Good call speaking to the co directly, obviously I am just a random on hotcopper doing back of the envelope calcs whilst we all wait for the first scoping study for an Aussie clay project the materialise. I see Al/Fe as being part of the puzzle including 1. head grade, 2. strip ratio, 3. benefication performance, 4. Nd Pr Dy Tb extraction % 5. acid type and consumption rate and 6. impurity extraction (Al/Fe). Any one of those could potentially be a show stopper, for example AR3 I estimate their strip ratio is >5 for Dovetail, which makes mining costs around $20 per tonne ore, i.e. a likely show stopper at current REE prices. Strip ratio probably not even a passing thought here at MRD.
Seems like all the big dogs are at that REE conference at the ANU, a lot of government bigwigs are keynote speakers or in the workshops. BH from OD6 is presenting on the Esperance as a whole on Thursday. Good opportunity for management from these REE explorers/developers to rub shoulders with the government officials most likely to support them with funding.
MRD Price at posting:
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