 2012. 

In January 2011, SCY announced results of initial lab test work, independently prepared by Hazen.  These 
results  defined  general  results  involving  conventional  contained  acid  leach  systems  and  suggested 
recoveries from resource of up to 75%.  No secondary recoveries were considered in these initial bench-
scale tests. 

The second phase of the Hazen test work program continued through July, and involved continuous pilot 
plant testing of the acid leach systems, solvent extraction systems and product finish systems identified by 
earlier CSIRO work.  The overall objectives of the test work program were to define and optimize a process 
or series of processes that achieves an 80% scandium recovery, lowest possible capital and operating costs, 
and most benign environmental impact, using standard and accepted processes.   

On  January  19,  2012  we  announced  receipt  an  independent  metallurgical  test-work  report,  titled 
“Purification of Scandium Extracted from Laterite Ore”, outlining the results of a number of pilot-scale 
tests on Nyngan resource material, and estimated recoveries and grades of scandium oxide product. The 
report was independently prepared by Hazen and is the final in a series of three phases of semi-continuous 
pilot plant scale test-work completed by Hazen during 2011. Work was finalized in late November. 

Highlights of the 2011 Hazen semi-continuous pilot plant test-work are as follows: 

•  Results  of  conventional  contained  sulfuric  acid  bake  and  water  leach  systems,  at  atmospheric 

pressure, demonstrated scandium recoveries averaging 75%; 

•  Results  of  conventional  SX  on  the  pregnant  leach  solution,  demonstrated  scandium  recoveries 

exceeding 99%; 

•  Results on final stage precipitation of scandium oxide (Sc₂O₃), focused on highest combined purity 
and recovery, demonstrated scandium recoveries of 97.5%, at purity levels of 97.5% Sc₂O₃.  Higher 
purity levels were achieved at lower recoveries; 

•  Overall recovery results were 70% to 80%, based on ore type (limonite or saprolite); and 
•  All  process  assumptions  were  based  on  standard  and  accepted  techniques  for  ore  preparation, 

leaching, solvent extraction and final product preparation. 

In late 2011, the Company commissioned test work on high pressure acid leach (“HPAL”) processes, with 
both Hazen and SGS-Lakefield of Ontario, Canada.   The initial HPAL work was applied to residue from 
the  acid  bake  process  sourced  from  the  earlier  Hazen  test  work,  specifically  to  determine  if  additional 
scandium  could  be  effectively  recovered  in  a  second  pass  with  a  pressure  system.    Those  results  were 
encouraging, and led to later test work in 2012-13 which applied HPAL techniques directly on the laterite 
resource  material.    No  HPAL  research  results  were  included  in  the  report  and  findings  compiled  for 
management by SNC-Lavalin in early 2012.  However, the work that subsequently continued on HPAL, 
after that SNC Report was completed, has been incorporated into current engineering studies and flow sheet 
strategies for the Nyngan project.  Existing HPAL work results were done to bench scale, and not to pilot 
scale, and are currently being followed up with further test work. 

The Company is continuing test work on metallurgy to increase recoveries and final product grades. 

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In February, 2011 we announced results of a series of laboratory-scale tests investigating the production of 
aluminum-scandium alloys directly from aluminum oxide and scandium oxide feed materials, prepared by 
the CSIRO. The overall objective of this research was to demonstrate and commercialize the production of 
aluminum-scandium  master  alloy  using  impure  scandium  oxide  as  the  scandium  source,  potentially 
significantly  improving  the  economics  of  aluminum-scandium  master  alloy  production.  In  2014,  the 
Company announced it applied for a US Patent on master alloy production, which is still in the application 
phase. That patent application addressed scandium master alloys with both aluminum-base and magnesium-
base metals.  

On March 2, 2017 we announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Weston 
Aluminium  Pty  Ltd  ("Weston")  of  Chatswood,  NSW,  Australia.  The  MOU  defines  a  cooperative 
commercial alliance to jointly develop the capability to manufacture aluminum-scandium master alloy.  The 
intended  outcome  of  this  alliance  will  be  to  develop  the  capability  to  offer  Nyngan  Scandium  Project 
aluminum alloy customers scandium in form of Al-Sc master alloy, should customers prefer that product 
form. 

The MOU outlines steps to jointly establish the manufacturing parameters, metallurgical processes, and 
capital requirements to convert Nyngan Scandium Project scandium product into Master Alloy, on Weston's 
existing production site in NSW. The MOU does not include a binding contract with commercial terms at 
this stage, although the intent is to pursue the necessary technical elements to arrive at a commercial contract 
for  conversion  of  scandium  oxide  to  master  alloy,  and  to  do so  prior  to  first mine  production  from  the 
Nyngan Scandium Project. 

Nyngan Feasibility Study  

On April 18, 2016 the Company announced the results of an independently prepared feasibility study on 
the Nyngan Scandium Project.  The technical report on the feasibility study entitled “Feasibility Study – 
Nyngan Scandium Project, Bogan Shire, NSW, Australia” is dated May 4, 2016 (the “Feasibility Study”).  

The  Feasibility  Study  was  prepared  by  Lycopodium  Minerals  Pty  Ltd.  of  Brisbane,  QLD,  Australia 
(“Lycopodium”)  and  supported  by  Rangott  Mineral  Exploration  Pty  Ltd.  (Orange,  Australia),  Altrius 
Engineering  Services  Pty  Ltd  (Brisbane,  QLD)  and  Knight  Piesold  Pty  Ltd  (Brisbane,  QLD).  The 
Feasibility Study has been independently compiled pursuant to the requirements of NI 43-101.  The report 
was filed on May 6, 2016 and is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on the Company’s website 
(www.scandiummining.com) and the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov).    

The Feasibility Study concluded that the Nyngan Scandium Project has the potential to produce an average 
of 37,690 kilograms of scandium oxide (scandia) per year, at grades of 98.0%-99.9%, generating an after 
tax cumulative cash flow over a 20 year Project life of US$629 million, with an NPV10% of US$177 million. 
The average process plant feed grade over the 20 year Project life is 409ppm of scandium. 

The financial results of the Feasibility Study are based on a conventional flow sheet, employing continuous 
high pressure acid leach (HPAL) and solvent extraction (SX) techniques.  The flow sheet was modeled and 
validated from METSIM modeling and considerable bench scale/pilot scale metallurgical test work utilising 
Nyngan resource material.  A number of the key elements of this flowsheet work have been protected by 
the Company under US Patent Applications.   

The Feasibility Study has been developed and compiled to an accuracy level of +15%/-5%, by a globally 
recognized engineering firm that has considerable expertise in laterite deposits and process facilities, as 

19 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
well as in smaller mining and processing projects, and has excellent familiarity with the Nyngan Scandium 
Project location and environment. 

Nyngan Scandium Project Financial Highlights and Key Assumptions 

The Feasibility Study found that the Nyngan Scandium Project has the potential for attractive economics, 
based  on  a  capital  estimate  supported  by  conventional  process  designs  and  direct  vendor  pricing.    The 
Feasibility Study is expressed in US dollar (US$) currency, unless otherwise noted. A foreign exchange 
rate of US$0.70 (1A$=US$0.70) was applied in all conversions. No escalation for inflation was assumed 
in cash flows. All cash flows and discounted cash flows (NPVs and IRRs) are shown on an after-tax basis, 
based on a 30% Australian corporate tax rate.   

Financial highlights are as follows: 

Table 1.  Nyngan Scandium Project - Feasibility Study Financial Highlights 

Mineral Resource Estimate 

We  advise  U.S.  investors  that  while  the  terms  “measured  resources,”  and  “indicated  resources”  are 
recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not 
recognize these terms. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the material in 
these categories will be converted into reserves. 

The Feasibility Study includes a revised and updated resource estimate for the Nyngan Scandium Project, 
originally established in 2010.  The revised NI 43-101 Measured and Indicated scandium resource now 
totals 16.9 million tonnes at an average grade of 235ppm scandium, from all scandium-bearing sources 
including hematite, limonite, saprolite and some bedrock resource material.  The updated resource retains 

20 

SummaryNI 43-101Nyngan Scandium ProjectDFSKey Project ParametersResultCapital Cost Estimate (US$ M)$87.1Average Plant Feed Grade (ppm Sc)409Resource Processed (tpy)71,820Mill Recovery (%)83.7%Oxide Production (kg per year)37,690Scandium Oxide (Scandia) Product Grade98-99.9%Annual Cash Operating Cost  (US$ M)$21.0Unit Cash Cost (US$/kg Oxide)$557Oxide Price Assumption (US$/kg)$2,000Annual Revenue (US$ millions)$75.4Annual EBITDA (US$ millions)$49.5NPV (10%i) (After Tax)$177.5NPV (8%i) (After Tax)$225.4IRR (%) (After Tax)33.1%Payback (years)3.3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
the same economic cut-off value of 100ppm as was used in the earlier resource estimate.  The new resource 
was established using Gemcom’s SURPAC Block Model software and applied Ordinary Kriging techniques 
for estimation.  

The Feasibility Study production plan is based on a portion of the new limonite-only resource, and provides 
a 20 year mining program consisting of two production pits, sufficient to supply the processing plant at a 
(nameplate)  rate  of  75,000  tpy  and  an  average  grade  of  409ppm  scandium  over  the  life  of  the  Nyngan 
Scandium Project. Both the new resource estimate and the 20 year mining pit design are based on assay and 
lithology data from a property total of 141 drill holes, including assay and lithology data from recent (2014-
2015) drilling work.  

The  updated  and  original  Nyngan  Scandium  Project  scandium  mineral  resources  as  calculated  in  the 
Feasibility Study by Lycopodium are as follows: 

Table 2.  Nyngan Scandium Resource 

Note that the terms measured and indicated resources are not terms recognized in the United States under 
SEC rules and guidelines. See “Item 2. Properties – Note to U.S. Investors Regarding Resource Estimates”. 

Mineral Reserve Estimate 

The  Feasibility  Study  includes  the  first  established  Reserve  on  a  portion  of  the  resource,  associated 
specifically with that portion of the limonite resource on which economic viability has been established by 
the engineering and project development work in the Feasibility Study.  The feasibility study utilizes 1.34 
million tonnes of limonite resource over 20 years, almost all in the Measured Resource category, and that 
portion of the overall resource has generated the Reserve figure, as shown below: 

Table 3.  Nyngan Scandium Reserve 

21 

                Mineral ReserveNyngan Project       (effective date:  April 15, 2016)Reserve SummaryReserveGradeTonnes(ppm Sc)Proven Reserve794,514394Probable Reserve641,915429Total Reserve1,436,429409NOTE:  Reserve strip ratio is 3.42 (waste/reserve tonnes) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mining and Processing Summary 

The mining element of the Nyngan Scandium Project represents a relatively minor part, although a critical 
part, of the overall Nyngan Scandium Project activity.  The Feasibility Study mine plan is based on a plant 
feed  of  240  tonnes/day  (tpd)  or  75,000  tonnes  per  year  requirement.    Mine  production  is  based  on 
conventional open pit methods with an average strip ratio of 2.1:1 (overburden/resource).  The mine will 
be worked in campaigns, likely 3 one-month production periods per year, avoiding the wet months, in which 
a contract miner will be employed to extract and deliver material to a run-of-mine plant stockpile adjacent 
to  the  processing  facility.    The  processing  plant  will  run  continuously,  fed  from  plant  stockpiles  of 
previously mined resource, and covered against moisture and weather.  

The processing plant operations will size the input material, and then initially apply an HPAL system, using 
a continuous autoclave pressure-fed with pre-heated ore, dosed with sulfuric acid.  Subsequent circuits will 
then recover the liberated scandium using SX, oxalate precipitation and calcination, to generate a finished 
scandium oxide product.  Once at nameplate capacity, the processing plant is forecast to produce between 
36,600 and 42,000 kilograms of scandium oxide product per year, averaging 37,690 kilograms/year over 
the 20 year feasibility study production period.  Oxide product will be produced on-site at grades between 
98% and 99.9%, as Sc2O3, and will be offered at grades that meet various customer requirements, suitably 
packaged for direct sales to end users.   

Plant tailings will be neutralized with lime to pH 8.5, dewatered, and stored in a Residue Storage Facility 
(tailings pond) meeting the environmental requirements of mining permits and NSW State regulators.   

Capital Cost Detail 

Total capital costs for the Nyngan Scandium Project are estimated at US$87.1 million, and include a 10.5% 
contingency,  allocated on a  line item  basis  varying  from  5% to  15%,  depending  on  estimation  method, 
vendor quotation details, and a risk assessment for the capital cost area. The majority (87%) of the capital 
cost in the Feasibility Study was Australian-sourced, and consequently initially priced in Australian dollars 
(A$).  The capital cost estimate is established at a +15%/-5% level of accuracy, consistent with industry 
standards for a definitive feasibility study.   

The initial capital cost is spread over a number of areas, but the high pressure autoclave systems, leaching 
and neutralization circuits contained in the processing plant are the most significant capital items, totaling 
US$41M or 47% of total costs, including contingencies. Sustaining plant and operations capital is provided 
as an annual expensed cost, and totals US$3.6M over the life of the project.  Sustaining tailings pond capital 
is similarly provided for and expensed annually to operating costs, and totals US$22.4M, over the life of 
the project.  These costs are treated as cash unit production costs, where those figures are provided. 

The cash flow model includes US$5.2M in costs for tailings pond closure, expensed one year after the final 
year of operation, which is 2038.  The pond will likely have reached its optimal size at this time, and would 
need to be rehabilitated in any event.  The model does not include any costs for demolition of facilities, or 
recovery of value for equipment or facilities in the form of salvage.  The Feasibility Study authors did not 
undertake detailed investigations of alternate site uses for the project facility after 20 years, because the 
Measured and Indicated scandium resource is considerably larger than the current project would consume, 
allowing for either expansions of capacity, extensions of the 20-year initial time period of operation, or 
both.   

22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 4.  Feasibility Study Capital Cost Detail 

Operating Costs Detail 

Operating costs were estimated based on metallurgical test work results and METSIM modelling quantities 
and requirements.  The single most significant cost item in operating costs is reagent cost, with the single 
largest component in this category being sulfuric acid.  The acid price used was A$270/tonne, as quoted by 
a sulfuric acid broker, delivered to site.  The second most significant cost is staff/labor, where the feasibility 
study assumes a staffing level of 73 full time personnel.  The level of accuracy on the operating component 
was estimated at +15%/- 15%. 

Operating cost details in the Feasibility Study, as to total average annual cash costs, and also unit costs on 
an annual average ore tonnage throughput basis and a kilogram oxide basis, are as follows: 

23 

Nyngan ProjectInitial ProjectCapital Cost SummaryCapital Cost (millions)(US$M) Mining CapitalPre-Stripping Cost $1.72Vehicles/Site Equipment$1.26Mining Subtotal$2.98Processing Plant CapitalProcess Plant Mechanicals$40.96Site Infrastructure$25.95Construction Costs$3.91EPCM  Costs $10.41Owners Costs$2.93Process Plant Subtotal$84.16Total Project Capital Cost$87.14 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 5.  Feasibility Study Operating Costs, and Unit Costs Per kg Oxide 

The Nyngan Scandium Project plan has provided for a gradual ramp-up to full (nameplate) capacity in the 
first two years of operation. The ramp-up provides for 35% of nameplate throughput (26,250 tonnes) in 
production year 1 (2018) and 80% of nameplate throughput (60,000 tonnes) in production year 2 (2019).  
The  respective  scandium  oxide  product  output  estimate  during  those  years  is  13,300kg  and  30,900kg, 
respectively.    This  2  year  ramp-up  to  nameplate  capacity  was  determined  based  on  the  commissioning 
experience of other HPAL plants of similar general design, built and brought online in the last 15 years.  
All of these benchmarking examples were nickel plants processing lateritic ores, all but one were initial 
installations, and all were of much bigger size than the Nyngan processing plant. 

24 

Nyngan ProjectAverage Unit Cost/Unit Cost/OpEx Mine/Process ExpenseAnnual CostProcessed TonneOxide kgUS$ MUS$/tonneUS$/kgMining CostsStripping Cost$0.5$7.49$14.27Mining Costs$0.8$10.96$20.88Total Mining Costs$1.3$18.45$35.15Processing CostLabor Cost$5.9$82.19$156.60Utilities Costs$2.2$29.99$57.15Reagents$7.1$98.24$187.19Consumables$0.6$8.02$15.29Maintenance$1.6$22.80$43.44General$0.16$2.23$4.24Total Processing Costs$17.5$243.48$463.92General CostsTailings Pond Costs$1.1$15.60$29.72Site G&A Costs$0.6$7.82$14.90Consultants & Marketing$0.5$6.76$12.88Total General Costs$2.2$30.18$57.50Annual Cash Operating Cost$21.0$292.10$556.57 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pricing Assumptions 

The price assumption in the Feasibility Study is US$2,000 per kilogram (kg) of scandium oxide product, 
as an average price covering all product sold, over various product grades. Current market pricing, such as 
that can be established, is substantially above these levels based on small unit quantities and varying grades.  
In  order  to  encourage  a  viable,  over-subscribed  and  vigorous  scandium  market,  across  numerous 
applications,  product  suppliers,  like  us,  will  need  to  provide  for  adequate  supply  of  quality  product, 
available from trusted jurisdictions, at prices lower than products trade for today.   

In addition to limited publicly available price quotes for scandium oxide, the Feasibility Study notes two 
other reference points on the US$2,000/kg price assumption.  The Company has an offtake agreement in 
place, for 7,500 kg/year (3 years), with pricing being supportive of the pricing assumption in the Feasibility 
Study.  The customer is a knowledgeable alloy group, with longstanding interest in aluminum-scandium 
alloys. The Feasibility Study price assumption is also supported by a recent, independent marketing report 
that examined the 10 year scandium supply/demand outlook, and includes scenario-based 10 year price 
forecasts.  The  details  and  contents  of  this  market  outlook  report  will  remain  confidential,  but  select 
information is included in the feasibility study.  Both of these reference points support that the scandium 
value proposition for customers/consumers is valid at this price level. 

Sensitivities 

The Nyngan Scandium Project is most sensitive to changes in the value of the Australian dollar relative to 
the US dollar, along with changes in the product price. The Nyngan Scandium Project is somewhat less 
sensitive to either operating or capital cost changes.  Sensitivities to various parameters are shown below. 

Table 6.  Sensitivity to Product Price 

25 

Project  Constant Dollar (after Tax) Project NPV at Various Discount RatesFinancial Sensitivity                                                                               and Various Oxide Product Prices  (US$)to Product PriceProduct Price (US$/kg)$1,200$1,500$2,000$2,500$3,000$3,500Constant Dollar Net Present Value (US$ M)6% Discount$82.4$159.7$287.6$414.9$542.2$669.48% Discount$55.1$119.3$225.3$330.9$436.3$541.710% Discount$34.3$88.3$177.5$266.1$354.7$443.1Internal Rate of Return (IRR)15.2%22.4%33.1%42.8%52.0%60.6% 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 7.  Profitability Sensitivities to Changes in Key Financial Assumptions 

General Assumptions 

The Feasibility Study is presented on a 100% ownership basis.  The Company effectively owns 80% of the 
Nyngan Scandium Project through EMC Australia.  The remaining 20% of EMC Australia is owned by 
SIL, a Nevada corporation owned by private interests. 

All cash flows and financial analyses have been presented on a 100% equity basis.  No debt leverage has 
been assumed in providing capital for development.  No inflation factors have been applied to future cash 
flows, making the discounted cash flow performance measures constant dollar figures.  

The Nyngan Scandium Project schedule identifies 2017 as the initial year in the cash flow, with construction 
initiated  and  completed  in  that  year.    Some  commissioning  is  scheduled  for  Q4  2017.    Further  wet 
commissioning and start-up is scheduled for Q1 2018.  First production is planned for March 2018, which 
is year 1 of 20 (calendar) years of production, completing in 2037.  Reclamation of the Residue Storage 
Facility  is  scheduled  for  2038.    The  supply  and  delivery  estimate  on  the  specialist  autoclave  and  flash 
vessels is setting the timeframe for first production in Q1 2018. 

Feasibility Study Conclusions and Recommendations 

The production assumptions in the Feasibility Study are backed by solid independent flow sheet test work 
on the planned process for scandium recovery.  The Feasibility Study consolidates a significant amount of 
metallurgical test work and prior study on  the Nyngan Scandium Project, including important test work 

26 

Sensitivity toNPV (10%i)Financial ParametersUS$ MIRR (%)DFS Result$177.533.1%Operating Cost SensitivityCost Increase (10%)$166.331.6%Cost Decrease (10%)$188.734.5%Price SensitivityLower Realized Oxide Price (10%)$142.029.0%Higher Realized Oxide Price (10%)$212.937.0%Capital Cost SensitivityHigher Capital Cost (10%)$169.630.4%Lower Capital Cost (10%)$185.436.2%Fx Sensitivity ($0.70)US$/A$ @ $0.80$150.327.6%US$/A$ @ $0.75$163.930.2%US$/A$ @ $0.65$191.336.4% 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
results completed since the PEA was generated in 2014. The entire body of work demonstrates a viable, 
conventional  process  flow  sheet  utilizing  a  continuous-system  HPAL  leaching  process,  and  good 
metallurgical recoveries of scandium from the resource. The metallurgical assumptions are supported by 
various bench and pilot scale independent test work programs that are consistent with known outcomes in 
other laterite resources. The continuous autoclave configuration, as opposed to batch systems explored in 
previous flow sheets, is also a more conventional and current design choice. 

The  level  of  accuracy  established  in  the  Feasibility  Study  substantially  reduces  the  uncertainty  levels 
inherent in earlier studies, specifically the PEA. The greater confidence intervals around the Feasibility 
Study  were  achieved  by  reliance  on  significant  project  engineering  work,  a  capital  and  operating  cost 
estimate  supported  by  detailed  requirements  and  vendor  pricing,  plus  one  offtake  agreement  and  an 
independent marketing assessment, both supportive of the marketing assumptions on the business. 

The Feasibility Study delivered a positive result on the Nyngan Scandium Project, and recommends the 
Nyngan Scandium Project owners seek finance and proceed to construction.  Recommendations were made 
therein  for  additional  immediate  work,  notably  to  win  additional  offtake  agreements  with  customers, 
complete  some  optimizing  flow  sheet  studies,  and  to  initiate  as  early  as  possible  detailed  engineering 
required on certain long-lead capital items. 

Confirmatory Metallurgical Test Results 

On June 29, 2016 we announced the results of a confirmatory metallurgical test work report from Altrius 
Engineering  Services  (AES)  of  Brisbane,  Australia.  The  test  work  results  directly  relate  to  the  list  of 
recommended  programs  included  in the  Feasibility  Study.  AES  devised  and  supervised these  test  work 
programs at the SGS laboratory in Perth, Australia and at the Nagrom laboratory in Brisbane, Australia. 

The project DFS recommended a number of process flowsheet test work programs be investigated prior to 
commencing detailed engineering and construction. Those study areas included pressure leach (“HPAL”), 
counter-current decant circuits (“CCD”), solvent extraction (“SX”), and oxalate precipitation, with specific 
work steps suggested in each area. This latest test work program addresses all of these recommended areas, 
and the results confirm recoveries and efficiencies that either meet or exceed the parameters used in the 
DFS.  Highlights of the testing are: 

•  Pressure leach test work achieved 88% recoveries, from larger volume tests, 
•  Settling characteristics of leach discharge slurry show substantial improvement, 
•  Residue neutralization work meets or exceeds all environmental requirements as presented in the 

DFS and the environmental impact statement , 

•  Solvent  extraction  circuit  optimization  tests  generated  improved  performance,  exceeding  99% 

recovery in single pass systems, and 

•  Product  finish  circuits  produced  99.8%  scandium  oxide,  completing  the  recovery  process  from 

Nyngan ore to finished scandia product. 

Environmental Permitting/Development Consent/Mining Lease  

On May 2, 2016 the Company announced the filing of an Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) with 
the New South Wales, Australia, Department of Planning and Environment, (the “Department”) in support 
of the planned development of the Nyngan Scandium Project. The EIS was prepared by R.W. Corkery & 
Co.  Pty.  Limited,  on  behalf  of  the  Company’s  80%  owned  subsidiary,  EMC  Australia  to  support  an 
application for Development Consent for the Nyngan Scandium Project. The EIS is a complete document, 

27 

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
including a Specialist Consultants Study Compendium, and was submitted to the Department on Friday, 
April 29, 2016.   

EIS Highlights:   

•  The EIS finds residual environmental impacts represent negligible risk. 
•  The proposed development design achieves sustainable environmental outcomes. 
•  The EIS finds net-positive social and economic outcomes for the community. 
•  Nine  independent  environmental  consulting  groups  conducted  analysis  over  five  years,  and 

contributed report findings to the EIS. 

•  The  Nyngan  Project  development  is  estimated to  contribute  A$12.4M  to the local  and  regional 

economies, and A$39M to the State and Federal economies, annually 

•  The EIS is fully aligned with the DFS and with a NSW Mining License Application for the Nyngan 

Project. 

Conclusion statement in the EIS: 

“In light of the conclusions included throughout this Environmental Impact Statement, it is assessed that 
the Proposal could be constructed and operated in a manner that would satisfy all relevant statutory goals 
and criteria, environmental objectives and reasonable community expectations.” 

EIS Discussion: 

The EIS is the foundation document submitted by a developer intending to build a mine facility in Australia.  
The  Nyngan  Scandium  Project  is  considered  a  State  Significant  Project,  in  that  capital  cost  exceeds 
A$30million, which means State agencies are designated to manage the investigation and approval process 
for granting a Development Consent, from the Minister of Planning and Environment.  This Department 
will manage the review of the Proposal through a number of State and local governmental agencies.  

The EIS is a self-contained set of documents used to seek a Development Consent.  It is however, supported 
in many ways by the recently completed feasibility study. 

On November 10, 2016 the Company announced that the Development Consent had been granted. This 
Development Consent represents an approval to develop the Nyngan Scandium Project and is based on the 
EIS. The Development Consent follows an in-depth review of the EIS, the project plan, community impact 
studies,  public  EIS  exhibition  and  commentary,  and  economic  viability,  and  involved  more  than  12 
specialized governmental agencies and groups. 

Upon granting of the Development Consent, there remain a number of operating licenses that are required 
from various regulatory agencies to construct and operate a mining operation in NSW.   

The remaining key license approvals are:  

•  A Mining Lease,  
•  An Environment Protection Licence,  
•  Water Supply Works and Use Approval and Water Access Licence,  
•  A Section 138 Permit issued by the Bogan Shire Council, for construction of the intersection of the 

Site Access Road and Gilgai Road, 

•  An approval from the NSW Dams Safety Committee for the design and construction of the Residue 

Storage Facility, and 

•  A high voltage connection agreement with Essential Energy.  

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Mining Lease provides a right to mine and extract minerals from the approved property and is required 
before mine construction may begin. Dependant primarily upon obtaining the Development Consent, the 
Company’s  application  for  the  Mining  Lease  is  currently  under  review  for  approval.  General  estimates 
range from 4-6 months from the Development Consent, with some proposals taking longer, particularly 
larger proposals, or proposals with more community and environmental impacts to consider. 

The Company intends to continue to follow and support the progress of governmental agency reviews.  

Patent Application Filings 

On February 17, 2015 the Company announced the filing of five patent applications with the US Patent 
Office  that  correspond  to  novel  flowsheet  designs  for  the  recovery  of  scandium  from  laterite  resource 
material. All five of these patents are directly applicable to our Nyngan Scandium Project, although one of 
the five patents pertains to downstream product design. 

The five patent applications are titled as follows: 

1.  Systems and methodologies for recovering scandium values from mixed ion solutions; 
2.  Systems and methodologies for direct acid leaching of scandium bearing laterite ores; 
3.  Solvent extraction of scandium from leach solutions; 
4.  Systems and processes for recovering scandium values from laterite ores; and 
5.  Scandium-containing master alloys and method for making the same. 

Patent Applications Discussion: 

•  These patent applications cover novel, unique flowsheet designs, applicable to scandium extraction, 

from scandiferous laterite resources; 

•  The  patented  designs  are  largely  supported  by  test  work  done  with  Nyngan  Scandium  Project 

resource material and known design parameters; 

•  The patents cover HPAL system material flows, SX, ion exchange systems (“IX”), atmospheric 
tank and heap leaching systems and techniques, and processes for directly making select master 
alloys containing scandium; 

•  The designs are incorporated as part of the DFS,; and 
•  The master alloy patent application uniquely integrates planned flowsheet design and downstream 

product development, either by SCY or with future customers. 

These  five  patent  applications  have  been  filed  with  the  US  Patent  Office,  with  dates  of  record  from 
September  2014  to  February  2015.  They  protect  the  Company’s  position  and  rights  to  the  intellectual 
property  (IP)  contained  and  identified  in  the  applications  as  of  the  date  filed,  within  the  worldwide 
jurisdiction limits of the US patent system. Review by the US Patent Office takes further time, but the dates 
of  record  define  the  basis  of  IP  ownership  claims,  as  is  generally  afforded  US  patent-holders.  

The Company intends to utilize the IP contained in these process patents in the development of process 
flowsheets for recovery of scandium from its Nyngan Scandium Project. 

The Company believes that patent protection of these specific, novel process designs will be granted. Many 
of  the  basic  design  elements  contemplated  in  the  Nyngan  Scandium  Project  flowsheet  are  commonly 
applied  to  other  specialty  metals,  particularly  nickel.  However,  the  application  of  these  basic  design 
elements  has  not  been  commonly  applied  to  scandium  extraction  from  laterite  resources,  and  there  are 

29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
enough intended and required operational differences in the application to permit the Company to patent-
protect IP on those differences. 

These patent claims are the result of several years of metallurgical test work with independent resource 
laboratories and specific design work by Willem Duyvesteyn, the Company’s Chief Technology Officer, 
using Nyngan property resource material. This work is ongoing. Patent protection on flowsheet intellectual 
property will serve to limit or prevent the unauthorized use of that IP by others, without  the Company’s 
consent. We believe these filings are an important action to protect the ownership of a Company asset, on 
behalf of all SCY shareholders. 

ALCERECO MOU and Offtake Agreements 

On  March  30,  2015,  the  Company  announced  that  it  had  signed  a  memorandum  of  understanding  (the 
“MOU”)  with  ALCERECO  Inc.  of  Kingston,  Ontario  (“ALCERECO”),  forming  a  strategic  alliance  to 
develop markets and applications for aluminum alloys containing scandium. To further that alliance, and 
to reinforce the capability of both companies to deliver product developed for Al-Sc alloy markets, SCY 
and ALCERECO also signed an offtake agreement (the “Offtake Agreement”) governing sales terms of 
scandium oxide product (scandia) produced from the Nyngan Scandium Project. The Offtake Agreement 
specifies deliveries of scandium oxide product commencing in early 2017. 

Scandium as an alloying agent in aluminum allows for aluminum metal products that are much stronger, 
more  easily  weldable  and  exhibit  improved  performance  at  higher  temperatures  than  current  aluminum 
based materials. This means lighter structures, lower manufacturing costs and improved performance in 
areas that aluminum alloys do not currently compete. 

•  The MOU covers areas of joint cooperation and development of aluminum alloys that contain and 

are enhanced by the addition of scandium; 

•  The MOU recognizes the specialized capabilities ALCERECO holds for the design, manufacture, 

and testing of Al-Sc alloy materials; 

•  The Offtake Agreement outlines standard sale terms on 7,500 kg of scandia per annum, for a term 

of three years beginning in 2017, which can be extended; and 

•  The Offtake Agreement contains both fixed and variable pricing components, which are subject 

to confidentiality. 

ALCERECO  is  an  advanced  materials  development  company  that  provides  services  and  specialty 
processing  capabilities  to  companies  innovating  in  a  diverse  range  of  markets,  including  aerospace, 
automotive, electronics and consumer/sporting goods. ALCERECO staff work with a range of materials 
and processes and have the tools and knowledge to take on leading-edge projects such as development of 
aluminum-scandium alloys, specialty ceramics, composites and graphene enhanced materials. ALCERECO 
has  a  particular  focus  on  lightweight  materials  capable  of  delivering  greater  strength,  functionality  and 
exceptional performance. 

ALCERECO operates out of the Grafoid Global Technology Centre in Kingston, Ontario that was originally 
founded by Alcan Aluminum in the 1940s. ALCERECO is a Canadian private company, and a wholly-
owned subsidiary of Ottawa-based Grafoid Inc., a graphene application development company. 

Nyngan Scandium Project - Planned Activities for 2016-2017 

The following steps are planned for Nyngan during the 2016 and 2017 Calendar years: 

30 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
•  Obtain a mining lease pertaining to the Nyngan Scandium Project with NSW Department of Trade 

and industry , anticipated in in Q1 2017, or early Q2 2017;  

•  Pursue additional offtake agreements in support of planned future scandium sales; 
•  Seek project financing to fund the construction of the Nyngan Scandium Project for drawdown 

after the granting of a mining license from NSW for the mine development;  

•  Commence site construction during in late 2017, with anticipated construction completion over 18 

• 

months,  and  
Initiate  project  commissioning  in  Q4  2018,  product  production  in  Q1  2019,  and  with  product 
available for sale by the end of Q1 2019. 

Honeybugle Scandium Property 

On April 2, 2014 the Company announced that it had secured a 100% interest in an exploration license (EL 
7977) covering 34.7 square kilometers in New South Wales (NSW), Australia referred to as the Honeybugle 
Scandium property.  The license area is located approximately 24 kilometers west-southwest from SCY’s 
Nyngan Scandium Project. The license area covers part of the Honeybugle geologic complex, and will carry 
that name in our future references to the property. The ground was released by the prior holder, and SCY 
intends to explore the property for scandium and other metals. 

The Company currently does not consider the Honeybugle Scandium property to be a material property at 
this time.  No resources or reserves are known to exist on the property.  The property is classified as an 
Australian property for purposes of financial statement segment information. 

The location of the Honeybugle Scandium property is provided below. 

Figure 4. Location of Honeybugle Scandium property 

Honeybugle Drill Results 

On May 7, 2014 the Company announced completion of an initial program of 30 air core (AC) drill holes 
on the property, specifically at the Seaford anomaly, targeting scandium (Sc).  Results on 13 of these holes 
are shown in detail, in the table below. These holes suggest the potential for scandium mineralization on 
the property similar to our Nyngan Scandium Project. 

Highlights of initial drilling program results are as follows: 

31 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The highest 3-meter intercept graded 572 ppm scandium (hole EHAC 11); 
EHAC 11 also generated two additional high grade scandium intercepts, grading 510 ppm and 415 ppm, 
each over 3 meters; 
The program identified a 13-hole cluster which was of particular interest; 
Intercepts on these 13 holes averaged 270 ppm scandium over a total 273 meters at an average continuous 
thickness of 21 meters per hole, representing a total of 57% (354 meters) of total initial program drilling; 
The  13  holes  produced  29  individual  (3-meter)  intercepts  over  300  ppm,  representing  31%  of  the 
mineralized intercepts in the 273 meters of interest; and 
This initial 30-hole AC exploratory drill program generated a total of 620 meters of scandium drill/assay 
results, over approximately 1 square kilometer on the property.  

The detail results of 13 holes in the initial drill program are as follows: 

Table 7. Results of 13-Hole Initial Drill Program 

Seaford is characterized by extensive outcrops of dry, iron-rich laterites, allowing for a particularly shallow 
drill program. Thirty (30) air core (AC) holes on nominal 100-meter spacing were planned, over an area of 

32 

       Honeybugle 30 Hole Drill Program - April 2014    Target-ScandiumHoneybugleFromToInterceptTotalDrill HoleDrillHole(meter(meterLengthScandiumNumberAreaTypedepth)depth)(meters)Grade (ppm)EHAC 1SeafordExplore (AC)214221218including27369262EHAC 2SeafordExplore (AC)01212300including099333EHAC 3SeafordExplore (AC)3129295including693352EHAC 5SeafordExplore (AC)01515244including12153333EHAC 6SeafordExplore (AC)02424185including099214including18246214EHAC 7SeafordExplore (AC)95142225including154227220including42519252EHAC 9SeafordExplore (AC)62721272including92415350EHAC 10SeafordExplore (AC)01818251EHAC 11SeafordExplore (AC)03030369including9156461including21243572EHAC 12SeafordExplore (AC)02121177EHAC 26SeafordExplore (AC)02121309Seafordincluding31815343EHAC 28SeafordExplore (AC)01818344Seafordincluding31512363EHAC 29SeafordExplore (AC)32118316including9189396Assumes 175 ppm cut-off grade 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
approximately 1 square kilometer.  Four holes were halted in under 10 meters depth, based on thin laterite 
beds, low scandium grades, and shallow bedrock. 

The 13 holes highlighted in the table are grouped together on either side of Coffills Lane, and represent all 
of the drill locations where meaningful intercept thickness generated scandium grades exceeding 175 ppm. 
Some of these 13 holes showed significant scandium values on the immediate surface, and alternately, other 
holes exhibited favorable scandium grades that began at shallow depth.  The highest grade Sc sample was 
found  in  a  21-24  meter  interval  (572  ppm),  although  several  holes  produced  better  than  350  ppm  Sc 
intercepts at depths of under 9 meters. The deepest hole (EHAC 7) was drilled to 57 meters, showing good 
scandium grades over a 12-meter horizon (245 ppm) near the bottom of the hole, from 39 to 51 meters 
depth.  Higher scandium grades were associated with higher iron levels. Holes were drilled to a depth where 
they contacted the fresh ultramafic bedrock, which generally signaled the end of any scandium enrichment 
zones.  

The drill plan divided Seaford into four sub-areas, 1-4, as highlighted Figure 5, below.  Area 1 was relatively 
higher ground and therefore the least impacted by ground moisture.  Consequently this dryer area received 
the greatest attention, although that had been the general intention in the plan.  Area 1 received 17 holes, 
with 13 presented in detail in the table above.  Areas 2-4 were each intended as step-out areas that need to 
be further examined in the next program.  The three step-out areas did not generate results of particular 
note, although hole locations were not optimal due to ground conditions and access. 

Area 2 received 3 holes, 60 meters total, and generated Sc grades from 45-75 ppm, 
Area 3 received 4 holes, 87 meters total, and generated Sc grades from 47-122 ppm, 
Area 4 received 5 holes, 72 meters total, and generated Sc grades from 60-101 ppm, and 
The average depth of all of these holes was 18 meters, with the deepest 30 meters. 

Figure 5. Initial Drill Program Map 

This 13-hole cluster (Area 1) was noted to be in a relatively thick laterite zone which was constrained to 
the west by contact with meta-sediments, to the east by fresh ultramafic bedrock, and to some extent in the 
north by a poor intersection result in hole 30. Area 1 remains somewhat open to the south, with the two 

33 

Drill Area 2Drill Area 4Drill Area 1Drill Area 3HighlightedDrill Results 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
southern-most holes (EHAC 9 and EHAC 29) generating some of the best scandium grade intercepts in the 
area. 
The surface and near surface mineralization at this property is an advantage, both in locating areas of interest 
for  future  exploration  work,  and  also  because  of  extremely  low  overburden  ratios.    This  particular 
characteristic for the Honeybugle Scandium property is different to our Nyngan Scandium Project, where 
mineralization is typically covered by 10-20 meters of barren alluvium. 

Further  drilling  at  Seaford  is  warranted,  based  on  the  results  of  this  introductory  and  modest  program, 
specifically to the north and south of the existing area 1 drill pattern, along with investigation and select 
drilling at the other three remaining anomalies on the property.  

Qualified Person and Quality Assurance/Quality Control 

John Thompson, B.E. (Mining); Vice President - Development at SCY is a qualified person as defined in 
NI 43-101 and has reviewed the technical information on this property. The drilling, sampling, packaging 
and  transport  of  the  drill  samples  was  carried  out to industry  standards  for  QA/QC.  SCY  employed  an 
independent local geology consulting and drill supervisory team, Rangott Mineral Exploration Pty. Ltd., 
(RME) of Orange, NSW, Australia, to manage the drill work on-site. Bulk samples of drill returns were 
collected at one metre intervals from a cyclone mounted on the drilling rig, and a separate three-tier riffle 
splitter was used on site to obtain 2.0-4.5kg composite samples collected over 3 metre intervals, for assay. 
Individual sample identifiers were cross-checked during the process. The assay samples were placed in 
sealed polyweave bags which remained in RME’s possession until the completion of the drilling program, 
at which time they were transported to RME’s office in Orange. There, the sequence of sample numbers 
was  validated,  and  the  assay  samples  were  immediately  submitted  to  Australian  Laboratory  Services’ 
(ALS’) laboratory in Orange. The remnant bulk samples, which were collected in sealed polythene bags, 
were transported by RME to a local storage unit at Miandetta, for long-term storage. 

ALS/Orange dried and weighed the samples, and pulverized the entire sample to 85% passing 75 microns 
or better (technique PUL-21). These 50g sample bags of pulps were then  sent to the ALS laboratory at 
Stafford  in  Brisbane,  Queensland  for  analysis.  ALS/Brisbane  analyzed  the  pulps  for  scandium,  nickel, 
cobalt, chromium, iron and magnesium, using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy 
(ICP-AES) after a four acid (total) digestion (technique ME-ICP61). The lower detection limit for scandium 
using this technique is 1ppm. For their internal quality control, ALS/Brisbane added 4 standard samples 
(for 20 repeat analyses), 10 blank samples and 16 duplicate samples to the batch. Please see news release 
see  news  release  dated  May  7,  2014  and  available  on  www.sedar.com  for  further  information  on  the 
Honeybugle drill results. 

Tørdal Property 

During 2011 we entered into option agreements with REE Mining AS of Norway, to obtain exploration 
rights  to  several  properties  located  in  central  and  southern  Norway.  Based  on  exploration  results  and 
holding costs, the Tørdal property holding was retained but all other Norway properties were subsequently 
dropped. The Tørdal agreement was renegotiated to secure a 100% ownership position for SCY.  

The 90 sq km Tørdal exploration property is prospective for a grouping of specialty metals, and rare earth 
elements, including scandium, yttrium, tantalum, beryllium, niobium, zirconium, titanium, lithium, nickel 
and tin.  Certain of these metals are subject to Norwegian government controlled mineral rights and others 
are subject to landowner mineral rights.  The Company has decided the lack of clarity in mineral rights 
control at Tørdal raises unacceptable risk to continuing forward with additional exploration at this time. 
Accordingly, the Tordal property mineral exploration rights  were not renewed in January 2017, and the 
Company has no further plans for the property at this time. 

34 

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
The Company believes geologic and mineralogy findings made during exploration at Tørdal can be applied 
to other similar mineral properties and will continue to assess similar properties for potential exploration.   

The Company does not, and has never considered the Tørdal property, located in Norway, to be a material 
property.  No resources or reserves are known to exist on the property.  The property has been classified as 
the  Norway  Property  for  purposes  of  financial  statement  segment  information  and  all  expenditures 
capitalized on this property haves been written off as at December 31, 2016. 

ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 

We  are  not  a  party  to  any  pending  legal  proceedings  and,  to  the  best  of  our  knowledge,  none  of  our 
properties or assets are the subject of any pending legal proceedings. 

ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES 

The Company has no active mining operations or dormant mining assets at this time, and has no outstanding 
mine safety violations or other regulatory safety matters to report.  

PART II 

ITEM  5.    MARKET  FOR  REGISTRANTS’  COMMON  EQUITY,  RELATED  STOCKHOLDER 
MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES 

Price Range of Common Shares   

The principal market on which our common shares are traded is the Toronto Stock Exchange.  Our common 
shares  commenced  trading  on  the  Toronto  Stock  Exchange  on  April  24,  2008  under  the  symbol  “GP”.  
Effective  March  11,  2009,  the  common  shares  were listed  and  posted for  trading  on  the Toronto  Stock 
Exchange under the symbol “EMC”.  Effective November 28, 2014, the common shares were listed and 
posted for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “SCY”.  The following table shows 
the  high  and  low  trading  prices  of  our  common  shares  on  the  Toronto  Stock  Exchange  for  the  periods 
indicated.   

Year 

Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2016 
First quarter 
Second quarter 
Third quarter 
Fourth quarter 
Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2015 
First quarter 
Second quarter 
Third quarter 
Fourth quarter 

High 
(C$) 

0.190 
0.205 
0.180 
0.295 

0.140 
0.175 
0.170 
0.230 

Low 
(C$) 

0.100 
0.150 
0.135 
0.135 

0.080 
0.100 
0.075 
0.125 

35 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exchange Rates 

We maintain our books of account in United States dollars and references to dollar amounts herein are to 
the lawful currency of the United States except that we are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and, 
accordingly, stock price quotes and sales of stock are conducted in Canadian dollars (C$).  The following 
table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain exchange rates based on the noon rate  provided by the 
Bank of Canada.  Such rates are the number of Canadian dollars per one (1) U.S. dollar (US$).  The high 
and low exchange rates for each month during the previous six months were as follows: 

January 2017 
December 2016 
November 2016 
October 2016 
September 2016 
August 2016 

High 
1.3458 
1.3598 
1.3588 
1.3434 
1.3281 
1.3178 

Low 
1.3032 
1.3081 
1.3298 
1.3005 
1.2823 
1.2765 

The following table sets out the exchange rate (price of one U.S. dollar in Canadian dollars) information as 
at each of the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2016.   

Rate at end of Period 
Low 
High 

Year Ended December 31 
(Canadian $ per U.S. $) 
2015 
2016 
1.3427 
1.3840 
1.2562 
1.1728 
1.3990 
1.4661 

As of January 31, 2017, there were 104 registered holders of record of the Company’s common shares and 
an undetermined number of beneficial holders.  

Dividends 

We  have  not  paid  any  cash  dividends  on  our  common  shares  since  our  inception  and  do  not  anticipate 
paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.  We plan to retain our earnings, if any, to provide funds 
for the expansion of our business. 

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Compensation Plans 

The following  table  sets forth information  as  at  December  31,  2016  respecting  the  compensation  plans 
under which shares of the Company’s common stock are authorized to be issued. 

36 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of securities 
to be issued upon 
exercise of 
outstanding options, 
warrants and rights 

(a) 

Weighted-average 
exercise price of 
outstanding options, 
warrants and rights 

(b) 

21,820,000 

C$0.11 

Number of securities 
remaining available 
for future issuance 
under equity 
compensation plans 
(excluding securities 
reflected in column 
(a)) 

(c) 
11,937,080 

Nil 

Nil 

Nil 

21,820,000 

C$0.11 

11,937,080 

Plan Category 

Equity compensation 
plans approved by 
security holders 
Equity compensation 
plans not approved by 
security holders 
Total 

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Company and Affiliated Purchasers 

Neither the Company nor an affiliated purchaser of the Company purchased common shares of the Company 
in the year ended December 31, 2016.  

ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA 

Not applicable. 

ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITIONS AND 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

Overview  

The Company is a specialty metals and alloys company focusing on scandium and other specialty metals.  

The Company was incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada in 2006.  The 
Company currently trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “SCY”.  

The Company’s focus is on the exploration and evaluation of its specialty metals assets, specifically the 
Nyngan  scandium  deposit  located  in  New  South  Wales,  Australia  and  the  Tørdal  scandium/rare  earth 
minerals deposit in Norway. In June 2014, the Company made the final installment payment to acquire the 
Nyngan  property.  The  Company  is  an  exploration  stage  company  and  anticipates  incurring  significant 
additional expenditures prior to production at any and all of its properties. 

In fiscal 2015, the Company exchanged a $2,500,000 loan for a 20% interest in its Australian subsidiary 
which  holds  the  Nyngan  Scandium  Project  and  Honeybugle  Scandium  property.    Accordingly,  the 
Company holds an 80% interest in its Australian subsidiary as at period end.  The full $2,500,000 has been 
reflected in additional paid in capital. 

37 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
These  condensed  consolidated  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  on  a  going  concern  basis  that 
contemplates  the  realization  of  assets  and  discharge  of  liabilities  at  their  carrying  values  in  the  normal 
course of business for the foreseeable future.  These financial statements do not reflect any adjustments that 
may be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern. 

The Company currently earns no operating revenues and will require additional capital to advance both the 
Nyngan Scandium Project and  the Honeybugle property. The Company’s ability to continue as a going 
concern is uncertain and is dependent upon the generation of profits from  mineral properties, obtaining 
additional  financing  and  maintaining  continued  support  from  its  shareholders  and  creditors.    These  are 
material  uncertainties  that  raise  substantial  doubt  about  the  Company’s  ability  to  continue  as  a  going 
concern.   If additional financial support is not received or operating profits are not generated, the carrying 
values of the Company’s assets may be adversely affected. 

RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016 

Liquidity and Capital Resources  

At  December  31,  2016,  we  had  working  capital  of  $625,108  including  cash  of  $615,234  and  current 
liabilities  of  $41,353  as  compared  to  working  capital  of  $2,149,874  including  cash  of  $2,249,676  at 
December 31, 2015.  The decrease in working capital is due to costs incurred in completing the Nyngan 
Scandium Project definitive feasibility study and ongoing operating costs. 

At December 31, 2016, we had a total of 21,820,000 (2015 – 17,610,000) stock options exercisable between 
C$0.07 and C$0.20 (2015 – between C$0.07 and C$0.315) which has the potential upon exercise to generate 
a  total  of  C$2,465,660  (2015  –  C$2,033,050)  in  cash  over  the  next  four  and  a  half  years.  There  is  no 
assurance that these securities will be exercised.  

Our continued development is contingent upon our ability to raise sufficient financing both in the short and 
long  term.  There  are  no  guarantees that additional sources  of funding  will  be available  to  us; however, 
management is committed to pursuing all possible sources of financing to execute our business plan. 

Our major capital requirement in the next 12 months relates to the start of construction on the Nyngan 
Scandium Project. 

The Company will need additional funding to develop the Nyngan project into a mine in the first half of 
2017, and will seek to raise additional equity financing at that time.       

Results of Operations 

Quarter ended December 31, 2016 

The net loss for the quarter decreased by $965,539 to $198,183 from a loss of $1,163,722 in the prior year, 
mainly as a result of a research and development refund received for the Nyngan project. Details of the 
individual items contributing to the decreased loss are as follows:  

38 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Q4 2016 vs. Q4 2015 -  Variance Analysis (US$) 

Item 

Exploration 

Variance 
Favourable / 
(Unfavourable) 
$1,066,648 

Explanation 
During the fourth quarter the Company received A$629,000 
(approximately US$474,000)  Research  &  Development 
("R&D") Tax Incentive refund, net of costs to prepare and file.  
Also in Q4 2015, the Company was in the midst of preparing 
a  definitive  feasibility  study  (“DFS”)  for  the  Nyngan 
Scandium  project.  By  Q4  2016  the  DFS  was  complete  and 
very little was being spent on exploration. These two factors 
led to the favorable variance. 

Stock-based 
compensation 

$307,818 

In  Q4  2015,  the  Company,  with  shareholder  approval, 
extended  the  life  of  4,300,000  options  resulting  in  higher 
expenses during 2015 and favourable variance in Q4 2016.   

Professional fees 

$81,740 

General and 
administrative 

Travel & 
entertainment 

$37,335 

$16,403 

Foreign exchange 
loss 

$4,907 

Insurance 

Amortization 

$793 

$631 

The  favourable  variance  is  due  to  increased  legal  fees  and 
guidance required on the sale of a royalty in Q4 of 2015 when 
compared to Q4 of 2016. 

In Q4 2014, the company was preparing a DFS for the Nyngan 
Scandium project and resulted in higher G&A in that period. 

In Q4 2015 the Company incurred travel costs associated with 
the sale of a royalty as well as visiting Australia to work on 
the  Nyngan  Scandium  project  DFS.  No  similar  costs  were 
incurred during Q4 2016. 

Funds  were  held  in  Australian  dollars  subsequent  to  the 
receipt of Research & Development ("R&D") Tax Incentive 
refund.  These funds increased in value in Q4 2016 resulting 
in this favorable variance. 

Quarter  to  quarter  expenses  were  similar  with  a  slightly 
favorable variance being recognized in Q4 2016. 

Certain fixed assets were fully depreciated towards the end of 
2015 resulting in lower costs in 2016. 

Consulting 

($2,500) 

This  unfavorable  variance  is  due  to  a  one-ime  charge 
being incurred in 2016. 

Salaries and benefits 

($22,658) 

The  Company,  hired  a  new  employee  in  Q3  2016  which 
resulted in this Q4 un-favorable variance. 

Write-off of mineral 
property interests 

($238,670) 

It was decided in Q4 of 2016 to write-off the Tordal property 
in Norway.  There were no write-offs in Q4 of 2015. 

39 

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Q4 2016 vs. Q4 2015 -  Variance Analysis (US$) 

Item 

Cost allocable to 
non-controlling 
interest in a 
subsidiary 

Variance 
Favourable / 
(Unfavourable) 

($241,230) 

Explanation 

The lower costs for exploration in 2016 due to the receipt of 
Research & Development ("R&D") Tax Incentive refund led 
to lower recovery in Q4 2016 when compared to Q4 2015. 

Results of Operations for the Year ended December 31, 2016  

The net loss for the year decreased by $662,003 to $2,108,428 from $2,770,431 in the prior year, mainly as 
a result of decreased exploration costs as we finalized the Nyngan DFS early in 2016, receiving a research 
and development refund from the New South Wales government and no longer having debt on our balance 
sheet in 2016.  Details of the individual items contributing to the decreased net loss are as follows:  

2016 vs. 2015 -  Variance Analysis (US$) 

Item 

Exploration 

Variance 
Favourable / 
(Unfavourable) 
$487,823 

Stock-based 
compensation 

$203,790 

Interest expense 

$226,141 

Professional fees 

$71,779 

Foreign exchange 
loss 

General and 
administrative 

$10,443 

$9,727 

Explanation 
In 2016, the Company received a refund from the Australian 
government for research and development with respect to the 
Nyngan Scandium project.  Also, costs in 2016 were lower due 
to  the  completion  of  the  DFS  early  in  the  year  whereas  the 
majority of the DFS costs were incurred during 2015. 

The number of options issued in 2015 and 2016 were about the 
same  but  in  2015  the  Company,  with  shareholder  approval, 
extended  the  life  of  4,300,000  options  resulting  in  higher 
expenses this year.  No such extension has taken place in 2016. 

The  Company  held  no  debt  in  2016,  while  in  2015  an 
interest-bearing  note  was  in  place  until  repaid  in  Q2  of 
that year. 

The  2015  costs  are  higher  due  to  legal  fees  and  guidance 
required on the sale of a royalty in Q4 of 2015. 

More stable foreign exchange in 2016 resulted in this favorable 
variance.   

Higher G&A costs in the year ended December 31, 2015 are a 
result  of  higher  patent  fees,  marketing  costs  and  IT  support 
when compared to 2016. 

40 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2016 vs. 2015 -  Variance Analysis (US$) 

Item 

Travel and 
entertainment 

Amortization 

Variance 
Favourable / 
(Unfavourable) 
$6,060 

Explanation 
In 2015 more travel was incurred due to the activity around the 
preparation of the Nyngan Scandium project DFS. 

$983 

Certain fixed assets were fully depreciated towards the end of 
2015 resulting in lower costs in 2016. 

Insurance 

($12,408) 

The  Company  in  2015  received  a  refund  due  to  a  Worker’s 
Compensation audit which resulted in the lower costs in that 
year.  Without this favorable outcome, costs would have been 
relatively the same. 

Costs allocable to 
non-controlling 
interest in a 
subsidiary 
Salaries and 
benefits 

Write-off of 
mineral property 
interests 

($49,338) 

The lower loss in 2016 means lower costs allocable to the non-
controlling interest in our Australian entities. 

($54,327) 

In 2016 the Company hired an additional staff position midway 
through the year. 

($238,670) 

It was decided in Q4 of 2016 to write-off the Tordal property 
in Norway.  There were no write-offs in 2015. 

Cash flow discussion for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to December 31, 2015  

The cash outflow from operating activities decreased by $382,310 to $1,631,285 (2015 – $2,013,595) due 
to lower costs incurred in preparing the definitive feasibility study.  

Cash flows from investing activities decreased by $2,073,157 to ($3,157) (2015 – $2,070,000) due to the 
sale of a royalty on the Australian projects in 2015. 

Cash inflows from financing activities decreased by $1,775,885 to Nil (2015 - $1,775,885) as a result of no 
share issues or option exercises in 2016. 

Summary of quarterly results (US$) 

Q4 

- 

2016 

Q3 

- 

Q2 

- 

Q1 

- 

Q4 

- 

2015 

Q3 

- 

Q2 

- 

Q1 

- 

(198,183) 

(333,031) 

(496,118)  (1,081,096)  1,163,542 

(503,537) 

(632,698) 

(470,654) 

(0.00) 

(0.00) 

(0.00) 

(0.01) 

(0.00) 

(0.00) 

(0.00) 

(0.00) 

Net Sales 

Net Income 
(Loss) 
Basic and 
diluted 
Net Income 
(Loss) per 
share 

41 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Position  

Cash   

The decrease in cash of $1,634,442 to $615,234 (2015 - $2,249,676) results from the completion of the 
Nyngan Scandium project DFS and no financing activities in 2016. 

Property, plant and equipment 

Property plant and equipment consists of office furniture and computer equipment at the Sparks, Nevada 
office.  The increase of $307 to $2,918 at December 31, 2016 (2015 - $2,611) is due to the purchase of new 
computer hardware items. 

Mineral interests 

Mineral interests decreased by $238,670 to $704,053 at December 31, 2016 (2015 - $942,723) due to the 
write-off of the Tordal property in Norway. 

Notes Payable and Accrued Liabilities 

Notes payable and accrued liabilities have decreased by $165,978 to $41,353 at December 31, 2016 (2015 
– $207,331) as the Nyngan Scandium project DFS was in full activity over the last months of 2015 and 
early 2016. 

Capital Stock 

Capital stock remained the same at $91,142,335 for both year-ends. 

Additional paid-in capital increased by $469,434 to $6,844,671 (2015 - $6,375,237) as a result of stock 
options expensing. 

Treasury shares remained at $1,264,194 through the 2015 fiscal period. 

Off-balance sheet arrangements 

At December 31, 2016, we had no material off-balance sheet arrangements such as guarantee contracts, 
contingent interest in assets transferred to an entity, derivative instruments obligations or any obligations 
that trigger financing, liquidity, market or credit risk to us.   

Additional Information and Accounting Pronouncements 

Outstanding share data 

At March 13, 2017 we had 227,372,200 issued and outstanding common shares, 24,595,000 outstanding 
stock options at a weighted average exercise price of C$0.17.   No warrants are outstanding at March 13, 
2017. 

Critical Accounting Estimates 

42 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting policies requires 
our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities 
at  the  date  of  the  financial  statements  and  the  reported  amounts  of  revenues  and  expenses  during  the 
reporting period. These estimates are based on past experience, industry trends and known commitments 
and events.  By their nature, these estimates are subject to measurement uncertainty and the effects on the 
financial statements of changes in such estimates in future periods could be significant. Actual results will 
likely differ from those estimates. 

Stock-based compensation  

We  use  the  Black-Scholes  option  pricing  model  to  calculate  the  fair  value  of  stock  options  and 
compensatory warrants granted. This model is subject to various assumptions. The assumptions we make 
will likely change from time to time. At the time the fair value is determined, the methodology that we use 
is based on historical information, as well as anticipated future events. The assumptions with the greatest 
impact on fair value are those for estimated stock volatility and for the expected life of the instrument.  

Deferred income taxes  

We account for tax consequences of the differences in the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and our 
tax bases using tax rates expected to apply when these temporary differences are expected to be settled. 
When the deferred realization of income tax assets does not meet the test of being more likely than not to 
occur, a valuation allowance in the amount of the potential future benefit is taken and no future income tax 
asset is recognized. We have taken a valuation allowance against all such potential tax assets. 

Mineral properties and exploration and development costs 

We  capitalise the  costs  of  acquiring  mineral  rights  at  the  date  of  acquisition.  After  acquisition,  various 
factors can affect the recoverability of the capitalized costs.  Our recoverability evaluation of our mineral 
properties  and  equipment  is  based  on  market  conditions  for  minerals,  underlying  mineral  resources 
associated with the assets and future costs that may  be required for ultimate realization through mining 
operations or by sale. We are in an industry that is exposed to a number of risks and uncertainties, including 
exploration  risk,  development  risk,  commodity  price  risk,  operating  risk,  ownership  and  political  risk, 
funding and currency risk, as well as environmental risk. Bearing these risks in mind, we have assumed 
recent world commodity prices will be achievable. We have considered the mineral resource reports by 
independent engineers on the Nyngan project in considering the recoverability of the carrying costs of the 
mineral properties.  All of these assumptions are potentially subject to change, out of our control, however 
such changes are not determinable. Accordingly, there is always the potential for a material adjustment to 
the value assigned to mineral properties and equipment. 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements  

Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 – Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Improvements 
to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.   This accounting pronouncement, which goes into effect 
for annual periods beginning after December 16, 2016, addresses the simplification of several aspects of 
the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification 
of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows.  The Company is 
reviewing this update to determine the impact it will have on its financial statements. 

Accounting Standards Update 2016-02-Leases (Topic 842). This accounting pronouncement allows lessees 
to make an accounting policy election to not recognize a lease asset and liability for leases with a term of 
12  months  or less  and  do not  have  a  purchase  option  that  is  expected to  be  exercised. This  standard is 

43 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption 
permitted.  The  Company  is  currently  evaluating  the  impact  this  guidance  will  have  on  its  financial 
statements. 

Accounting Standards Update 2016 -01 – Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition 
and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.   This accounting pronouncement, which 
goes into effect for annual periods beginning after December 12, 2017, is far reaching and covers several 
presentation areas dealing with measurement, impairment, assumptions used in estimating fair value and 
several other areas.  The Company is reviewing this update to determine the impact it may have on its 
financial statements. 

Accounting  Standards  Update  2015-17  –  Income  Taxes  (Topic  740):  Balance  Sheet  Classification  of 
Deferred  Taxes.    This  accounting  pronouncement  requires  that  deferred  tax  liabilities  and  assets  be 
classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. Currently deferred tax liabilities and 
assets must be presented as current and noncurrent.  The policy is effective for annual periods beginning 
after  December  16,  2016.    The  Company  has  adopted  this  policy  and  it  has  had  little  impact  on  the 
presentation of its financial statements. 

Accounting Standards Update 2015-02 - Consolidation (Topic 810) - Amendments to the Consolidation 
Analysis. This update provides guidance with respect to the analysis that a reporting entity must perform 
to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. The amendments in this Update 
are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, 
beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company has adopted this policy and it has had little impact on 
the presentation of its financial statements. 

Financial instruments and other risks 

Our financial instruments consist of cash, receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, accounts 
payable with related parties, and promissory notes payable.  It is management's opinion that we are not 
exposed  to  significant  interest,  currency  or  credit  risks  arising  from  our  financial  instruments.  The  fair 
values  of  these  financial  instruments  approximate  their  carrying  values  unless  otherwise  noted.  The 
Company has its cash primarily in two commercial banks, one in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 
and in one in Chicago, Illinois. 

ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK 

Not applicable. 

ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA 

The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and the notes thereto are attached to this report 
following the signature page and Certifications. 

ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND 
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE 

For  the  fiscal  years  ended  December  31,  2016  and  2015  we  did  not  have  any  disagreement  with  our 
accountants on any matter of accounting principles, practices or financial statement disclosure. 

44 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES 

Disclosure controls and procedures 

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over 
financial  reporting.  The  Company’s  management,  including  our  principal  executive  officer  and  our 
principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in 
Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, 
the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that as of the end of the period 
covered  by  this  report, the  Company  has  maintained effective  disclosure  controls  and  procedures in  all 
material respects, including those necessary to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports 
filed or submitted with the SEC (i) is recorded, processed, and reported within the time periods specified 
by the SEC, and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to management, including the  principal executive 
officer  and  principal  financial  officer,  as  appropriate  to  allow  for  timely  decision  regarding  required 
disclosure. 

Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting 

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over 
financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act). Management assessed 
the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, using criteria 
established  in  Internal  Control-Integrated  Framework  issued  in  1992  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring 
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Even an effective internal control system, no matter 
how well designed, has inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error and circumvention or 
overriding of controls and therefore can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to reliable financial 
reporting. Furthermore, the effectiveness of an internal control system in future periods can change with 
conditions. 

A  material  weakness  is  a  deficiency,  or  combination  of  deficiencies,  in  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual 
or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. 

The Company’s management has determined that the internal controls over financial reporting are effective 
as of December 31, 2016.  

Changes in Internal Control.   

There have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal 
quarter  that  have  materially  affected,  or  are  reasonably  likely  to  materially  affect,  internal  control  over 
financial reporting. 

Item 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION 

None. 

PART III 

Information with respect to Items 10 through 14 is set forth in the definitive Proxy Statement to be filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before April 30, 2017 and is incorporated herein by 

45 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
reference.  If the definitive Proxy Statement cannot be filed on or before April 30, 2017, the Company will 
instead file an amendment to this Form 10-K disclosing the information with respect to Items 10 through 
14.  

PART IV 

ITEM 15.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULES 

Financial Statements 

The following Consolidated Financial Statements are filed as part of this report. 

Description 
Financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 and 
audit reports thereon. 

Page 
F-1 

Exhibits  

The following table sets out the exhibits filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference. 

Exhibit 
3.1 

3.2 

10.1(1) 
10.2(3) 
10.3(1) 
10.4(4) 
10.5(5) 
21.1(6) 
23.1(6) 
23.2(6) 
23.3(6) 
23.4(6) 
31.1(6) 

31.2(6) 

32.1(6) 

32.2(6) 

Description 
Certificate of Incorporation, Certificate of Name Change dated March 2009, Notice of 
Articles dated March 2009(1) 
Certificate of Name Change dated November 19, 2014 and Notice of Articles dated 
November 19, 2014(2) 
Corporate Articles(1) 
Amendment to Corporate Articles dated November 10, 2014(2) 
2008 Stock Option Plan 
2015 Stock Option Plan 
Management Contract with George Putnam dated May 1, 2010 
Management Contract with Edward Dickinson dated August 13, 2011 
Loan Agreement dated June 24, 2014 
List of Subsidiaries 
Consent of Davidson & Company LLP 
Consent of Stuart Hutchin 
Consent of Dean Basile 
Consent of Geoffrey Duckworth 
Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the U.S. Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934 of the Principal Executive Officer 
Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the U.S. Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934 of the Principal Financial Officer 
Section 1350 Certification of the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial 
Officer of the Principal Executive Officer 
Section 1350 Certification of the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial 
Officer of the Principal Financial Officer 

(1) Previously filed as exhibits to the Form 10 filed May 24, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference. 
(2) Previously filed as exhibits to the Form 10-K filed February 27, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference. 

46 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(3)Previously filed as Schedule “A” to the Form DEF 14A filed October 5, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference. 
(4)Previously filed as an exhibit to the Form 10-K/A filed May 1, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference. 
(5) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Form 10-Q filed August 12, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference. 
(6) Filed herewith.  

47 

 
 
 
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant 
has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. 

SIGNATURES 

SCANDIUM INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP. 

By: /s/ George Putnam 
  George Putnam 

President and Principal Executive Officer 

Date:      March 16, 2017 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by 
the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. 

Signature 

Title 

Date 

 /s/ George Putnam 
George Putnam 

 /s/ William Harris 
William Harris 

President, Principal Executive Officer, and Director  March 16, 2017 

Chairman and Director 

March 16, 2017 

/s/ James Rothwell 
James Rothwell 

Director 

 /s/ Willem Duyvesteyn  Director 
Willem Duyvesteyn 

 /s/ Warren Davis 
Warren Davis  

Director 

 /s/ Barry Davies 
Barry Davies 

 /s/ Andrew Greig 
Andrew Greig 

Director 

Director 

/s/ Edward Dickinson 
Edward Dickinson 

Principal Accounting Officer and  
Principal Financial Officer 

48 

March 16, 2017 

March 16, 2017 

March 16, 2017 

March 16, 2017 

March 16, 2017 

March 16, 2017