- Krakatoa Resources (KTA) achieves “excellent” metallurgical recoveries at Tower rare earth element (REE) project in Western Australia
- The ANSTO revealed metallurgical recoveries on key critical REEs of up to 64 per cent neodymium and 61 per cent praseodymium
- Krakatoa said initial recovery rates “compare favourably” with other globally significant clay hosted REE projects
- Krakatoa will begin further supplementary test work programs in early 2023 to refine and improve the metallurgical process
- KTA shares last traded down 6.8 per cent, trading at 4.1 cents at 1:17 pm AEDT
Krakatoa Resources (KTA) has achieved “excellent” metallurgical recoveries at its flagship Tower rare earth element (REE) project in Western Australia.
The metallurgical and mineralogy test work, conducted by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), revealed metallurgical recoveries on key critical rare earth elements of up to 64 per cent neodymium and 61 per cent praseodymium.
Krakatoa said its initial recovery rates “compare favourably” with other globally significant clay hosted REE projects.
Krakatoa CEO Mark Major said the company was “very pleased” with the initial diagnostic metallurgical results from the Tower deposit.
“These have generated impressive recoveries of the key magnetic rare earths neodymium-praseodymium-dysprosium-terbium, all highly sort after and highly priced rare earth elements”.
The mineralogical study carried out by the ANSTO uncovered that majority of the rare earths are hosted in clay or as rare earth minerals less than 20 micron in size, indicating potential opportunity for simple beneficiation processing to increase the grade and recovery.
“Krakatoa now has one of the biggest clay hosted REE mineral resource in Australia with a positive extraction and production pathway,” Mr Major added.
“The company will now focus on progressing the project towards mining operations
by further optimising the extraction process, while increasing the resource confidence which will lead to the commencement of economic studies.”
Mr Major also said the company is well poised to start discussions with users and industry groups related to potential development, funding, off-take arrangements, and downstream processing opportunities.
Krakatoa will begin further supplementary test work programs in early 2023 to refine and improve the metallurgical process, hoping to expand the program over an extended area of study during 2023.
KTA shares last traded down 6.8 per cent, trading at 4.1 cents at 1:17 pm AEDT.