Wonder if they will include any met work with the MRE next couple weeks? Interested to see some details, doubt it though. Last mineralogical update was June'23 from what I've seen, though i don;t follow the stock closely. Just looked up that release and the critical paragraph is
"The key niobium-bearing mineral identified was pyrochlore which is consistent with previous petrographic analyses on the 2022 discovery drillholes, along with columbite being
dominant in one of the samples. Importantly,
the observed pyrochlore (~70% Nb₂O₅, 0.18% Ta₂O₅) and columbite (~74% Nb2O5, 0.06% Ta₂O₅)
primary minerals both have very high-niobium content and low-tantalum levels.
These mineral grains were also highly liberated within the sample medium. When sized in the -150+38 µm fraction, all three samples reported
over 85% of the dominant niobium bearing mineral as being ‘well-liberated’ or ‘high-grade middlings’ (noting these liberation properties are presented as this represents the size range that flotation would most likely be conducted at)."
My takeaway is that is a lot of positive hints about the dominant and primary Nb mineralisation. The high grade Nb is of course in the highly weathered zone and potentially no longer primary mineralisation? Maybe it's secondary Ba-pyrochlore after Ca-Na-pyrochlore with the primary grain structure and liberation still intact similar to Araxa, maybe not. Maybe the high grade supergene zone apparently developed along weathering redox front is remobilised from weathered pyrochlore/columbite and precipitated out as a much finer grained potpourri of secondary Nb minerals?
Certainly the strong horizontal supergene layer at the base of heavily lateritic clays suggests chemical remobilisation, not physical concentration through weathering deflation. Thats the way geology looks to me anyways
I'm sure the metallurgical work is "going well" and all that, nothing to worry about. Niobium has become quite the fashion amongst op-shop recyclers these days, but imo CBMM will only allow one large new player to take a big bite out of their niobium sales to satisfy the western desire for critical mineral supply. Any more new players and CBMM goes on the Nb-price warpath to defend market share. You might say the competition for a new ex-Brazil Nb supplier is a bit like the Highlander... there can only be one!
My bet if not my money is on Luni to be that new supplier, makes other wannabe projects look like geochem anomalies.
GLTAH
(20min delay)