Vital Metals (ASX: VML) has reported higher-than-expected rare earths grades from production at the North T pit within its Nechalacho project in Canada, in a result that will allow the miner to bring product to market more efficiently.
The higher TREO grades mean that Vital can directly bag zones of high-grade ore from the project’s crusher, avoiding the need for further upgrades.
“Mining in this area produced a high-grade ore that did not require processing through the ore sorter”
Speaking on the news, Managing Director Geoff Atkins said: “As mentioned last month, mining at North T intersected high-grade REO mineralisation in the northern edge of the pit wall which was not part of our existing North T mineral resource. Mining in this area produced a high-grade ore that did not require processing through the ore sorter – we have simply crushed and bagged it, ready for transport to Saskatoon in coming weeks.”
The company reports that approximately 28,000 tonnes of ore has already been mined from the North T pit, with the project’s recently-commissioned ore sorter operating in line with expectations.
1,000 tonnes of beneficiated product is expected to be shipped during Q3 2021 to the company’s rare earths extraction plant located within the Saskatchewan Research Council’s rare earths hub, with first feed expected by the end of 2021.
Images: Vital Metals Limited
