- Vital Metals (VML) has completed a bulk sample program at its Nechalacho Project in Canada as it prepares to start rare earth production
- A 12-kilogram sample of rare earth carbonate will be sent to the company’s offtake partner, REEtec AS, in accordance with customer acceptance protocols
- Mining is on track to begin later this month, with Det’on Cho Nahanni Construction contracted to carry out the work at the North T Zone
- A drill program has also been launched at Nechalacho to define a mine plan for stage two of production from the Tardiff
- Vital Metals is up 21.74 per cent to 8.4 cents per share
Vital Metals (VML) has completed a bulk sample program at its Nechalacho Project in Canada as it prepares to start rare earth production.
A 12-kilogram sample of rare earth carbonate is being prepared for delivery to the Sydney-based company’s offtake partner, REEtec AS, in accordance with customer acceptance protocols.
Additional samples will also be prepared for other prospective customers.
Mining is scheduled to begin later this month, and Det’on Cho Nahanni Construction has been contracted to carry out work at the North T Zone, including site clearing, preparation of the retention pond and site roads, as well as crushing and screening.
Rare earth production is then expected to begin in the second quarter of this year, making Vital Metals the first rare earth producer in Canada and the second in North America.
“Production of this sample demonstrates we have our processes working correctly and we are preparing to send the sample to REEtec so it can undergo customer acceptance, as well as producing samples for other potential customers,” said Geoff Atkins, Managing Director of Vital Metals.
“We are preparing for our ore sorter to arrive at Nechalacho while mining is also due to start within the next few weeks, so we are getting ready close to achieving our production goal,” he added.
Separately, Vital Metals has also launched a drill program at Nechalacho, which will seek to define a mine plan for stage two of production from the Tardiff.
The program will focus on three high-grade targets, evaluating the potential to expand the T Zone by exploring two additional zones — the South T and the S zones. These areas lie immediately next to the proposed North T pit, where the company intends to begin production.
Vital Metals is up 21.74 per cent to 8.4 cents per share at 11:17 am AEDT.