Digging back into comments by Dr Yongqin Jiao from the ARR...

Digging back into comments by Dr Yongqin Jiao from the ARR announcement of 22 Jan 2024 re: breakthrough metallurgical results;
"Our protein-based rare earth separation technologies continue to be advanced and are greatly enhanced by this conventional beneficiation technique that will improve the economic viability."

Step one is the incorporation of conventional beneficiation techniques that separate the barren ore material from the more valuable ore containing the rare earths. Its step two that we are waiting for i.e. the development of biomining techniques or protein-based rare earth separation technologies.

I came across an explanation that shed light on the process that occurs in nature in relation to the mobilisation and separation of rare earths. Microbes in inhospitable volcanic environments use the rare earths as cofactors-for-enzymes. The microbes have evolved a transport system to mobilise rare earths from the environment and draw them into their own cell structure. My understanding is that Dr Yongqin Jiao and the consortium from LLNL are working on improving the selectivity of the microbes to solve the problem of separation of rare earths whose chemical properties are nearly indistinguishable from one another. Reference is made to Special Report: U.S. Begins Forging Rare Earth Supply Chain by Mikayla Easley published 2 October 2023.

Step two if achieved will be transformative for the industry.