Testing 315Mt Resource Of Makuutu Rare Earth Element Mineralisation
Ionic Rare Earths Limited (ASX: IXR) has commenced the next phase of metallurgical testing associated with increasing the knowledge of key inputs to be applied to the Feasibility Study to be completed on its 51% owned Makuutu Rare Earths Project in Uganda.
The Company will move to 60% ownership of Makuutu on the completion of the Bankable Feasibility Study due for completion before end of October 2022.
As an ionic adsorption clay (IAC) hosted rare earths element (REE) deposit, Makuutu mineralisation can be processed via a low capital intensity simple processing flowsheet where the REE content is desorbed from the clay using a simple salt desorption process.
The Phase 2 metallurgical variability testwork programme has commenced at ALS Metallurgy Balcatta, WA. The programme will expand the knowledge of metallurgical performance across the Mineral Resource Estimate areas incorporating the optimisation testwork completed over the past 12 months. It is expected that the expanded variability programme will be completed in Q4 2021. The program will also include analysis of scandium extraction base upon the optimised conditions.
The company has also commenced heap leach testwork with ANSTO Minerals in Sydney, NSW. The initial work, which examined agglomeration, percolation and irrigation rate testwork, has confirmed that the IAC heap leach desorption conditions employed maintain column integrity and percolation properties and show no fatal flaws to date.
Evaluation of lixiviant conditions to achieve target outcomes continues. The initial phase is expected to be completed in Q3 2021.
Additionally, the company has commenced discussions with key global experts in the evaluation and processing of IAC hosted REE deposits, including mineralogical investigations, with a view to starting further programs shortly.
The 2021 metallurgical programme will ultimately feed into the planned Demonstration Plant at Makuutu the company aims to initiate in early 2022.
