Australian heavy rare earths-focused company Northern Minerals Limited (ASX: NTU) has announced positive results from the Wolverine-Dazzler Blending Study, which is assessing the potential for Dazzler deposit material to enhance initial planned production for the company’s 100%-owned Browns Range heavy rare earths project, located in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Relative to Wolverine, Dazzler is a small but high-grade heavy rare earths deposit located ~15km south from Wolverine, the primary deposit used in mine designs in the 2025 Definitive Feasibility Study. The Wolverine-Dazzler Blending Study is part of work by Northern Minerals to further optimise the outcomes of the DFS.
The potential inclusion of material from Dazzler in the proposed first-stage mine operation at Browns Range would complement ore from Wolverine and could potentially increase total rare earths oxide (TREO) concentrate output during early periods of available processing plant capacity as the project transitions from open-pit to underground mining.
Preliminary laboratory metallurgical test work results received to date confirm favourable metallurgical results using blended Wolverine-Dazzler material. The DFS processing circuit methodology was used to produce a TREO concentrate from the blended material, meeting the specifications targeted under the DFS.
Initial TREO recovery levels from this blending test work averaged ~79%, comparable to the DFS program (average ~84%), with further testing planned as the company seeks to further optimise these recoveries.
Northern Minerals expects to release an updated Mineral Resource Estimate for Dazzler in Q4 FY26.
Commenting on the positive results from the Wolverine-Dazzler Blending Study, Northern Minerals managing director Shane Hartwig said:
“Achieving the positive preliminary metallurgical results for the Wolverine-Dazzler blend test work marks an important milestone in the company’s development of Dazzler as a potential additional source of heavy rare earth feed material for Browns Range.
“Recognising Dazzler as a critical mineral resource for potential, additional mineralisation sources for Browns Range sparked the initial decision to drill the EIS scheme holes while updating the deposit’s litho-structural reinterpretation provided the requisite confidence to update the 3D mineralisation model and prudently select samples which have yielded these encouraging metallurgical variability test work results.
“While further test work to optimise the Wolverine-Dazzler blend is in progress, demonstration that the material can be processed via the proposed DFS processing circuit methodology to produce a saleable TREO concentrate allows the company to confidently progress study work to determine the potential for Dazzler material to be incorporated into the initial phase of the Browns Range development.”
