iTech Minerals confirms 176% boost to rare earths in kaolin content at Caralue Bluff
iTech managing director Mike Schwarz says the ability to extract REE during the normal kaolin processing flow sheet could spread operating and capital costs across both commodities – potentially offering significant cost savings.
iTech Minerals (ASX: ITM) has reported a 176% upgrade to the rare earth element (REE) content of high purity kaolin during beneficiation testwork at the Caralue Bluff prospect along South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula.
Laboratory results on a -45 micron fraction confirmed widespread, thick intervals of white kaolin mineralisation with low contained deleterious elements.
Highlight results were 5m at 37.6% aluminium oxide, 0.6% iron oxide, 0.28% titanium dioxide, 0.07% calcium oxide, and 1,902 parts per million total rare earth oxides (TREO) from 11m (62% yield); 5m at 36.9% aluminium oxide, 0.5% iron oxide, 1.08% titanium dioxide, 0.02% calcium oxide, and 1,241ppm TREO from 5m (58% yield); and 8m at 36.8% aluminium oxide, 0.22% iron oxide, 0.78% titanium dioxide, 0.02% calcium oxide, and 1,687ppm TREO from 10m (70% yield).
iTech said the low calcium oxide levels suggest low acid consumption will be a feature of the REE leaching stage.
Process flow sheet
Managing director Mike Schwarz said there was potential to leach upgraded REE from the high purity kaolin fraction as part of the project’s process flow sheet.
“Our testwork at Caralue Bluff shows that the standard kaolin beneficiation process significantly upgrades the REE content of high purity kaolin by 176%,” he said.
“We now have an option to incorporate the extraction of REE into the normal kaolin flow sheet, spreading our capital and operating costs across both commodities, with potentially significant cost savings.”
Combined commodities
Caralue Bluff is considered to be a unique prospect due to its appreciable amounts of kaolin and REE.
Mr Schwarz said the combined commodities present potential synergies, which could lead to a low-cost production base for high purity kaolin and a REE concentrate.
Caralue Bluff contains an exploration target of up to 220 million tonnes grading up to 832ppm TREO and between 19-22% aluminium oxide.
The target is based on 80 holes from a total 260 holes and remains open in multiple directions, allowing for possible expansion in future drilling programs.