Red Metal Buoyed by Sybella REO Phase 2 Metallurgy
THE DRILL SERGEANT: Red Metal (ASX: RDM) completed a second phase of leach and comminution studies testing mineralisation from the company’s Sybella rare earth oxide (REO) discovery near Mount Isa in Northwest Queensland.
Red Metal explained the testing to be part of the company’s strategy of finding the most economically effective way to process the project ores, which have unique metallurgical properties.
The company reported that leach and comminution results achieved from the latest studies had increased its confidence that a low-cost, low-capital, heap leach processing option may prove feasible and outlined key leach parameters for more detailed investigation.
Results confirm strong REO extractions can be achieved using low levels of ambient temperature sulphuric acid on coarse fractions of both weathered and fresh granite over increased residence times.
The leach results to date combined with the comminution studies support the concept of REO extraction using low-cost bulk open-pit mining, simple coarse gyratory, jaw and/or cone crushing and heap leach processing using low levels of sulphuric acid.
“Interim results from the second phase of leach test work and comminution studies have confirmed Red Metal’s initial hypothesis that the Sybella granite-hosted REO mineralisation can be coarsely crushed and leached under weak acid conditions in a manner suitable for low-cost, low-capital heap leach processing,” Red Metal managing director Rob Rutherford said in the company’s ASX announcement.
“Impurity removal trials are progressing with early indications showing residual contaminants from the Pregnant Leach Solution may be successfully removed, potentially resulting in a premium mix rare earth carbonate (MREC) product.
“Results from these tests are expected shortly. The Company has reasonable expectation that our ongoing studies will confirm a process route that optimises REO recovery (increases revenue) but reduces the acid consumption rate and ensures that impurities in the final product can be satisfactorily minimised (lowering processing costs).
“It is also now working rapidly towards outlining ore resources.”
Red Metal managing director Rob Rutherford at RIU Sydney Resources Round-up
TO READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMNT: CLICK HERE
