Australian Strategic Materials (ASX:ASM) - Managing Director, David Woodall
Managing Director, David Woodall
Source: The Market Herald
The Market Online - At The Bell

Join our daily newsletter At The Bell to receive exclusive market insights

  • Australian Strategic Materials’ (ASM) Korean joint venture partner, ZironTech, has produced 7.6 kilograms of neodymium at 99.8 per cent purity
  • This is significant news as today marks Australian Strategic Materials’ first day trading as a standalone ASX listed entity and not as Alkane Resources’ (ALK) subsidiary
  • ASM is using its electro-refining technology to produce various metals for the renewable energy, specialty alloys and permanent magnet sectors
  • ASM and ZironTech are in the final stages of commissioning the electro-refining plant and will produce further valuable metals
  • Company shares are trading flat at $1.37 in early afternoon trade

Australian Strategic Materials (ASM) has announced its Korean joint venture partner, ZironTech, has completed the first production run of neodymium.

ZironTech successfully produced 7.6 kilograms of neodymium metal assaying 99.8 per cent from its patented reduction process at its commercial pilot plant in South Korea.

This purity level is higher than what’s typically traded in the metals industry.

This is significant news for the company as today marks the first day Australian Strategic Materials is trading as a standalone ASX listed entity and not as a subsidiary of Alkane Resources (ALK).

ASM is continuing to progress a metalisation program using its low emission, high-purity metal refining technology to produce zirconium, titanium, rare earths and other critical materials. These metals are used for the renewable energy, specialty alloys and permanent magnet markets.

“This is a significant result for ASM, as this process has resulted in the production of neodymium metal at a higher purity than typically traded,” Managing Director David Woodall said.

ASM and ZironTech are in the final stages of commissioning the electro-refining plant and are progressing the production of other key metals. These include zirconium, praseodymium and dysprosium – all of which are essential for new technologies and advance manufacturing markets.

The electro-refining process is expected to produce high purity, being 99.9 per cent, titanium metal. Results are expected in August 2020.

Company shares are trading flat at $1.37 each in early afternoon trade.

ASM by the numbers
More From The Market Online
The Market Online Video

Magnum to raise US$210M to advance Saudi green pig iron plant

Through NASDAQ-listed VCCL and 2x1.Digital, Magnum Mining is kicking off a US$210M capital raise for its…

Test work shows potential for Sovereign’s Kasiya to be major graphite player

Sovereign Metals Ltd has completed testwork on its Kasiya rutile and graphite project in Malawi, showing…

Want copper with that? Boss Energy hits orange metal on-site uranium play

The exploration team at Boss Energy announced on Wednesday that its latest drill run on-site has…

Barton kicks off drilling on-site historical Tarcoola gold play

Barton Gold (ASX:BGD) has announced it's commenced drilling on-site the historical Tarcoola Goldfield project