MTM Critical Metals has begun metallurgical testwork on the expanded rare earth enriched clays at its Point Kidman Prospect. It is directed at characterising REE species within clay intervals up to 29 metres from the surface of its expansive East Laverton landholdings.
After assays confirmed broad mineralisation at Pt Kidman stretched well beyond known boundaries, the test is now to see what can be quickly recovered by ionic desorption and get an early look at the economic viability of its clay-hosted asset.
MTM Managing Director Lachlan Reynolds said the testing was imperative for understanding the future of development and defining its exploration strategy over the entire East Laverton project.
“MTM has discovered district-scale development of REE-enriched clays at East Laverton and metallurgical testing of the clay is now appropriate to assess the leaching characteristics of the mineralisation, which may vary from place to place within the overall project area,” Mr Reynolds said.
“The key test will be to determine the ionic desorption potential of the REE mineralisation. MTM wants to ensure that the leaching conditions required to extract the REEs are potentially economically viable.”
Australian clay
Australia is known to host the clay-hosted rare earth deposits around which China has built its sector dominance, and while exploration continues to highlight the potential for future production, quickly recovered IAD deposits have proved elusive.
The first Australian production of a mixed rare earth carbonate from an ionic clay-hosted rare earth deposit was just achieved earlier this year by Australian Rare Earths, and metallurgical proof of a quickly recovered resource could be on a company’s nameplate as China weighs export bans and investments flows towards discovery-makers.
East Laverton
On clay-hosted prospects, metallurgy at Pt Kidman could direct the exploration strategy over MTM’s 12 licences, 3000-square kilometre landholding a highly prospective region.
The Laverton area is enriched with significant operating mines. MTM sees at East Laverton an under-explored terrain prospective for rare earth, gold, nickel, and base metals lying untapped under the transported cover, which has restrained historical exploration.
