How Can American Rare Earths New Metallurgical Advances Expand the Halleck Creek Project?

American Rare Earths Breakthrough: Advancing the Halleck Creek Project

American Rare Earths (ASX: ARR, OTCQX: AMRRY, OTCQB: ARRNF), in collaboration with renowned research institutions, announces significant metallurgical advancements for its Halleck Creek project. These developments mark a notable progression in the field of rare earth element (REE) extraction and processing.

Strategic Collaboration with Leading Research Institutions

The breakthrough results were achieved as part of the SynBREE project, a consortium led by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the University of Kentucky (UK). Funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), this initiative aligns with the U. S. Department of Defense's goal to address critical supply chain gaps for rare earth elements.

Transformative Preconcentration Techniques

The Halleck Creek ore underwent successful preconcentration, reaching 3.

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5% Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO) at a 12:1 upgrade ratio.
This represents a significant 200% increase from the existing flowsheet design, employing cost-effective Dense Medium Separation (DMS).

Implications for Downstream Processing

The need for Wet High Intensity Magnetic Separators (WHIMS) is reduced by 70%, significantly lowering both capital and operational expenditures.
The material entering the direct leaching process is reduced from 16% to 7%, a 56% decrease, further reducing operational costs.

Project Advancements and Funding Discussions

Following these results, the project has been selected for the next phase of study. The company is engaged in discussions around funding and next steps, indicating growing interest and investment potential.

CEO’s Perspective on Strategic Impact

Donald Swartz, CEO of American Rare Earths, highlighted the program's role in maintaining the U. S. 's technological edge and securing a stable domestic supply of rare earths. Swartz also noted the project's low sovereign risk and high-grade potential compared to other global sources.

Halleck Creek: Poised to Become a World-Class Project

The project is emerging as a strategic asset with the potential to provide a stable, long-term rare earth supply for the U. S.
Early exploration work at Halleck Creek, particularly in areas with near-zero strip ratios, indicates approximately 55% higher grade ore than previously utilized.

Enhanced Separation Technologies: LLNL's Contribution

Dr. Yongqin Jiao from LLNL emphasized the impact of combining conventional beneficiation techniques with protein-based rare earth separation technologies. This approach significantly boosts the economic viability and efficiency of the rare earth element extraction process.

Technical Innovations and Future Potential

The introduction of Dense Medium Cyclones has brought efficiencies in downstream processing, rejecting 70% of gangue material early in the flowsheet.
Flowsheet restructuring places DMS as the primary concentrator, complemented by WHIMS.
The use of High-Pressure Grinding Rolls (HPGR) in future testing and production is expected to further enhance these results.

University of Kentucky's Ongoing Research

In a parallel project funded by American Rare Earths, the University of Kentucky is conducting detailed density fractionation test work. This aims to optimize the flowsheet design further, focusing on mass yields across different density fractions and particle sizes.

A Milestone in Rare Earth Extraction

American Rare Earths’ latest achievements at the Halleck Creek project represent a significant milestone in rare earth extraction technology. The collaboration with LLNL and the University of Kentucky, backed by DARPA's support, underscores the strategic importance of developing efficient, cost-effective methods for rare earth element processing.

As the project advances to its next phase, American Rare Earths stands at the forefront of innovation, contributing to the diversification and stability of the global rare earth supply chain.

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