Column: Electric dreams turn into a nightmare for battery metals
A sector that was once racing to build new supply has been closing mines and deferring projects as low prices bite into the cost curve.
NioCorp Developments’ (TSX: NB) Elk Creek project in southeastern Nebraska can now be considered the second-largest indicated-or-better rare earth resource in the US, second only to MP Materials’ Mountain Pass rare earth deposit.
The finding follows an updated feasibility study in which rare earth elements were evaluated as a potential by-product of the mining of niobium, titanium, and scandium; thus, the estimated values of the REEs are reported using the previously determined diluted net smelter return as derived from the Nb2O5, TiO2, and scandium mineral resources.
“According to the 2022 feasibility study, the Elk Creek project contains an estimated 632.9 kilotonnes of contained total rare earth oxides in the indicated mineral resource category. According to US Geological Survey data, this places the Elk Creek mineral resource behind MP Materials’ Mountain Pass deposit in the US but ahead of all other current rare earth projects in terms of contained TREO from a NI 43-101 rare earth resource of indicated or higher classification,” NioCorp said in a media statement.
The company pointed out that the 2022 feasibility study also showed that, in addition to relatively high grades of niobium, scandium, and titanium, the Elk Creek mineral resource contains various amounts of all REEs.
“There is potential for NioCorp’s REEs to be mined, crushed, and placed into solution as part of the process NioCorp plans to use to produce its primary niobium, scandium, and titanium products once project financing is secured,” the release states.
“Depending upon the outcome of metallurgical testing on REE recovery rates from Elk Creek ore, now being conducted at a demonstration plant in Quebec, and whether necessary project financing is secured, NioCorp could produce separated rare earths as a byproduct, placing it at a competitive advantage vis-à-vis other rare earth projects.”
Given these results, the Colorado-based firm plans to commission a new technical report on the Elk Creek project in accordance with NI 43-101.
Using a ≥$180/tonne NSR cut-off that was calculated using solely the contained niobium, scandium, and titanium in the mineral resource, the 2022 feasibility study showed that the Elk Creek Indicated Mineral Resource includes:
In order to update the project’s mineral resource to include REE data, NioCorp and its consultants were required to complete additional assays of historical drill core to fill data gaps in the existing resource database and re-model the mineral resource. The mine plan and mineral reserve were also updated, independent of the REE data collection and REE by-product mineral resource.
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Peter MERRINGTON
Ex-oil planner, engineer, amateur geologist; big Net-zero sceptic.