The Lofdal project in Nambia has moved to the pilot-scale phase production. Namibia Critical Metals Inc. made the announcement and said the phase follows the recently granted 25-year mining license together with JV partner, the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC).
Lofdal is the most advanced project in the Company portfolio with a 43-101 mineral resource estimate established in 2012 and a Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) completed in 2014. Earthworks to develop a starter pit to a depth of about 15 meters at the Area 4 deposit has already started, the company said in a statement.
Lofdal heavy rare earth deposit
According to the company, the Lofdal heavy rare earth deposit is one of only two primary xenotime projects under development in the world. Rare earth mineralization at Lofdal is hosted in carbonatite dykes, structural zones and plugs exhibiting grades between 0.2-3% total rare earths (“TREO” which includes yttrium) and often exhibiting exceptional heavy rare earth enrichment (“HREE”) greater than 50%.
The deposit has the potential for significant production of dysprosium and terbium, the two most valuable rare earth elements used in high powered magnets and other high-tech applications.
“We are incredibly pleased with the rapid progress of the project after the grant of the mining license in July. Moving into the pilot-scale phase is yet another impressive milestone achieved in such a short period with our JOGMEC partners. We believe that Lofdal will eventually be recognized as one of the top heavy rare earths deposits of dysprosium and terbium in the western world,” Darrin Campbell, President of Namibia Critical Metals said.
