I think production could happen sooner than you think. Here's...

I think production could happen sooner than you think. Here's why:

The Hastings – Wyloo Yangibana project is a hard rock mining operation. This project like all hard project projects, Lynas, Arafura, etc, involves the extraction of light rare earths, specifically Nd and Pr. Hard rock mining typically involves extracting minerals from solid rock formations, which is a more intensive process that leaves radioactive waste streams. This is a costly exercise that needs to be disposed of somehow.

However, the Koppamurra project is a rare earth deposit that is supported by ionic clay. There is no radioactive waste, and the high values of terbium and dysprosium and others high value elements are included in the mix. This makes it highly economical over the hard rock projects because they have to favour the lower value light rare earths (Nd and Pr) over the heavies to make their projects economical.

Here's a statistic from Rick Pobjoy that I like. Rare earths contained in ionic clay make up only 1% of China's overall deposits, but they enable up to 35% of its enormous manufacturing capacity. In other words, from the clays you get far more bang for your buck.

To find a project like Koppamurra is rarer than rare earths.

All IMO, DYOR, GLTA(patient)H