Western Australia's Salazar rare earth resources increased by four times
2023-08-28
West Cobar Metals has quadrupled its rare earth resources at its Salazar mine near Esperanza in Western Australia.
With a total rare earth oxides (TREO) boundary grade of 0.06%, the resources of the Salazar project increased from 43.5 million tons, 0.1192 percent, to 190 million tons, 0.117 percent.
Among them, the resources of the Newmont deposit is 83 million tons with a grade of 0.1117%. The O'Connor deposit has a first resource of 107 million tons and a grade of 0.1216%.
The estimated resource is believed to be Australia's only clay-based rare earth resource to date.
The project has been in the works for eight years. Secobar Metals manager Matt Szwedzicki believes it is one of the largest clay-type rare earth deposits in Australia where exploration is well advanced.
Svidecki believes that the increase in resources alone is "amazing", but more important is the high grade, and the proportion of rare earths (praseodymium, neodymium, dysprosium, terbium) in the magnet is as high as 25%.
The company found that the Xinfeng deposit contains relatively high amounts of dysprosium and terbium compared to other clay-based rare earth deposits.
Compared with Xinfeng deposit, the content of praseodymium is higher and that of dysprosium is lower. The first resource estimate for the deposit was based on only 54 air drills, widely spaced, and geophysical data indicate that the resource may increase further.
The preliminary beneficiation test shows that the recovery rate of rare earth in magnet can reach 94% by conventional leaching extraction under low acidity and temperature.
The Company will continue to conduct economic evaluation of beneficiation. The estimated resources will serve as the basis for preliminary economic assessment and feasibility studies.
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