RARE EARTHS: Commerce makes high grade concentrate from Ashram material

QUEBEC – Vancouver-based Commerce Resources Corp. has produced a 54.6% TREO (total rare earth oxide) concentrate at a recovery rate of 70.7% with a mass reduction of 96.3% using conventional process steps. This will allow the company to advance work on the hydrometallurgical flowsheet. Moreover, a 98% CaF₂ concentrate can be made using the same flowsheet process as that of the rare earths.

The REE flowsheet is conventional, but higher recoveries and better TREO grades are achieved by upgrading. The upgrading take place in a one-stage beneficiation and flotation circuit followed by a weak hydrochloric acid leach to remove carbonate and a wet high intensity magnetic separation (WHIMS) to remove fluorite.

Commerce said the TREO concentrate is being further tested by sulphation roasting. A REE recovery rate of better than 95% is anticipated from the WHIMS concentrate into solution.

The company says being able to produced high grade concentrates will reduce the throughput, footprint and capital costs of the sulphation and leaching plants.

A corporate presentation dated February 2013 is available at CommerceResources.com.