Motzfeldt mini bulk sample: mineralogy and separation workflow (Phase 1 complete)

Motzfeldt work continues with commissioned testwork on the 300 kg mini bulk sample from the Aries Deposit (REE–Nb–Ta–Zr), with specialist facilities in South Africa progressing a structured mineralogy and separation workflow. Phase 1 is now complete and combined bulk techniques with QEMSCAN on milled material screened into three size fractions, confirming the key minerals hosting the critical metals: pyrochlore and columbite (Nb–Ta ± REE), bastnäsite/parisite/monazite/xenotime (REE), and zircon (Zr). Importantly, all confirmed mineral species have established global extractive pathways.

A subsample is milled and split into a small number of size fractions. Each fraction is analysed to identify the key minerals present (for example via XRD and supporting mineralogy), estimate mineral proportions, and understand how minerals occur together. Particle size distribution and assays by size fraction help show where the rare earths and niobium are reporting.

Results are then reviewed to confirm the grind size needed to liberate the target minerals and select the most appropriate pathway. The next phases now move into separation testing, starting with gravity and magnetic methods (and flotation where appropriate), to assess how best to concentrate the target minerals ahead of further processing, providing an evidence led basis for next steps.

*QEMSCAN is a lab scan that shows which minerals are in the rock and how they’re mixed together, helping guide the processing route.

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