Niobec's actual mining grade according to a 2021 paper was average ~0.63% Nb2O5. (Google PRODUCTION OF NIOBIUM: OVERVIEW OF PROCESSES FROM THE MINE TO PRODUCTS). Then one has to consider recoveries to concentrate, of which I suspect Niobec's fresh ore has coarser pyrochlor grains and better recoveries than fine-grained supergene clay hosted style mineralisation.
To re-iterate my point on operating costs for long running operations vs new builds, capex for any Nb2O5 project producing a concentrate in the Arunta, then refining and smelting that into a ferro-niobium product elsewhere in WA, would likely be well north of $1B. Niobec has been operating for decades, cheap power, proven tech, local town/port, only have cash-costs and sustaining capex to keep the entire operation in good order etc. Would Niobec get funded into new development today at 0.6% Nb2O5... probably not.
ENR Price at posting:
50.0¢ Sentiment: None Disclosure: Not Held
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