Namibia Critical Metals Optimizes Hydrometallurgical Process for Lofdal Heavy Rare Earth Deposit

Namibia Critical Metals Inc., a company involved in developing heavy rare earth projects, has achieved significant results in optimizing its hydrometallurgical flowsheet for the Lofdal 2B-4 project. The test results, essential for scaling up, were conducted on a concentrate sample obtained from a flotation pilot plant using material from the Lofdal Area 4 starter pit.

The tests demonstrated improved REE extraction efficiency and highlighted a relationship between sulphation temperatures and the extraction of rare earth elements (REEs) and iron. Notably, low temperature sulphation resulted in higher REE and iron dissolution, while high temperature reduced iron dissolution substantially, which in turn decreased magnesium carbonate consumption required for impurity removal.

The President of Namibia Critical Metals, Darrin Campbell, expressed satisfaction with the outcomes, indicating a potential reduction in operational expenditures. The test work, which took place from October 2023 to April 2024 at SGS Lakefield, will be followed by acid sulphation scale-up tests planned for the second quarter of 2024.

A trade-off study by SGS Bateman is ongoing to pinpoint the best route for the upstream hydrometallurgical process, with further optimization of downstream REE recovery steps to produce a mixed rare earth oxide product anticipated.