Ucore Rare Metals (TSX-V:UCU) has produced commercial-grade neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide and shipped qualification samples to major rare earth permanent magnet manufacturers.
The samples mark a step in Ucore’s strategy to connect its RapidSX rare earth separation platform with downstream magnet, metal, alloy, and advanced materials supply chains.
The company’s 52-stage RapidSX™ Demonstration Plant at its Commercialisation and Demonstration Facility in Kingston, Ontario, processed heavy mixed rare earth oxide feedstock derived from an ionic clay source and produced more than 99.5% NdPr chloride.
Ucore subsequently converted a portion of this chloride solution into 99.5 per cent-plus NdPr oxide.
It was produced through Ucore’s RapidSX™ demonstration platform, from real mixed rare earth feedstock, and is now in the hands of companies working to develop Western magnet manufacturing capacity.
“Sample qualification is a critical step toward developing potential offtake arrangements,” CEO Pat Ryan says.
Mike Schrider, COO of Ucore, says the work gives the company ‘direct feedback from downstream customers’ as it translates learnings from the Kingston demonstration facility into design and operational plans for the Louisiana Strategic Metals Complex.
The magnet manufacturers utilise dysprosium and terbium, which Ucore plans to produce in Louisiana, as well as NdPr oxide, which is expected to form part of Ucore’s product suite at its prospective Louisiana Strategic Metals Complex.
Ucore Rare Metals is a Canadian‑based technology company focused on the extraction, beneficiation, and separation of rare and critical metals, and is commercialising its proprietary RapidSX™ platform to support a diversified North American rare earth supply chain.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Ucore Rare Metals
