Lynas closes on study

Lynas Corporation Limited – which recently changed its name from Lynas Gold NL – has made steady progress towards completion of a bankable feasibility study on its Mt Weld rare earths project in WA’s Mt Margaret mineral field.

The highlight of the company’s process test work has been the development of a robust beneficiation scheme that yields a monazite concentrate of 43 per cent to 45 per cent rare earth oxide, an improvement of some 25 per cent on a previous program.

In addition, recovery has been improved by over 50 per cent to some 60 per cent.

Due to these improvements, the company plans to start a pilot plant program in May 2000.

The improvements have the potential to double the output of the project in the future to 15,000 tonnes of rare earth oxide per annum, while maintaining a project life in excess of twenty years.

Lynas has the right to earn and acquire 60 per cent equity in the project.