• BCM says ANSTO recoveries on Ema sample are higher than recent scoping study
  • The company is targeting an in-situ recovery method at the Brazilian REE project
  • Testwork bodes well for field pilot trial set to commence in Q2

 

Special Report: Brazilian Critical Minerals says testing of material from its Ema rare earths project at Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) has returned recoveries beyond that of the recent scoping study.

That scoping study showed the project could produce close to 100,000t of rare earths over 20 years with life of mine costs of US$6.15/kg TREO and US$16.95/kg NdPr – making the US$55m development the cheapest rare earths mine to build and run globally.

The massive 943Mt at 716ppm TREO Ionic Adsorbed Clay (IAC) Rare Earth Elements project boasts some 90% of its basket price of metals coming from magnet rare earth oxides, the high value commodities used in EV motors, wind turbines, air conditioners and defence applications.

And metallurgical recoveries were already averaging 68% MREO, representing some of the highest for these types of deposits anywhere in the world. 

Now, ANTSO has released the results of a column test run to mimic conditions of temperature, pressure, density and moisture as those measured from in-situ samples at Brazilian Critical Minerals’ (ASX:BCM) project, which included 74% magnet (MREE) recovery and 62% (TREE + Y) recovery.

That’s significantly higher than recent scoping study base parameters of 62% and 48%, respectively.

 

A boost for field pilot trials

The company is targeting the in-situ recovery (ISR) technique – which is set to turn the tables on Chinese and Southeast Asian suppliers who have utilised the method to beat Western competitors on costs.

So far, the testwork is proving that commercial extraction via ISR is certainly possible.

ANSTO also reported the sample contained 829ppm TREY (15 REE elements + Yttrium) of which 30% or 250ppm consisted of the elements neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium. 

Those individual element recoveries included 85% praseodymium, 72% neodymium, 70% terbium and 63% dysprosium. 

“Over the past six months the team has been actively working on the steps required to maximise the recoveries of rare earths whilst minimising impurity levels,” BCM manging director Andrew Reid said. 

“The ANSTO column test followed the same sequence, the same MgSO4 reagent and concentration, as well as the same physical parameter setup in the column to mimic ISR. 

“These results give us confidence in being able to replicate these lab tests in the field with the pilot trial commencing in the coming weeks.”

The field pilot testwork at the project will commence during Q2 2025 and is designed to gather important information for the next study phase. 

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Brazilian Critical Minerals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. 

 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

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