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 and market the mixed rare-earth carbonate product, then develop the project to bankable feasibility study (BFS) level and finally 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 dysprosium in 590 000 kg/y 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 poject’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
Construction of Stage 1 is expected to take about nine months once product offtake and funding are in place.

Latest Developments
Northern Minerals is set to benefit from a A$51-million capital allocation by the Western Australian government to upgrade roads in the East Kimberley region.

The upgrades of the Duncan and Gordon Downs roads, in East Kimberley, will provide greater access to its Browns Range project.

Northern Minerals’ operational plan for the Browns Range project had previously predicted that the project would be inaccessible by road, and unable to operate, for up to 60 days each year during the wet season.

With the improved access to be delivered by the upgrades of the Duncan and Gordon Down roads, there is potential to expand yearly production rates at the pilot plant project and provide additional supply of rare-earth carbonate.

Northern Minerals in December 2018 shipped its first heavy rare-earth carbonate from the Browns Range pilot project, after construction of the plant reached practical completion in October.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
MACA (bulk earthworks), Primero (turnkey solutions provider) and Sinosteel MECC (engineering, procurement and construction contract).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

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