https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Namibia Critical Metals completes test work at Lofdal

8th October 2021

By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Deputy Editor Online

     

Font size: - +

TSX-V-listed Namibia Critical Metals (NCM) has successfully completed hydrometallurgical test work to develop a flowsheet capable of producing a high-grade rare earth oxide product from a xenotime flotation concentrate from its Lofdal heavy rare earths project in Namibia.  

This development follows the granting of a mining licence for the project in July.

The Lofdal deposit is one of only two primary xenotime projects under development in the world.

It is being developed in a joint venture with Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, targeting a long-term, sustainable supply of heavy rare earths to Japan.

NCM’s lead metallurgical consultants at SGS Minerals Services Canada have simplified the final process stage with an acid bake to crack the mineral xenotime, to purify the pregnant leach solution and to precipitate a rare earth oxalate, which subsequently calcined to form a product containing greater than 98% total rare earth oxides.

The acid bake process and concurrent removal of impurities is highly efficient and resulted in a 95% recovery of dysprosium and terbium in the leaching operation of the processing flow sheet, NCM notes.

It says the high-quality product is practically free of typical deleterious elements like thorium and uranium.

“These very positive test results are another big milestone for the Lofdal project and show that we are on the right path towards establishing that Lofdal can produce a valuable heavy rare earth product.

“This will allow us to advance an updated assessment of large-scale and integrated rare earth production towards a high-purity rare earth oxide product in Namibia,” NCM president Darrin Campbell says.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Online Managing Editor

Article Enquiry

Email Article

Save Article

Feedback

To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Showroom

Willard
Willard

Rooted in the hearts of South Africans, combining technology and a quest for perfection to bring you a battery of peerless standing. Willard...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
The Steel Tube Export Association of South Africa
Steel Tube Export Association of South Africa

The Steel Tube Export Association of South Africa was established to develop sustainable, internationally competitive carbon steel tube and pipe...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







301

sq:0.061 1.175s - 140pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now