Vital Metals (ASX:VML) begins bagging ore from Nechalacho

• Vital Metals (VML) begins bagging high-grade ore from its Nechalacho Rare Earths Project in Canada
• The company says the ore is being bagged directly from the crusher, without the need to be processed through the ore sorter
• This high-grade ore is being mined from Nechalacho’s North T pit, with around 28,000 tonnes mined altogether so far
• Vital expects to ship approximately 1000 tonnes of product to its Saskatoon plant — enough to supply the first 9 months commissioning
• Shares in VML are down 4.48 per cent at 6.4 cents each

Vital Metals (VML) has begun bagging high-grade ore from its Nechalacho Rare Earths Project in Canada.

The company released an update on the project on Monday, revealing mining and sorting operations continued throughout August after the ore sorter was commissioned.

VML said pleasingly, the ore was being bagged directly from the crusher, without the need to be processed through the ore sorter.

This high-grade ore was coming from Nechalacho’s North T pit, with 28,000 tonnes mined so far.

Vital Metals’ Managing Director Geoff Atkins said the direct bagging showed the quality of North T’s product.

“Mining in this area produced a high-grade ore that did not require processing through the ore sorter – we have simply crushed and bagged it, ready for transport to Saskatoon in coming weeks,” Mr Atkins said.

“In addition to bagging high-grade ore, processing of medium and low-grade material through the ore sorter has continued through August.

“The ore sorter has continued to produce beneficiated product with production rates increasing according to plan.”

Vital expects to ship approximately 1000 tonnes of product to Saskatoon in Q3 CY21, where it’s building its rare earth extraction plant.

VML said that amount of product would be enough to supply the first 9 months commissioning, once the plant is up and running.

First feed at the Saskatoon is forecast to occur by the end of 2021, while
commissioning is forecast to continue through the first half of 2022.

Vital Metals’ shares were trading down 4.48 per cent at 6.4 cents per share at 11:16 am AEST.