The Browns Range Pilot Plant, located 160km south-east of Halls Creek in northern Western Australia, has officially achieved mechanical completion.
According to heavy rare earth developer Northern Minerals Limited, all the of the plant’s processing components have officially been installed, powered up and tested as part of the commissioning process. The beneficiation plant, which was commissioned in June, is ‘performing well’, with approximately 100 tonnes of xenotime concentrate produced through the beneficiation plant to date.
“Mechanical completion is an important milestone for the company and having 100 tonnes of xenotime concentrate stockpiled provides a great base as we move into commissioning the back end of the hydromet plant,” said Northern Minerals’ Managing Director and CEO, George Bauk, earlier this morning.
“Given we have only been commissioning the pilot plant for a short period of time, early results from the beneficiation plant are very encouraging. Whilst a lot of work remains in the beneficiation plant to achieve key targets, the focus will broaden to include the hydrometallurgical plant,” he commented.
Through the development of its flagship project, the Browns Range Project, Northern Minerals aims to be the first significant world producer of dysprosium outside of China. The project has several deposits and prospects that contain high-value dysprosium, an essential ingredient in the production of dysprosium neodymium ironboron (DyNdFeB) magnets which are used in clean energy and high technology solutions.
Northern Minerals has stated that the pilot plant development provides the opportunity to gain production experience, surety of supply for the offtake partner and assess the economic and technical feasibility of the larger full-scale development.
More information on the project can be found here.
