OD6 Metals (ASX:OD6) has commenced advanced metallurgical testwork with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) as part of the company’s optimisation and scaleup for the processing flowsheet for the Splinter Rock Rare Earth Project in Western Australia.
OD6 has committed $1 million towards ANSTO metallurgical programs and other large-scale drilling.
Mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) and mixed rare earth hydroxide (MREH) samples will be used for offtake discussions and for the company to assess potential commercial opportunities.
The ANSTO testwork is building upon previously reported metallurgical findings and will monitor other elements of interest to determine if there is a technically viable approach to recovery for other elements of interest at the project.
Managing Director Brett Hazelden says that the ANSTO program marks “another important step in de-risking the Splinter Rock processing flowsheet”.
“Our commitment of more than $1 million reflects the company’s confidence in the project and the importance of generating robust, commercially relevant metallurgical and product data,” Hazelden says.
“The testwork now underway is specifically aimed at optimising recoveries, refining impurity control, and producing high-quality rare earth products that can be utilised in offtake discussions and future development studies.”
OD6’s efforts at Splinter Rock support the framework for Australia’s Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve (CMSR), designed to establish secure supply chains of critical minerals for Australia and globally. As previously reported, OD6 took a role in contributing to this industry-led framework to support the CMSR.
Write to Amy Rotman at Mining.com.au
Images: OD6
