Lynas identifies further rare earths resource at Mt Weld

Rare earths producer Lynas Corp has identified further light and heavy rare earths resources at depths previously not investigated below the main orebody at its Mt Weld mine in Western Australia.

Lynas has successfully established two new bores to a depth of 100 and 106 metres below the current pit floor where it encountered ‘significant and continuous’ rare earths minerals.

The company is already the world’s only significant producer of rare earths outside China, with the new discoveries underlining it as a critical producer of minerals used to make high tech products such as permanent magnets, computers and LED displays.

Production includes Neodymium, Praseodymium, Lanthanum, Cerium and mixed Heavy Rare Earths

The company mines at Mt Weld in Western Australia and operates a controversial processing plant in Malaysia. It is currently upgrading the concentrator at Mt Weld, constructing upstream processing facilities at Kalgoorlie in WA and planning a rare earths processing plant in the United States.

The new bore holes found 149 metres and 61 metres respectively of rare earths minerals contained in carbonatite and weathered saprolite.

Lynas is planning to follow up the drilling with further exploration work.

Picture: Lynas Corp

Subscribe to our free @AuManufacturing newsletter here.