American Rare Earths’ (ASX: ARR) latest metallurgical testwork from its La Paz rare earths deposit in Arizona has continued to advance the project forward with a simplified concentrator flow sheet developed for mine planning and confirmation that the ore responds positively to conventional processing.
These results support the previous testwork completed in 2020 and April 2022, which provide opportunities to reduce operating and capital costs.
As part of the latest metallurgical testing campaign, the company requested Wood Australia Pty Ltd (Wood) use the results to develop a conceptual flowsheet for the La Paz concentrator.
The company also sought guidance for its annual processing capacity based on a single processing line using the most capital- intensive equipment, which assists with mine planning.
Planned work will build upon these results to refine the processes undertaken throughout the flowsheet to maximise the recovery of rare earth metals, particularly high-value magnet metals Neodymium and Praseodymium which are the focus at La Paz.
Highlights
Metallurgical Test Work Successfully Completed at La Paz
• Leach technology successfully demonstrated high levels of rare earth metals extraction and rapid dissolution times.
• Recovery rates of up to 66.4% TREO and 71.5% Scandium achieved.
• Capital and operating costs will be reduced with 75% of the gangue material removed through
magnetic separation.
• Results confirm very low thorium and uranium penalty elements.
• The conceptual flowsheet developed maximises the recovery of rare earth metals, particularly high value magnet metals Neodymium and Praseodymium.
• Valuable insight gained into accelerating the technical development of the Halleck Creek project, given its similarities to La Paz.
“These latest metallurgical results are extremely encouraging and continue to advance the La Paz Project in the right direction in its development,” CEO and Managing Director, Chris Gibbs, said.
“We acknowledge the great work industry leaders Wood Australia, Nagrom and Watts & Fisher have been conducting on our behalf.
“With its high levels of rare earth metals extraction and rapid dissolution times, Watts and Fisher’s leaching technology could be a game-changer in developing La Paz and Halleck Creek, given the projects share similar mineralogy. They also have ongoing contracts with the US Department of Defense, with which we are linked through our collaboration with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency EMBER R&D program aiming to develop a clean rare earths supply chain for the US.
“Also very pleasing is the ongoing confirmation that La Paz has very low levels of penalty elements thorium and uranium. This is beneficial from an environmental and handling perspective and makes our Company more likely to be invited to be involved with additional US Government-supported supply chain R&D programmes.
“I thank all our partners in this testwork for the significant progress that’s been made, and we look forward to the next round of work to refine the learnings and take the flowsheet to the next stage of development.”
For further information please visit: https://americanrareearths.com.au/
