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- BBX Minerals (BBX) confirms REEs containing ore can be successfully treated with basic downstream ammonium sulphate leaching to achieve commercial recoveries
- The company is bringing a third drill rig to its Ema and Ema East prospects to expedite further exploration and optimise metallurgical processes
- The results of the test reveal BBX can use simple and well-understood downstream processes to easily recover its REEs and adds further evidence to BBX prospects
- BBX Minerals shares are up 3.77 per cent, trading at 5.5 cents at 1:45 pm AEST
BBX Minerals (BBX) has confirmed its rare earth element (REE) containing ore can be successfully treated with downstream ammonium sulphate leaching to achieve commercial recoveries of target minerals.
Using a sample from one drill hole, a two per cent ammonium sulphate leach recovered light and high-value magnetic REEs, such as praseodymium and neodymium, at an average of 51 per cent.
Heavy magnetics terbium and dysprosium saw average recoveries of 39 per cent.
The results of the test reveal that BBX is able to use simple and well-understood downstream processes to easily recover the REEs, adding further evidence to the company’s Ema and Ema East prospects.
“The ammonium sulphate leach results … are extremely encouraging. This test is just a simple indicative assay, and these results will assist in guiding the planned metallurgical test work,” BBX Minerals CEO Andre Douchane said.
“We have a way to go to define the extent of what we have at Ema, but we are excited by what we are seeing so early on. To expedite things, we will shortly be mobilising a third drill and crew.”
The downstream ammonium sulphate leaching results now give BBX a baseline from which it can further optimise downstream metallurgical processes.
BBX Minerals shares were up 3.77 per cent, trading at 5.5 cents at 1:45 pm AEST.
