Taruga Minerals Ltd (ASX:TAR) has fielded positive results in the first batch of metallurgical testing from ANSTO Minerals’ analysis of Morgans Creek prospect clay-hosted rare earth elements (REEs), collected from the Mt Craig project in South Australia.
The results revealed extraction rates of up to 70% for magnet rare earth oxides (MREO), 60% for heavy rare earth oxides (HREO) and 59% for total rare earth oxides (TREO).
Samples were selected to represent mineralisation across the prospect, with the best extractions coming from the Yednalue Formation, a priortiy target geological unit for the company.
Taruga and ANSTO achieved an average 52% extraction rate for MREOs from the Yednalue Formation – the results also indicate metallurgical continuity between the upper, middle and lower portions of the unit.
The company used an easily accessible, moderate sulphuric acid leach, with results of note including:
- 58% MREO extraction in the upper portion of the unit between 3-4 metres depth;
- 70% MREO extraction in the middle portion of the unit between 17-18m depth; and
- 59% MREO extraction in the lower portion of the unit between 35-36m depth.
Further optimisation and drilling in 2023
“These initial metallurgical results have confirmed the presence of easily leachable rare earths in the target unit at Morgans Creek and provided us with confidence to continue with further optimisation and drilling in Q1 2023,” Taruga Minerals CEO Thomas Line said.
“We know that rare earth deposits hold considerable variation in mineralogy, and as such, each potential deposit requires unique consideration when it comes to commercial viability.
“TAR continues to pursue excellence in its field by conducting open and transparent metallurgical test work to investigate the value of this discovery for our shareholders.
“Morgans Creek holds a unique assemblage of highly valuable magnet and heavy rare earths and thus far our partnership with ANSTO continues to affirm our confidence in the potential development of a commercially viable process flowsheet for these materials.
“We are very pleased to be working with Gavin Beer, who is a highly regarded and experienced metallurgist with over 15 years global experience working on rare earth processing.”