Australian heavy rare earths producer, Northern Minerals Limited (ASX: NTU) says it has investigated using ore sorting on the five existing stockpiles at its Browns Range pilot plant to improve beneficiation and feed into the processing facility, which will in turn result in an increase in the amount of rare earth oxides that can be produced by the plant. At a cost of $4 million, the ore sorting has the potential to double the mill feed grade.
Highlights
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Northern Minerals proposes to introduce ore sorting technology to boost Browns Range pilot plant production profile and economics
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Technology tested on the Wolverine high-grade stockpile has demonstrated the potential to double the mill feed grade
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Capital cost estimate of $4 million
Australian heavy rare earths producer, Northern Minerals (ASX: NTU) (the Company) is pleased to announce a further production and processing update for the Browns Range Pilot Plant Project (the Project) in northern Western Australia, designed to capture additional value from existing stockpiles.
The Company has investigated using ore sorting on the five stockpiles at Browns Range to improve beneficiation and feed to the processing facility, which will in turn result in an increase in the amount of rare earth oxides that can be produced by the recently commissioned pilot plant.
Northern Minerals’ Managing Director and CEO, George Bauk, said “We have successfully produced mixed rare earth carbonate from our Browns Range pilot plant and are working towards the technical and economic feasibility of the Project. Today’s announcement, which demonstrates the potential to double the mill feed grade through ore sorting, has many positive benefits.”
“Ore sorting technology is readily available through a number of providers and our studies on the five existing ROM stockpiles have shown the potential for significant improvements in both processing plant efficiency and value recovery of heavy rare earth elements through its use.
“We believe the up-front capital cost of retrospectively installing ore sorting technology ahead of the existing Brown Range Pilot Plant circuit is justified in light of the head grade improvement demonstrated in the testwork to date, along with the forecast economic benefits delivered by greater production output – both of which will flow-through to additional medium-term value for shareholders.”
“We are currently working on the more testwork, approvals, planning and the funding required for ore sorting at Browns Range with a view to have ore sorting installation in Q2 2019.
