A few weeks ago we advised that we had delivered a 100 kg bulk sample from our ionic adsorption clay rare earths resource in northern Tasmania to ANSTO in Sydney. ANSTO will produce a high purity mixed rare carbonate (MREC) sample from this 100 kg of material. We had conducted in-house leach tests on the sample at our technical facilities in Launceston prior to sending the bulk sample to ANSTO.

The ANSTO results are similar or better than ABx’s in-house leach test results, with very high extractions (above 70%) achieved for dysprosium and terbium, the two most crucial heavy rare earth elements. This level of extraction is very unusual under the benign conditions used, which is ambient temperatures and pressures with minimal acid for a short time.

The results indicated that the Deep Leads deposit could be effectively leached at an exceptionally benign pH above 4, which is the acidity of apple juice. This is valuable because contamination by impurity elements such as aluminium and iron is typically much lower at higher pH.

It is expected that ANSTO will produce the MREC sample before the end of 2025. Results and samples will be provided to prospective customers, who are keenly anticipating these results and have requested samples for their own evaluation.