Vital Metals (ASX:VML) begins rare earth production at Nechalacho

• Vital Metals (VML) kicks off rare earth production at its Nechalacho Project in Canada, starting with ore crushing
• The company’s mining contractor completed the first blast of ore at Nechalacho’s North T Zone at the end of June, with ore crushing beginning just two days later
• The company says mining activities are over 30 per cent complete, and ore is now being stockpiled for transport to a Saskatoon rare earth extraction plant later this year
• The company aims to ramp up crushing and ore sorting at Nachalacho, with full production rates expected to be achieved in July
• Vital Metals last traded at 5.2 cents on July 5

Vital Metals (VML) has begun rare earth production at its Nechalacho project in the northwest territories of Canada, starting with ore crushing.

The company’s mining contractor, Nahanni Construction, completed the first blast of ore at Nechalacho’s North T Zone at the end of June, with ore crushing beginning just two days later.

Vital Metals is now the first rare earths producer in Canada and only the second in North America.

Managing Director of Vital Metals Geoff Atkins said the company’s crews worked hard on site through June to accelerate mining activities, complete the installation of crushing and ore sorting equipment and commence commissioning.

“Mining activities are over 30 per cent complete with waste material removed from the pit to enable the first blast of ore on 28 June and we are now stockpiling ore for the crusher,” he added.

Vital Metals says the ore will be stockpiled for transport to a Saskatoon rare earth extraction plant later this year.

The company aims to ramp up crushing and ore sorting at Nachalacho, with full production rates expected to be achieved in July.

Vital Metals last traded at 5.2 cents on July 5.