Hastings inks niobium strategy at WA critical minerals plays

Hastings Technology Metals has linked up with renowned minerals processing firm Enuo Holdings to monetise valuable by-product critical minerals such as niobium from its two WA rare earths projects, Yangibana and Brockman.

The two firms have executed a binding Technical Services and Research Agreement to launch a targeted program aimed at boosting their understanding of the metallurgical characteristics of the coveted critical minerals stash at Brockman, although the metallurgical learnings can also be applied at Hasting’s JV with Wyloo at Yangibana.

At both Brockman and Yangibana, Enuo will undertake comprehensive testwork to target metallurgical insights into the ore’s composition, recovery estimates and behaviour, in addition to determining optimal processing options.

There will also be a strong emphasis on maximising the recovery of by-product metals such as zirconium and hafnium, along with the niobium.

Enuo will undertake exploratory beneficiation testwork, including crushing, milling, flotation and magnetic separation, to determine the potential to upgrade the mineralised recovery grades and provide a discovery pathway to how best to liberate those minerals from the ore.

The program will aid the development of a processing flowsheet for the Yangibana ore to integrate seamlessly with the processing of Hastings’ valuable neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) concentrate expected to be mined at that project.

Hastings’ current strategy is to maximise the by-product value hidden within the two projects’ orebodies and to widen its mineral product offering.

The company believes the testwork will also enable it to better assess the commercial viability of shipping beneficiated material to offshore processing facilities.

This technical study with Enuo is a strategic step that delivers value to both pillars of our portfolio… this test work allows us to rigorously evaluate the potential capture of additional value from the whole basket of our ore body, specifically targeting by-products like niobium, hafnium, and zircon that would otherwise be overlooked.

The company believes leveraging Enuo’s downstream processing expertise will enable the design of a process flowsheet that can broaden its revenue streams and enhance the projects’ economics in a meaningful way.

It says the metallurgical insights are transferable, significantly boosting both projects as vital processing improvements and knowledge leading to greater recovery of niobium and valuable by-products is gained at either site.

The primary objective of the planned testwork is to design and optimise processing flowsheets for the cost-efficient recovery of rare earths, niobium and additional by-products at Brockman, but also at Yangibana.

Commercially, the testwork is expected to zero in on optimum specifications for concentrates and downstream processes to potentially ramp up commercialisation efforts and strengthen product offtake discussions.

In addition to the economic rare earths potential at Yangibana, any bolt-on mineralisation from viable niobium recoveries may help financially turbocharge the project.

Niobium is classified as a critical mineral by multiple governments and is considered vital due to its use in high strength low-alloy steels and the role it plays in the defence industry and emerging energy transition technologies.

Zirconium is a strong corrosion-resistant metal prized for its use in high-tech alloys due to its extreme hardness.

Hafnium plays a pivotal role in nuclear reactor fuel rod cladding due to its high neutron absorption capacity and it also displays exceptional corrosion resistance.

Enuo brings extensive operational and processing experience in Africa, China and Japan to the link-up, potentially moving Hastings’ niobium, zirconium and hafnium supply ambitions into the fast lane.

The ground-breaking Yangibana rare earths project is now a joint venture between Hastings, which holds a 40 per cent stake, and Wyloo Metals. It is fully permitted and is aiming for first production in 2026, with plans for an initial 37,000 tonnes of mixed rare earths concentrate to be produced annually.

Wyloo is owned by Tatterang, a private investment company owned by mining billionaires Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest and Nicola Forrest.

When it comes to critical minerals such as rare earths, niobium and others, it is all about the processing flow-sheet and the metallurgy and Hastings move to sure up potentially new revenue streams from its two projects looks well placed.

Niobium can be a company maker all by itself and showed that in spectacular fashion when WA1’s share price went through the stratosphere after that company experienced some solid niobium hits.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@wanews.com.au