The CSIRO is set to evaluate the potential to extract rare earth elements from Korella mine and Korella South phosphate ore in North-West Queensland using biomining.
Project owner Chatham Rock Phosphate said the study would focus on biomining technology utilising microbes.
“In past exploration of the Korella deposit the presence of yttrium (Y) mainly in the form of xenotime (YPO4) was identified,” Chatham president and chief executive officer Chris Castle said.
“The previous explorer Krucible reported an inferred JORC resource of 4.2 million tonnes at 746 g Y/tonne (i.e., 0.96 kg Y2O3/t).
“Also, in past exploration other more valuable heavy REE such as neodymium (Nd) and dysprosium (Dy) were identified as being associated with the yttrium but no systematic testing for these additional REE was conducted.”
To enable CSIRO to commence its studies, new samples of the REE-enriched phosphate and associated strata along with endemic microbes would be obtained, he said.
“At the same time new exploration including sampling within the existing mine will be undertaken to test for all REE,” Mr Castle said.
“In subsequent stages of CSIRO’s evaluation, the potential REE biomining microbes will be cultivated and tested as to their ability to ‘mine’ REE.”
Biomining is being tested as an alternative to the conventional techniques for REE recovery/enrichment that are highly dependent on the use of chemicals.