Red Metals Limited managing director Rob Rutherford said: “Our optimised leach tests on the Sybella ore samples have shown we can achieve strong rare earths extractions at weaker acid strengths than was previously indicated enhancing this unique deposit’s economic potential.”
The company is now prepping for its next critical step of conducting column leach tests on nine, 85- millimetre diamond core samples recently drilled at Kary. The tests will simulate full-scale heap leach conditions on crushed ore and should provide the all-important data needed for mine scoping studies.
Five of the core holes are also being put under the microscope using advanced HyLogger spectral scanning to zero in on key mineral zones that could hold the keys to unlocking better leach performance.
Together with plans to run similar bottle-roll tests on its nearby Templeton zone, Red Metal intends to keep pushing the envelope at Kary to unearth the full potential of the deposit’s depth and strike, which has already doubled in surface area from 3.5 to 8 square kilometres. Heritage surveying is being prepared for a drill campaign later in the year after the wet season.
Apart from being easy on the acid, the Sybella deposit, which sits 20 kilometres south-west of the major mining hub at Mount Isa, should also benefit from its sheer scale. With 4.8 billion tonnes grading 302ppm NdPr and 28ppm DyTb, the granite-hosted behemoth packs the kind of tonnage that could turn a low-cost leach operation into a long-life cash machine.
Whilst in reality rare earths are not actually that rare, low capex and low opex projects that can be catapulted into production with relative ease probably are.
Throw in an Australian Prime Minister and an American President that are on the hunt for rare earths stockpiles and Red metal just might find itself in the box seat later this year as its testing progresses.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
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