Minerals must be processed before they are usable, and American Rare Earths has undertaken work on an accelerated pilot plant program for processing ore at its Halleck Creek Project. The pilot plant program has been structured in three stages: milling and sizing; mineral separation and concentration; and leaching, impurity removal and oxide refining. Technologies such as a High-Pressure Slurry Ablation (HPSA) technology, GradePro reflux classifier and Induced Roll Magnetic Separators will be used in Wyoming to process ore extracted by American Rare Earths.
The first two stages will be undertaken in Wyoming, with milling and sizing at Western Research Institute in Laramie, Wyoming and mineral separation and concentration at DISA’s facilities in Casper, Wyoming.
Mark Wall, CEO of American Rare Earths, said:
“This is a massive step forward for the Company. The pilot plant and production of pre‑production rare earth oxide were previously expected to take several years. This defined pilot pathway now materially shortens the timeline and positions the Company to deliver outcomes within months. We are laser-focused on accelerating the largest United States domestic resource of total rare earth elements towards production.”
Currently global minerals processing is concentrated in China. In order to secure our supply chains, these innovations and technologies must be made and used here in the U.S., to ensure what is mined in America contributes to what is made in America.