American Rare Earths (ASX: ARR) has identified significant financial and production benefits in metallurgical test work conducted on ore from the Halleck Creek Project in Wyoming, USA.
Under the guidance of Wood PLC, one of the world’s leading engineering companies, the metallurgical test work completed to date indicates a simple process flowsheet as the ore responds well to conventional technology. This enables notable opportunities to reduce the project’s operating and capital costs.
After conducting a series of initial WHIMS tests, the optimal operating parameters produced a 90.5% Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO) recovery for a cumulative grade of 1.18% TREO (11,200ppm). This is an upgrade factor of 3.3 relative to the original feed material with 71.7% of feed mass being rejected at this early stage of the process.
These results were based off a primary grind size of 80% passing 500 microns which is considered a coarse grind. This was consistent with mineralogy test work results that showed the target rare earth mineral Allanite can be easily liberated. The coarser grind will result in lower operating costs as less energy will be consumed through the primary grinding circuit. Rejecting 71.7% of feed mass containing gangue (worthless) materials at this early stage of the process is very positive.
CEO and Managing Director, Chris Gibbs, said this provides opportunities to reduce capital and operating costs, as well as supporting our commitment to minimize our environmental footprint.
“These latest metallurgical test results are extremely encouraging and continue to advance the Halleck Creek Project a step closer towards commercial reality,” Mr Gibbs said.
“Metallurgy is the key to any mining project and these recent results continue to exceed our expectations. This simple process flow sheet translates to lower operating costs, and reduced capital investment and environmental impact. Having low thorium and uranium penalty elements are a huge advantage for this project to produce a low-cost rare earth concentrate.”
“From a mining perspective, the recent drill assay results announced on 13 February indicate a large scale, low-cost open pit mining operation. Together with these metallurgical results, Halleck Creek is shaping up to be rare earth equivalent of a major copper/gold porphyry deposit, comparable to the likes of major mines operated by Freeport-McMoRan and Rio Tinto.”
Next Steps
With continued oversight from Wood, further test work is currently underway to optimize the process flow sheet. This includes bulk WHIMS test work which is underway at the Nagrom Laboratories, which will be followed by cleaner WHIMS evaluation to further upgrade the magnetics.
Floatation testing at Auralia Metallurgy is in progress to assess the potential for further upgrading. Testing will then commence on the leach process using Watts & Fisher’s proprietary leach technology.
For further information please visit: https://americanrareearths.com.au/
