Will try my best mate - processing monazite ore for REEs is both...

Will try my best mate - processing monazite ore for REEs is both expensive and complex due to the refractory nature of the mineral. I used to work at ANSTO and several metallurgical labs and have dealt with the “ba$t&rd” several times.

• Refractoriness: Monazite is resistant to “standard” chemical reactions, so breaking it down requires harsh and energy-intensive processes. The REEs are bound very strongly to impurities like Oxygen & Phosphate. So, the ore needs fine grinding to liberate it from the other gangue minerals…and then, once these waste minerals have been removed via flotation, the concentrate is baked ("cracked") in the presence of very strong acid… This involves heating the con to high temperatures (500–750 °C) with strong chemicals (concentrated sulphuric acid) to make the REEs “accessible”. The sulphuric is a pain to handle and also reacts with the impurities. The REEs in sulphate form are sparingly soluble so difficult to dissolve (in water). Lots of water involved but also you have issues with gypsum and the presence of sodium and calcium ions (which inhibit REE solubility). This is due to them forming “double sulphate salts” i.e. Na₂REE₂(SO₄)₄double sulphate salt - the Sulphuric acid + impurities react with the REEs (not what you want). Plus a host of the impurity / sulphuric dramas. i.e. Calcium+Sulphuric+REE = REE-gypsum. The list goes on.

• ComplexRefinement Steps: After the initial breakdown (the "cracking"), multiple stages are required to extract and purify the REEs. This involves leaching (dissolving the REEs), separating impurities, and multiple rounds of solvent extraction (up to 1,000 stages) to isolate individual REEs. The impurity removal involves removing Fe etc, but also the radioactive Thorium, requiring specialised handling and waste management.

• Chlorine chemistry for REEs isn’t “new” – it has long been known that REEs readily react with chlorine (or nitrate) – but to my knowledge no one had previously figured out how to get it to work in practice. The Flash heating method seems to be the key.

The real "acid test" / major next engineering milestone for MTM is to get the process to work at the same rate, at scale. If it works, I can guarantee all the big REE players will be fighting for it.

I’m personally very impressed with the new CEO – he comes from great pedigree (Outotec / Metso), whom I have dealt with a lot in the past on their lab equipment. The have some of the world’s top experts in several mineral processing fields and generally the premium tech. ANSTO have a lot of their equipment and they are regularly consulted. Most of the “tier 1’ company plants around the world have their equipment, or the main competitor FL Schmidt. CEO presents great and articulates the complex processing newsflow very well, they better keep. Looking back at MTM’s early investor presentations and news flow when they first got the Flash licence is chalk and cheese – they didn’t seem to have any idea what to do with the technology or how to explain it to the market. Have a look for yourself – easy to see. I went hunting for all the background info I could find. DYOR

I'm a long holder until at least the pilot plant stage. GLTAH