Red Metal reports positive leach test results at Sybella project

Red Metal Limited has announced successful column leach test results from the Kary Zone at its Sybella rare earths project near Mount Isa, Queensland. The tests focused on the deeper fresh granite ore, which constitutes 598 million tonnes of the project’s 936-million-tonne inferred mineral resource.

The tests achieved neodymium and praseodymium recoveries of 65 per cent and 68 per cent, respectively. Notably, the process required only 19 kilograms of sulphuric acid per tonne, a lower consumption rate than the 23–27kg required for the overlying weathered ore types.

Managing director Rob Rutherford stated that the data will be used in the current Sybella prefeasibility study (PFS) to assess the project's economic potential. Neodymium and praseodymium are critical components in the manufacturing of permanent magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and industrial equipment.