Dreadnought Resources’ metallurgical test work has produced a concentrate with a twelve-fold increase from the head grade and supported creation of high value commodity from its Yin Rare Earth Ironstone discovery in the Gascoyne.
The concentrate contained 31.22% Total Rare Earth Oxide and 10.76% Neodymium and Praseodymium Oxide from the head grade of 2.36% and 0.87%, and past results have ranged even higher, with recoveries coming in up to 92.8%.
It points towards a prized concentrate from the Yin Ironstone discovery using a standard flowsheet and Dreadnought Managing Director Dean Tuck said that eyes continue to open on Yin.
As the level of metallurgical work becomes more detailed, the ability to produce a high-value concentrate is maintained. Our metallurgical studies will continue, as too will the level of engagement with parties interested in potential concentrates,” Mr Tuck said.
The results add another boon to a rare earth discovery showing genuine scale potential, with an inferred 14.36Mt @ 1.13% TREO resource coming from just three of 43 kilometres of strike and two and half months of drilling.
Work on expanding the resource is already underway, directed at converting a 50-100Mt exploration target from the top 150 metres of the Ironstone complex.
And there is growth potential beyond Yin, the project’s C1-C7 carbonatites are shaping into a regional source of rare earths, and Dreadnought has been recommended to make a round of first pass drilling focused on making a new discovery.
A discovery which could have ramifications beyond the Dreadnought share price as sourcing critical minerals becomes a geopolitical issue and global powers pour billions into securing raw supplies of rare earths.
Metallurgical work on Yin is advancing with increased intensity on all ironstones which are expected to become resources, and flowsheet optimisation is ongoing as interest rises from processors in Australia and beyond.
