Initial Ore Sorting Results Encouraging
Sydney, Mar 21, 2019 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Hastings Technology Metals Limited (
ASX:HAS) ("Hastings" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has received the results from an initial sample sent for ore sorting testing.
- Initial ore sorting test rejected 37% of the mass supplied to the ore sorter, retaining 92.2% of the TREO.
- Best improvement seen in the 8 to 25mm size fraction, achieving an upgrade of 157% in TREO grade.
- Ore sorting result indicates potential for further optimisation of processing not captured in current project scope.
Introduction
Hastings recently initiated investigation to test the suitability of a sample of Yangibana mineralisation, sourced from low-grade diamond drill core, to test whether ore sorting technology might provide an opportunity to further improve on the current proposed processing route. A tier 1 ore sorting vendor has now completed testing the amenability of Yangibana sample to various types of ore sorting technology.
The test work determined that the low-grade drill core was able to be upgraded using an off-the-shelf ore sorter with an X-ray transmission (XRT) sensor.
XRT sensors are able to differentiate between the higher density mineralisation and lower density gangue minerals.
The sample used for this initial test was derived from narrow, low grade ironstone lenses located in the hangingwall and footwall to the current Mineral Resources at four of the Yangibana deposits. These intervals were mixed with peripheral diluting material comprising granite and metamorphic rock types.
The sample was screened to produce 8-25mm and 25-60mm sorted fractions as well as an unsorted -8mm fines fraction. Both coarser size fractions were found to be very conducive to ore sorting and had very similar head grades.
The test upgraded the head grade of the sample by 45%, achieved 37% rejection of the sample mass and resulted in an overall TREO recovery of 92.2%.
More impressively, in the 8 to 25mm size fraction the head grade of the sample was upgraded by 157%. This was because the 8-25mm sorted fraction had an increased degree of mineral liberation.
This first pass test provides encouraging results to now conduct a more extensive test work program to confirm the recovery and mass rejection projections across all mineralisation types, and to confirm the optimum ore sorting technology that might be used on the Yangibana project.
"Hastings intends to further pursue test work on this technology, to quickly determine the potential benefits that can to be made to the Yangibana Project, said its Executive Chairman, Charles Lew.
TERMINOLOGY USED IN THIS REPORT
Total Rare Earths Oxides, TREO, is the sum of the oxides of the light rare earths elements lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), and samarium (Sm) and the heavy rare earths elements europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), lutetium (Lu), and yttrium (Y).
To view figures, please visit:
http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/L9Y8L447
About Hastings Technology Metals Ltd
Hastings Technology Metals Ltd (ASX:HAS) (FRA:5AM) is advancing its Yangibana Rare Earths Project in the Upper Gascoyne Region of Western Australia towards production. The proposed beneficiation and hydro metallurgy processing plant will treat rare earths deposits, predominantly monazite, hosting high neodymium and praseodymium contents to produce a mixed rare earths carbonate that will be further refined into individual rare earth oxides at processing plants overseas.
Neodymium and praseodymium are vital components in the manufacture of permanent magnets which is used in a wide and expanding range of advanced and high-tech products including electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, medical applications and others. Hastings aims to become the next significant producer of neodymium and praseodymium outside of China.
Hastings holds 100% interest in the most significant deposits within the overall project, and 70% interest in additional deposits that will be developed at a later date, all held under Mining Leases. Numerous prospects have been identified warranting detailed exploration to further extend the life of the project.
Brockman Project
The Brockman deposit, near Halls Creek in Western Australia, contains JORC Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources, estimated using the guidelines of JORC Code (2012 Edition).
The Company is also progressing a Mining Lease application over the Brockman Rare Earths and Rare Metals Project.
Hastings aims to capitalise on the strong demand for critical rare earths created by the expanding demand for new technology products.
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