Northern Minerals Ltd (ASX:NTU) (OTCMKTS:NOURF) (FRA:NUN) has completed the installation and commissioning of the ore sorting system at its Browns Range pilot plant in Western Australia.
In September last year, the company had announced the grant of the necessary regulatory approvals for the installation of ore sorting at Browns Range, and it completed construction and installation of mechanical equipment in the March 2021 quarter.
Following the commissioning of the plant, Northern Minerals now plans to undertake further research and development (R&D) test-work on large bulk samples of a variety of ore sources at Browns Range to validate the technical and economic benefits of the ore sorter circuit.
Optimising beneficiation process
Northern Minerals CEO Mark Tory said: “With the ore sorter commissioned we are now in a position to run bulk samples from existing stockpiled ore, including lower grade material, to better define how we can apply this technology to optimise our preferred beneficiation process.”
Feeder for ore sorter commissioning
Potential to double feed grade
Previous bench-scale trials of ore sorting of Browns Range material identified the potential to more than double the feed grade to the mill, which in turn has the potential to significantly reduce operating and capital costs of the beneficiation circuit in particular.
Bulk sample validation test work will be undertaken in the coming months to allow the company to acquire a larger data set for more accurate application of forecast improvements, from ore sorting at pilot plant scale to the broader mineral resource endowment at Browns Range.
The results of this next phase of test work will form an important input into the company’s current feasibility study on the development of a commercial scale beneficiation plant at Browns Range.
Standalone commercial beneficiation plant
A standalone commercial beneficiation plant has been identified by the board as the fastest path to full-scale production and cash flow from the project.
If approved, the proposed beneficiation plant will produce a dysprosium and terbium-rich heavy rare earth (HRE) concentrate product for sale.
In addition to the existing off-take agreement with Thyssenkrupp, further market opportunities have been identified to produce and sell an HRE concentrate to manufacturing facilities, including within Australia, to fill forecast supply shortfalls.