Name of the Project
Browns Range heavy earths pilot plant development project.

Location
Western Australia.

Project Owner/s
Northern Minerals.

Project Description
The project has been separated into three development stages and enables Northern Minerals to test the process, market the mixed rare-earth carbonate product, develop the project to bankable feasibility study (BFS) level and build the full-scale operation.

Stage 1 includes the construction of a three-year, 60 000 t/y pilot plant operation. It will comprise an opencut mining operation, with processing through a beneficiation and hydrometallurgical pilot plant to produce 49 000 kg/y of dysprosium in 590 000 kg/y of total rare-earth oxide (TREO) contained in a mixed rare-earth carbonate. This stage is important to derisk the operation by testing the process and improving the knowledge of grade control and the project’s geology.

Stage 2 involves developing the project to BFS level, based on the definitive feasibility study completed in March 2015; and on the results of the studies, announced on August 27, 2015, aimed at reducing mining costs, boosting production, producing a premium product and increasing the ore reserve.

The final stage involves building the project to full-scale production, based on the successful outcomes of stages 1 and 2. Once at full-scale, the project will process 585 000 t/y to produce 279 000 kg of dysprosium contained within 3 098 000 kg/y TREO (before yttrium rejection) in a mixed rare-earth carbonate.

Potential Job Creation
The project is expected to create 50 construction jobs and 45 ongoing operational positions.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
The project has a capital cost of A$56-million.

Planned Start/End Date
First production targeted in 2026, subject to approvals and project funding.

Latest Developments
Northern Minerals has announced a A$25-million capital raise to advance its Browns Range project towards a final investment decision in the first half of 2024.

The company said on September 6 that it had successfully placed more than 833.3-million shares, at 3c each, to sophisticated and institutional investors. The placement price represented a 9.1% discount to the company’s last closing price and a 9.7% discount to its five-day volume weighted average share price.

The new shares will be issued under Northern Minerals’ existing placement capacity and will not require shareholder approval.

An updated definitive feasibility study on the A$500-million Browns Range project is due later this year.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
MACA (bulk earthworks); Primero (turnkey solutions provider); Sinosteel MECC (engineering, procurement and construction contract); and K-Technologies (scoping study).

Contact Details for Project Information
Northern Minerals, tel +61 8 9481 2344, fax +61 8 9481 5929 or email info@northernminerals.com.au.