Arafura Resources Ltd (ASX:ARU) has completed phase 5 in its flow sheet piloting program for its 100%-owned Nolans Neodymium-Praseodymium (NdPr) project in the Northern Territory.
This involved operation of the first of the company’s rare earth processing pilot plants, which ran continuously over a five-day period at facilities in Perth.
This phase of piloting takes NdPr-rich rare earth sulphate material through purification and precipitation processes to produce rare earth hydroxide.
Rare earth hydroxide precipitate produced from the pilot will feed the upcoming phase 6 (Rare Earth Dissolution and Evaporation) pilot plant.
This is scheduled to commence within a week.
READ: Arafura Resources outlines $3 million raising as it advances DFS for NdPr project
Most recently, Arafura and its partner Thor Mining PLC (ASX:THR) compiled a maiden resource for the historical Bonya Copper Mine deposit in the Northern Territory.
READ: Arafura Resources reveals maiden copper resource at Bonya
Arafura owns 60% of the tenement alongside operator Thor Mining (40%).
The small but moderately high-grade copper resource is a satellite to, and amenable for treatment in the proposed Molyhil process plant.