Australian heavy rare earths-focused company Northern Minerals Limited (ASX: NTU) has announced a major resource upgrade for the high-grade Dazzler heavy rare earths deposit, part of the company’s 100%-owned Browns Range project in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia.
The Dazzler Mineral Resource, while relatively small in volume terms compared to Wolverine, comprises the highest-grade heavy rare earths at Browns Range. It is located proximal to the planned processing infrastructure at Wolverine and considered an appropriate deposit to be assessed as potential blending ore with the Wolverine feed, with the aim to optimise Project economics.
Highlights
- The Wolverine – Dazzler Blending Study reached an essential goal with the updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the Dazzler Deposit, which follows the positive results from the recently announced preliminary metallurgical blend test work.
- The updated Dazzler MRE is classified 90% Indicated, reported in accordance with the JORC Code, ensuring the high-grade deposit has the required confidence to inform the active Wolverine – Dazzler Blending Study.
- The MRE for Dazzler — the highest-grade heavy rare earths deposit at Browns Range — has increased by 70% in tonnages and 40% in TREO metal.
- The MRE is now 340 kt @ 2.1% TREO for 7,000 t of contained TREO metal when compared to the 2020 MRE of 214 kt @ 2.33% TREO for 5,000 t TREO metal.
- As an input into the Wolverine-Dazzler Blending Study, an open pit optimisation study for reporting the Dazzler MRE update was completed to demonstrate RPEEE5 in accordance with the guidelines of the JORC Code.
- Active mine studies for the high-grade heavy rare earths Dazzler deposit will determine the viability of including it in a potential update to the Browns Range DFS.
Commenting on the upgraded Dazzler MRE, Northern Minerals managing director Shane Hartwig said:
“The release of the positive preliminary metallurgical test work during the quarter and the upgrading of the Dazzler MRE are part of the systematic process being undertaken to assess the potential for Dazzler deposit material to enhance initial planned production from the Wolverine deposit.
“These results provide confidence to continue the Wolverine – Dazzler Blending Study with the aim of further optimising the project economics for Browns Range.
“We are fortunate to hold a significant tenement package across the broader Browns Range area and will continue to explore for more heavy rare earths resources, such as Wolverine and Dazzler, that can potentially expand our resource base.”
