Cost of moving material from stacks for re-processing will be much lower than the costs normally associated with mining a primary orebody.
Cost of beneficiation to a mixed rare earth carbonate expected to be significantly lower than for a mined mineral rare earth project.
Good local infrastructure is in place to bring consumables required for re-processing to site in a cost efficient manner.
Proven Processing
Historical processing, including initial flotation by Foskor followed by further processing in Sasol’s PhosAcid plant, deposited a gypsum residue with upgraded REE’s in chemical form in stacks.
Initial reports suggest low levels of radioactive elements, similar to those seen at Rainbow’s Gakara Project.
The pilot plant developed by Sasol successfully produced 3t mixed rare earth carbonate and an associated cerium depleted oxide from the gypsum.
The pilot plant remains on site and is available to be recommissioned under the agreement.
Environmental Responsibility
Re-processing carries significant environmental benefits, by redepositing clean, benign gypsum suitable for use in building and fertiliser industries.
Fully permitted, with an Environmental Impact Assessment completed.
SIGNIFICANT NdPr PRODUCTION TO POWER THE GREEN REVOLUTION
The Phalaborwa Rare Earths Project, located in South Africa, comprises approximately 35 million tonnes of gypsum resulting from historic phosphate hard rock mining, containing rare earth elements with an estimated average in situ grade of 0.6% TREO, based on previous sampling campaigns, of which 30% comprises high-value NdPr. The rare earths are contained in chemical form in the gypsum stacks, which is expected to deliver a higher-value rare earth carbonate, with lower operating costs than a typical rare earth mineral project.
Historical processing at Phalaborwa, including initial flotation by Foskor followed by further processing in Sasol’s PhosAcid plant, deposited a gypsum residue with upgraded REE’s in chemical form in stacks. Initial reports suggest low levels of radioactive elements, similar to those seen at Rainbow’s Gakara Project. The pilot plant developed by Sasol successfully produced 3t mixed rare earth carbonate and an associated cerium depleted oxide from the gypsum. This pilot plant remains on site and is available to be recommissioned under the agreement.
Carbonate versus concentrate
The REE minerals in at Phalaborwa have already been “cracked” and exist in chemical form in the two gypsum stacks. This delivers important benefits compared to a traditional rare earth mining project:
The expected costs of beneficiation are significantly lower than for a mined mineral rare earth project – cracking is energy intensive and requires significant use of reagents.
Lower capital intensity expected due to simpler flow sheet than would be required to crack a mineral concentrate.
The value of the resulting mixed rare earth carbonate will be significantly higher than a mineral concentrate (such as that produced at Rainbow’s Gakara project in Burundi). Initial reports suggest that the mixed rare earth carbonate can generate up to 80% of the underlying rare earth metal prices for the project.
