Mining News
Australia's Vital sets the stage for Nechalacho rare earths project expansion
(Kitco News) - Vital Metals (ASX: VML) today announced positive results from metallurgical testwork completed on samples from the Tardiff zone at Vital's Nechalacho rare earths project in Canada.
Vital said it plans to mine the Tardiff Zone at Nechalacho in Stage 2 operations, creating a larger scale, longer life rare earths project, and that metallurgical testwork on ore from Tardiff Zone shows potential to use similar process flowsheet as ore mined from North T Zone.
Testwork shows potential to incorporate additional processes, including gravity and flotation separation in Stage 2 to achieve a high-grade (>35% TREO) rare earth concentrate. Vital added that using Stage 1 process equipment in Stage 2 will reduce capital costs and de-risk the project.
Managing Director Geoff Atkins added, "The testwork program achieved results which were better than expected and indicates that we will be able to utilise the same process from Stage 1 at Nechalacho in Stage 2, with the addition of an additional beneficiation step, such as a flotation plant. Achieving this will greatly reduce capital costs and risk."
Vital Metals is an explorer and developer focusing on rare earths, technology metals and gold projects. The company's projects are located across a range of jurisdictions in Canada, Africa and Germany.
Vital Metals to become Canada's first rare earths producer with rare earths production from Stage 1 at Nechalacho on track to commence this month via ore sorting.
