NTU Browns Range xenotime ore has Thorium levels more the two...

NTU Browns Range xenotime ore has Thorium levels more the two orders of magnitude lower than Wim deposits (and typical for most beach HM sands).


Mt Weld averages 750ppm ThO2 and 180ppm U3O8, and order of magnitude higher than Browns, but order of magnitude lower than Wim deposits.

Very high Th&U is the Achilles heel for all beach HM deposits unfortunately. Transporting it in 20ft steel containers is legal so long as the RE-con is diluted to 20% monazite, down from the ~100% mon con product from the plant. A little bit expensive but doable. The trouble with Th&U waste from the leaching plant, is that once it is released from the very stable monazite crystal lattice (which has kept it locked tight for millions of years), it becomes more mobile and dangerous to store in high concentrations.

I think read once that Pensana had a some technology in mind to 're-set' the Th&U back into a stable crystal structure for long term safe storage? Makes sense, if it works, though it could be costly. The WA government agreed to allow ILU to store high Th&U waste from their new Eneabba plant so it can be done safely. Just need governements to accept the long-term sterilisation of some out of the way ground in return for jobs, taxes, critical mineral security etc... Not holding my breath in Victoria, though Sth Australia might step up to bat?