Close
RNS Number : 7866W
Rainbow Rare Earths Limited
28 April 2021
 

Rainbow Rare Earths Limited

("Rainbow" or the "Company")

(LSE: RBW)

28 April 2021

 

Final Phalaborwa Assay Results Demonstrate Value of Rare Earths Basket

Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd is pleased to announce the final assay results from the auger drilling programme completed at the Phalaborwa Rare Earths Project ("Phalaborwa" or the "Project") located in South Africa, further to the publication of the initial set of assay results on 12 February 2021, which confirm:

·    Average grade of 0.45% total rare earths oxide ("TREO").

·    Average combined grade of 0.13% Neodymium and Praseodymium ("NdPr") oxide, representing 28.9% of the TREO grade reported in the rare earths basket.

·    Economic levels of Dysprosium and Terbium recorded, enhancing the overall rare earths basket value contained in the stacks by approximately 15%.

·    Low levels of radioactive elements present in the stacks.

The assay results, which are included in a table below, are broadly supportive of previous indications from the Sasol sample and test work programme.  The assay results and average grades reported (which incorporate previously announced holes) do not represent a mineral resource estimate.  Following the receipt of these results and prior to the publication of a JORC (2012) Mineral Resource Estimate, Rainbow will carry out an additional drilling programme within the estimated +/-35 million tonne gypsum stacks to confirm bulk density as well performing an updated topography survey.

George Bennett, CEO, said: "These results further reinforce our confidence in the considerable potential of Phalaborwa in South Africa.  The grades reported, augmented by the Dysprosium and Terbium credits, highlight the substantial overall value of the rare earths basket contained within these gypsum stacks, surpassing our original expectations based on current rare earth prices.

In essence, although the average assay grade reported has dropped from 0.50% TREO to 0.45% TREO, the overall value per tonne of gypsum is 15% higher than we initially anticipated thanks to the high value of the Dysprosium and Terbium ("DyTb").  The overall rare earth basket price was expected to be dominated by the NdPr content, which at current prices is valued at US$111/t gypsum based on the assay values reported.  The additional DyTb credit adds a further US$36/t gypsum, significantly enhancing the recoverable value of the rare earths from the gypsum stacks.  Together, these high value elements represent over 92% of the total value of the Phalaborwa rare earths basket.

The Phalaborwa asset represents a fast-track development project, with metallurgical test-work underway at ANSTO in Sydney, to design an optimised processing circuit for recovery of a mixed rare earth carbonate."

 

For further information, please contact:

Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd

Company

George Bennett

Pete Gardner

+27 82 652 8526

 

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP

Broker

Ewan Leggat

Charlie Bouverat

+44 (0) 20 3470 0470

Flagstaff Strategic and Investor Communications


Tim Thompson

Fergus Mellon

+44 (0) 207 129 1474

rainbowrareearths@flagstaffcomms.com

 

Notes to Editors:

Rainbow's strategy is to become a globally-significant producer of rare earth metals. NdPr are vital components of the strongest permanent magnets used for the motors and turbines driving the green technology revolution. Analysts are predicting demand for magnet rare earth oxides will grow substantially over the coming years, driven by increasing adoption of green technology, pushing the overall market for NdPr into deficit.

The Phalaborwa Rare Earths Project, located in South Africa, comprises approximately 35 million tonnes of gypsum tailings stacked in unconsolidated dumps derived from historic phosphate hard rock mining, containing rare earth elements with an initial estimated average in situ grade of 0.45% TREO, based on previous sampling campaigns, of which +/- 30% comprises high-value NdPr. The rare earths are contained in chemical form in the gypsum dumps, which is expected to deliver a higher-value rare earth carbonate, with lower operating costs than a typical rare earth mineral project.

The Company's Gakara Project in Burundi, which produces one of the highest-grade concentrates in the world (typically 54% total rare earths oxides ("TREO")) through ongoing trial mining operations, is currently the only African producer of rare earths. The Gakara basket is weighted heavily towards NdPr, which account for over approximately 19.5% of the contained TREO and 85% of the value of the concentrate.


Assay results:

Hole
 ID

Length

Ce

Dy

Er

Eu

Gd

Ho

La

Lu

Nd

Pr

Sm

Tb

Tm

Y

Yb

TREO

LREO

HREO

CREO

NdPr

Th

U


m

ppm

ppm

ppm

ppm

ppm

ppm

ppm

ppm

ppm

ppm

ppm

ppm

ppm

ppm

ppm

ppm

ppm

ppm

ppm

%

ppm

ppm

PAH06

12.0

1,411

32

6

32

101

4

652

0

763

346

125

12

1

65

3

4,253

3,950

303

1,060

31

57

2

PAH07

16.5

1,768

44

8

41

138

5

867

0

1,009

233

205

15

1

97

3

5,302

4,884

417

1,416

27

51

2

PAH12

13.5

1,526

38

7

34

110

5

692

0

800

360

135

13

1

83

3

4,558

4,210

348

1,137

30

60

2

PAH13

21.0

1,521

40

7

36

122

4

738

0

878

201

183

14

1

85

2

4,582

4,212

370

1,236

28

48

2

PAH18

12.0

1,436

36

6

34

102

4

665

0

790

349

133

12

1

73

3

4,361

4,040

320

1,108

31

60

2

PAH19

21.0

1,519

41

7

37

124

4

751

0

878

203

189

14

1

84

2

4,607

4,236

371

1,237

28

53

3

PAH22

12.0

1,365

37

4

28

100

3

602

0

762

179

146

11

0

75

2

3,965

3,656

309

1,070

28

57

2

PAH24

10.5

1,474

38

7

36

110

4

718

0

871

265

152

13

1

73

3

4,502

4,165

337

1,208

30

50

2

PAH25

19.5

1,635

41

7

34

104

4

686

0

938

180

147

12

1

65

2

4,614

4,294

320

1,277

28

45

2

PAH27

19.5

1,432

37

4

29

108

4

636

0

815

191

153

12

0

73

3

4,184

3,864

320

1,133

28

40

2

PAH28

18.0

1,250

34

3

26

95

3

553

0

702

168

131

11

0

72

2

3,653

3,358

295

993

28

51

3

PAH31

12.0

1,651

43

7

34

101

4

683

0

947

174

139

12

1

63

2

4,619

4,305

314

1,287

28

43

1

PAH33

7.5

1,334

37

7

28

82

4

550

0

768

141

110

10

1

61

2

3,752

3,478

273

1,060

28

42

1

PAH36

4.5

1,337

37

7

28

81

4

547

0

766

142

110

10

1

60

2

3,748

3,476

272

1,057

28

34

3

PAH38

16.5

1,533

38

6

31

92

4

626

0

897

163

130

11

1

60

2

4,301

4,012

290

1,215

29

20

1

PAH40

13.5

1,618

40

7

30

105

4

783

0

810

284

116

11

0

77

2

4,658

4,328

330

1,138

28

39

2

PAH41

16.5

1,563

37

7

28

97

4

688

0

781

250

115

12

1

84

3

4,395

4,072

323

1,106

28

47

2

PAH42

15.0

1,557

35

7

29

97

4

605

1

780

171

131

14

1

80

3

4,213

3,891

322

1,102

26

49

1

PAH43

16.5

1,417

34

7

27

91

5

554

1

707

156

120

13

1

81

3

3,854

3,542

312

1,013

26

47

1

PAH44

9.0

1,445

33

7

29

93

5

572

1

722

159

124

14

1

74

3

3,929

3,624

306

1,024

26

42

1

PAH45

7.5

1,010

32

6

25

103

4

428

0

708

138

133

11

1

61

3

3,181

2,889

292

982

31

32

1

PAH46

18.0

1,536

35

7

33

100

5

606

1

782

169

134

15

1

83

3

4,204

3,869

334

1,113

27

53

1

PAH47

15.0

1,563

44

7

30

138

5

788

1

1,182

238

233

14

1

37

4

5,108

4,781

328

1,527

33

58

2

PAH48

13.5

1,409

38

7

25

119

4

699

0

1,071

216

200

12

1

35

4

4,582

4,293

289

1,381

33

55

3

PAH49

18.0

1,651

52

8

39

117

5

691

0

804

170

128

15

0

94

3

4,522

4,129

393

1,178

25

48

2

PAH50

18.0

1,240

32

6

29

119

4

535

0

845

167

161

13

1

65

3

3,846

3,525

321

1,154

31

53

1

PAH51

6.0

1,010

27

5

24

99

3

429

0

702

138

131

11

0

50

2

3,142

2,881

261

952

31

29

1

PAH52

22.5

1,654

43

6

32

95

4

699

0

725

148

119

13

0

91

3

4,358

4,014

344

1,064

24

53

2

PAH53

15.0

1,311

41

6

28

128

4

663

0

1,001

203

221

14

1

45

4

4,376

4,056

320

1,321

32

49

2

PAH56

27.0

1,617

38

8

34

119

4

791

0

866

328

147

14

1

72

3

4,838

4,492

347

1,201

29

65

2

PAH57

10.5

1,650

49

10

35

106

6

693

1

739

152

128

16

1

114

4

4,440

4,034

406

1,122

24

57

1

PAH58

6.0

1,338

39

7

20

102

4

756

0

782

281

112

11

0

69

1

4,211

3,911

300

1,080

30

35

2

PAH59

13.5

1,368

36

8

32

122

4

578

1

807

165

155

13

1

82

4

4,037

3,679

358

1,139

28

57

2

PAH60

15.0

1,586

45

7

35

136

5

945

0

1,088

340

203

14

1

81

4

5,357

4,971

386

1,479

31

56

1

PAH61

15.0

1,753

47

7

38

132

5

1,226

0

1,146

495

156

14

1

95

3

6,111

5,706

405

1,572

32

56

1

PAH62

16.5

1,581

43

6

34

118

4

1,005

0

1,003

393

139

13

0

79

2

5,282

4,926

356

1,376

31

41

2

PAH63

13.5

1,567

39

6

28

81

4

660

0

631

126

109

10

1

84

2

4,018

3,714

304

932

22

49

1

PAH64

13.5

991

34

7

25

123

4

542

0

651

190

165

13

1

72

4

3,368

3,032

336

936

29

55

2

PAH65

13.5

1,256

31

7

29

112

4

538

0

760

157

148

12

1

74

3

3,744

3,421

324

1,064

29

57

2

PAH66

15.0

1,156

26

5

27

97

3

484

0

686

137

130

10

0

57

2

3,375

3,104

271

946

29

31

2

PAH67

13.5

1,287

30

6

29

104

4

550

0

715

145

138

11

1

74

3

3,705

3,395

311

1,010

27

57

3

PAH68

15.0

1,280

31

6

30

108

4

544

0

755

151

144

12

1

75

3

3,760

3,440

320

1,059

28

57

2

PAH72

3.0

1,275

37

4

27

104

4

584

0

748

173

135

12

1

87

3

3,821

3,488

333

1,072

28

47

2

PAH73

4.5

885

33

7

23

115

4

475

0

592

178

164

12

1

44

3

3,025

2,740

285

825

30

44

2

PAH74

13.5

1,298

43

8

32

168

5

748

0

875

267

241

17

1

54

4

4,485

4,095

390

1,196

30

40

2

PAH77

13.5

1,453

49

9

36

191

6

843

1

969

296

269

20

1

58

5

5,015

4,575

440

1,327

30

55

2

PAH78

15.0

1,558

42

8

35

161

5

732

0

1,015

281

217

17

1

71

4

4,950

4,546

404

1,382

31

51

2

PAH79

16.5

1,573

36

7

33

139

4

648

0

1,002

307

165

15

1

86

3

4,805

4,422

383

1,374

32

42

2

PAH80

18.0

1,296

32

6

23

96

4

641

0

925

193

170

11

1

36

3

4,102

3,852

250

1,201

32

55

2

PAH81

21.0

1,536

35

7

38

107

4

642

0

886

202

199

14

1

77

3

4,487

4,149

339

1,232

28

52

1

PAH82

18.0

1,498

33

6

34

101

4

611

0

871

199

186

13

1

67

3

4,337

4,027

310

1,194

29

46

1

PAH83

19.5

1,625

38

7

36

123

4

688

0

869

208

193

16

1

76

3

4,652

4,292

360

1,214

27

49

1

PAH84

18.0

1,533

34

6

31

122

4

635

0

859

199

162

14

1

78

3

4,403

4,058

345

1,191

28

42

1

PAH85

18.0

1,404

30

6

29

119

4

590

0

865

185

157

13

1

66

3

4,150

3,831

318

1,176

30

48

1

Total

786.0























Average


1,468

38

7

32

114

4

677

0

852

219

158

13

1

73

3

4,375

4,039

336

1,182

29

49

2

 

Table key:

ppm

parts per million

Ce

Cerium

Dy

Dysprosium

Er

Erbium

Eu

Europium

Gd

Gadolinium

Ho

Holmium

La

Lanthanum

Lu

Lutetium

Nd

Neodymium

Pr

Praseodymium

Sm

Samarium

Tb

Terbium

Tm

Thulium

Y

Yttrium

Yb

Ytterbium

TREO

Total Rare Earths Oxides

LREO

Light Rare Earths Oxides

HREO

Heavy Rare Earths Oxides

CREO

Critical Rare Earth Oxides

NdPr

Neodymium and Praseodymium

Th

Thorium

U

Uranium

 

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
 
END
 
 
DRLSEDFAWEFSESL