PERTH (miningweekly.com) – A scoping study for the Cummins Range rare earths project, in Western Australia, has demonstrated a viable project, with ASX-listed RareX now starting a prefeasibility study (PFS) in the third quarter of this year.
The scoping study estimated that the project will require a capital investment of A$430-million, and could produce 8 900 t/y of mixed rare earths carbonate, 128 800 t/y of phosphate concentrate, and 13 500 t/y of phosphoric acid.
The study estimated that the project will have a pre-tax net present value of A$633-million and an internal rate of return of 29%, with life-of-mine earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation estimated at A$1.9-billion.
The Cummins Range project will include a mine and flotation beneficiation facility at site producing a rare earth mineral concentrate and a phosphate mineral concentrate to be trucked along mainly sealed roads to Wyndham port. At Wyndham port, a hydroelectric-powered rare earth refinery facility is envisaged which produces a mixed rare earth carbonate product for export with a by-product of merchant grade phosphoric acid.
Additional to these products is the phosphate mineral concentrate which itself contains elevated rare earth grades.
“This scoping study shows that the Cummins Range project has the potential to be a world leader in the application of low carbon energy solutions to rare earths projects,” said RareX MD Jeremy Robinson.
“The project’s maximum resource utilisation and refining capacity powered by green hydroelectric power, demonstrate RareX’s commitment to reducing its potential carbon footprint. The study has been based on the current 2021 resource and has good potential to grow in scale in the coming 12 months.”
The RareX board has now approved the start of a PFS for the Cummins Range project.