Godolphin’s Narraburra a winner with production of high-value mixed rare earths concentrate

Godolphin Resources’ testing of Narraburra clays produces MREC with high levels of valuable MREOs
Dysprosium and terbium make up 5.4% of the TREO content while accounting for ~48.5% of its value
High-value MREC allows company to start discussions with potential offtake partners

Special Report: Godolphin Resources has successfully produced a high value mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) with significant concentrations of the prized magnet rare earths terbium (Tb) and dysprosium (Dy) from its Narraburra project in NSW.

This is hugely positive for the company as MRECs are an intermediate product from REE mining and processing that can be sold to specialist refiners.

What makes it even more attractive for Godolphin Resources (ASX:GRL) is the high levels of Dy and Tb, which is greater than is typically found in MREC products produced by other clay-hosted projects.

The two heavy rare earth oxides typically make up a disproportionally high portion of the value within any total rare earth oxides basket, a point reinforced by HREOs making up 66% of the value of TREOs in the MREC produced by the company’s Phase 3 metallurgical testwork.

Narraburra currently has a resource of 94.9Mt grading 739 parts per million TREO including a high-grade component of 20Mt at 1079ppm TREO.

“We are thrilled to have achieved a major breakthrough with the completion of this stage of metallurgical testwork at Narraburra,” GRL managing director Jeneta Owens said.

“This is a critical step in understanding the optimal conditions to process the Project’s REE mineralisation in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

“Pleasingly, this has led to the creation of the project’s first MREC, which will allow for the commencement of discussions with potential off take partners.

“The MREC precipitation phase has highlighted the potential for a very high quality, high value product which can be produced from the processing the Narraburra REE mineralisation.

“These are critical factors when considering the economics of the Project and will bode well for future development options.”

Location of the two drill holes where composite samples were collected. Pic: Godolphin Resources

Metallurgical testing

GRL’s Phase 3 metallurgical testing produced the high-value MREC product while achieving excellent MREO leach extraction rates of 90% with low concentrations of impurities in leach solutions and very low acid consumption of 1.2kg/t.

Overall recoveries of MREOs from the Narraburra feed material to MREC were 77% along with >71% TREO.

The test program by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) was designed to investigate options for the flow sheet to process Narraburra REE mineralisation, including slurry leaching, impurity removal and the production of a MREC, a saleable product.

It tested two composite samples that were chosen as being the most representative of the possible mining intervals at the project.

The resulting MREC is comprised of 57.6% TREO with magnet REOs, which includes neodymium and praseodymium, making up 24.6% of the TREO content.

More importantly, Dy and Tb makes up 5.4% of the contained TREO, which is hugely important as dysprosium is over four times more valuable than NdPr while terbium is almost 14 times more valuable than NdPr.

This is clearly illustrated by DyTb collectively making up ~48.5% of the total TREO value.

DyTb also makes up 3.1% of the MREC, significantly higher than typical 0.6-0.8% found in the MREC produced by other clay-hosted REE companies.

While non-Chinese suppliers like Lynas Rare Earths deliver large quantities of light magnet rare earths like neodymium and praseodymium, heavy rare earths supply is almost entirely dominated by Chinese producers. That makes products like Godolphin’s critical for the future diversification of the supply chain.

This article was developed in collaboration with Godolphin Resources, 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.