- Follow up metallurgical diagnostic testwork has demonstrated recoveries of Light Rare Earth Elements (LREE) up to 78% Neodymium (Nd) and 76% Praseodymium (Pr) and Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREE) with up to 79% Dysprosium (Dy) and 80% Terbium (Tb)
- Combined recovery of up to 77.7% of magnet metals NdPr+DyTb
- Recoveries were achieved by an acid bake leach using low-cost sulphuric acid (H2SO4), 200°C temperatures and low leach times (2 hrs)
- The focus of this diagnostic work was to gather further understanding of process conditions required to increase the recoveries of LREE. The metallurgical test work continued to focus on extracting valuable and critical HREE Dy+Tb
- QEMSCAN and metallurgical test results obtained to-date confirm the presence of both ammonium sulphate leachable ionically clay bonded REEs as well as the presence of weathering mobilised REE phosphate phases potentially rhabdophane (hydrated monazite) and churchite (hydrated xenotime) recovered by acid baking
- This advanced metallurgical program is anticipated to complement the pending initial JORC Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE)
- A further a major metallurgical test work program has commenced which includes flow sheet design to produce a mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) as the end product
Victory Metals Limited (ASX:VTM) (“Victory” or “the Company”) is pleased to advise it has received further metallurgical test results using diagnostic test methods on composite drill samples from the North Stanmore Rare Earth Element Project (North Stanmore or the Project), located approximately 10km north from the town of Cue, Western Australia and benefits from direct access to the Great Northern Highway.
The further metallurgical results were received from two composite samples prepared from 12 representative samples collected from across the Project. The results have identified the process conditions required to produce very high LREE and HREE yields at North Stanmore.
The implications of the diagnostic test results on project yield and economics will be assessed and incorporated appropriately into the initial JORC MRE which is rapidly progressing. The MRE will now be reported in early July 2023 to allow for the incorporation of these further results.
The Company is also pleased to report the commencement of an advanced metallurgical test work program by Core Group (Core), a Metallurgical Project Development firm based in Brisbane Australia providing services covering all aspects of metallurgical testing, process engineering, flowsheet development and site support services for the global mining industry.
Victory’s Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Brendan Clark Comments “These results are outstanding and further demonstrate the excellent process mineralogy from Victory’s 100% owned North Stanmore rare earth element project in Western Australia.”
“North Stanmore is exhibiting all the important hallmarks of a significant rare earth element project which includes large scale, high metal recovery, high average grades, logistical and geopolitical advantages as well as market leading ratios of valuable and critical heavy rare earth elements including Dysprosium (Dy) and Terbium (Tb).”
“It is a very exciting time for the Company with the rapidly advancing JORC Mineral Resource Estimate and for the commencement of the advanced metallurgical test work program that is set to produce our very own Mixed Rare earth carbonate (MREC) product."
Contact details:
Lexi O'Halloran