Completion of initial testwork at ANSTO Minerals has indicated that removal of yttrium, lanthanum and cerium can be achieved through a relatively simple addition to the hydrometallurgical process prior to mixed rare earth carbonate precipitation.
Following these promising results, Northern Minerals has commenced a scoping level study, which includes bench scale testwork, to further test this concept.
With the current market signals indicating that sale of the yttrium oxide is likely to be limited for the foreseeable future, the yttrium removal step will increase the percentage of the dysprosium in the mixed rare earth carbonate product from 9 per cent Dy/TREO to 22 per cent Dy/TREO (see Figure 2) while still retaining a portion of yttrium for sale to potential customers.
The bench scale testwork at ANSTO Minerals is scheduled to finish mid-September,with the scoping study expected to be complete in the third quarter of this year.
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