Mining›Rare Earths
Godolphin has started metallurgical testing that will improveits understanding of the flow sheet and determine initial costs estimates forNarraburra. Pic: Getty Images.
Godolphinstarts Phase 3 metallurgical testing to underpin Narraburra rare earths scopingstudy
Mining
15 hours ago | Special Report
- Godophin starts Phase 3 metallurgical testing on Narraburra REE samples alongside ANSTO and Ausenco
- Work seeks to improve understanding of flow sheet and determine initial cost estimates
- Works will also produce a MREC product allowing discussions with potential offtake partners to commence
- Test work finding will feed into the Narraburra scoping study expected next quarter
Special Report: Godolphin Resources has started Phase 3metallurgical testing that includes production of a mixed rare earth carbonateproduct using samples from its Narraburra rare earths project in NSW.
Narraburra is a highly prospective REE project with an existingresource of 94.9Mt grading 739 parts per million (ppm) total rare earth oxides(TREO) that includes a high-grade component of 20Mt at 1079ppm TREO.
Godolphin Resources(ASX:GRL)recently acquired49% ofNarraburra from JV partner EX9, giving it 100% ownership of the +500km2project, leaving it well positioned to execute its exploration and developmentstrategy.
The resource is proven for hosting valuable magnetic REEs suchas the highly sought after neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) used in permanentmagnets that are key components of electric vehicles and wind turbines.
Additionally, preliminary metallurgical testing has confirmed that ore from the project may beamenable to low-cost and near-term mining after demonstrating recoveries of upto 75% of the high-value MREEs.
Early testing also found that extraction percentages increasewith time and temperature, with a significant increase in REE recovery at 50degrees Celsius reported for clay-rich samples. from the first phase ofmetallurgical testing.
Paving the way forofftake discussions
The Phase 3 metallurgical testing, which includes processdevelopment testing, is designed to underpin the Narraburra scoping study byproviding the required level of understanding of the mineral processing flowsheet.
It will also provide initial cost estimates to be used in thescoping study.
Process development testing includes slurry testing,solid/liquid separation, impurity removal and the production of a saleable MRECproduct.
Importantly, this round of metallurgical testing will enable GRLto start discussions with potential offtake partners.
“The third phase of metallurgical testing is a critical step incompleting the Narraburra REE project scoping study and further highlights thecompany’s commitment to the development of Narraburra which is being undertakenalongside exploration initiatives across our suite of copper and goldprojects,” managing director Jeneta Owens said.
“The scoping study is progressing well with Ausenco’sinvestigations into the various process flow sheet options driving the designof the Process Development Testing (Phase 3) testwork program.
“This testwork program will provide the processing cost and MRECvalue inputs needed to complete the financial modelling step of the ScopingStudy and so is the next step to understanding the economic viability of theNarraburra REE Project.”
Forward plan
GRL expects the Phase 3 test work to be completed within threemonths with the scoping study to be delivered during the September 2024quarter.
This work is also being undertaken alongside explorationplanning for the company’s wholly-owned copper and gold projects.
Link to article:
Godolphin starts Phase 3 metallurgical testing to underpin Narraburra rare earths scoping study - *
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