Northern Minerals Limited Advances Browns Range Project for Heavy Rare Earth Metals into Pre-Feasibility Study

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources Australia (Perth, Australia)--Northern Minerals Limited (ASX:NTU) (Perth, Western Australia) has begun the pre-feasibility study (PFS) for the Browns Range Heavy Rare Earth Metals Project. The scoping study results will be announced by the end of 2013. It will include the upgraded JORC compliant resource estimate of 4.13 metric tonnes at 0.68% total rare earth oxides (TREO), for a total 28,020 tonnes of TREO. (Heavy rare earth oxides represent 82% of this). This new resource estimate is a 165% increase of the previous TREO estimate in December 2012.

The Browns Range Project is located approximately 78 miles (125 kilometres) southeast of Halls Creek, Western Australia. It is estimated that the beneficiation plant will process 750,000 tons per year of xenotime ore and produce 3,000 tons per year of yttrium and dysprosium concentrate.

The scope of the PFS includes further drilling and an upgrade to the JORC resource estimate; continued improvement of the beneficiation process; further hydrometallurgical testing, in preparation for the larger-scale pilot test plant; site infrastructure studies; and studies involving the groundwater supply. To help with this work, Northern Minerals has engaged design engineering firms Hatch Associates Pty Limited (Perth) and DRA Pacific Pty Limited (Perth). Northern Minerals also has expanded its in-house project team with a number of new appointments to help advance this project into production.

The PFS is expected to be finished by early 2014 and will be followed by a feasibility study. Northern Minerals has acquired more than $28 million in 2013 to drive the Browns Range Project. The final investment decision (FID) on the Browns Range Project is expected to be announced in early 2014, upon further capital funding. Once the FID is made, Northern Minerals will release tenders for major engineering design firms and long-lead items.

DRA pacific will complete the PFS for all onsite infrastructure, including the construction of an accommodation facility with a capacity of 150 personnel. DRA Pacific also is reviewing the need for an onsite power station; however, it is currently unsure about the specifics.

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