Namibia Critical Metals Confirms Significant Upgrades on Bulk Sample from Lofdal Heavy Rare Earths Project – Comments on Positive Developments in Rare Earth Markets
Press Release
Namibia Critical Metals Confirms Significant Upgrades on Bulk
Sample from Lofdal Heavy Rare Earths Project – Comments on
Positive Developments in Rare Earth Markets
Halifax, Nova Scotia December 3, 2020 – Namibia Critical Metals Inc. (“Namibia Critical
Metals” or the “Company” or “NMI” ) (TSXV:N MI) is pleased to provide an update on the
metallurgical test work program on the Lofdal Heavy Rare Earth Project in northern Namibia
“Lofdal” or “the project”). Lofdal is a joint venture b etween the Company and Japan Oil, Gas
and Metals National Corporation (“JOGMEC”) which is operating under a Term 1 budget of
CD$4,100,000 (Company press release September 21, 2020). The Company recently reported
an increase of 60% to the strike length of t he Area 4 deposit and the incl usion of the first
satellite heavy rare earth deposit (Company press release November 26, 2020). Highlights of
the metallurgical test work program are reported here as follows:
• XRT and XRF ore sorting technologies successfully identif ied mineralized
particles over a wide range of size fractions
• Test work completed on 8.6 tonnes of sample has achieved 1.5-3X upgrades
with high recoveries for dysprosium and other heavy rare earths
• Increased grades and reduction in tonnage for milling w ill lower operating
costs
• Gravity and magnetic separation test work nearing completion at Light Deep
Earth (South Africa)
• SGS (Canada) appointed to continue downstream flotation and magnetic
separation test work
• Strong price increases in k ey value driver s for Lofdal - 12 month prices up
24% for dysprosium and up 93% for terbium
Don Burton, President of Namibia Critical Metals stated “The first step in beneficiation of heavy
rare earth mineralization at Lofdal is through ore sorting . These test results have clearly
demonstrated the opportunity to increase grade from the Area 4 deposit by a factor of 1.5 to
3 times which will have significant positive impacts on further downstream processing costs.
We continue to evaluate early stage beneficiation opportunities through gravity techniques
and magnetic separation, and we are pleased to bring SGS on board as we move into flotation.
SGS has a wealth of processing experience with rare earths including some of the largest rare
earth projects in the world - Mountain Pass (USA), Strange Lake (Canada) and Zandkopsdrift
(South Africa).
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With xenotime as its dominant rare earth mineral, Lofdal offers the potential to be a significant
source of dysprosium and terbium. While the market has taken note of the recent increases
in neodymium and praseodymium prices with regards to light rare earth projects, similar
increases to dysprosium and terbium prices have not yet been factored into the heavy rare
earth contenders.”
The Lofdal Heavy Rare Earths Project is located 450 kilometers northwest of the capital city
of Windhoek in the Kunene Region of north -western Namibia. The project area covers 314
square kilometers centered on the Lofdal carbonatite complex which hosts a number of rare
earth occurrences, including the Area 4 deposit. Mineralization at Area 4 is dominated by
xenotime, which is highly enriched in heavy rare earths.
Lofdal is unique as one of only two primary xenotime deposits under development in the
world. As demonstrated in the Preliminary Economic Assessment1 Lofdal has the potential
for significant production of dysprosium and terbium, the two most valuable heavy rare earths
used in high powered magnets. The joint venture with JOGMEC is driven by Lofdal’s potential
to be a long term, sustainable supply of heavy rare earths for Japan.
Rare Earth Market Comments
The two major operating rare earth mines outside of China are Mountain Pass (USA) and
Mount Weld (Australia) both of which are light rare earth -enriched projects and therefore
major suppliers of the light rare earths praseodymium and neodymium. Prices for all the main
magnet-related rare earths – praseodymium, neodymium, terbium and dysprosium have seen
significant gains over the past 12 months wit h particularly sharp increases in the past 6 -8
weeks (Table 1). Terbium (up 93.2%) and dysprosium (up 24.5%) are the main value drivers
in heavy rare earth projects such as Lofdal.
Table 1 – 12 Month Prices for Rare Earth Value Drivers (Pr, Nd, Tb and Dy)
Source: Argus Metals December 2, 2020
1 Preliminary Economic Assessment on the Lofdal Rare Earths Project Namibia dated October 1, 2014 authored by David S.
Dodd, B. Sc (Hon) FSAIMM - The MDM Group, South Africa, Patrick J.F. Hannon, M.A.Sc., P.Eng. and William Douglas Roy,
M.A.Sc., P.Eng. - MineTech International Limited, Canada, Peter Roy Siegfried, MAusIMM (CP Geology) and Michael R. Hall,
B.Sc (Hons), MBA, MAusIMM, Pr.Sci.Nat, MGSSA - The MSA Group, South Africa. The PEA should not be considered to be a
pre-feasibility or feasibility study, as the economics and technical viability of the Project has not been demonstrated at this time.
The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to
have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. Furthermore,
there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized.
December 4, 2019 October 15, 2020 December 2, 2020 12 Month
(US$/kg) (US$/kg) (US$/kg) Increase
Praseodymium Oxide (99.5-99.9% fob China) 47.00 47.25 56.75 20.7%
Neodymium Oxide (99.5-99.9% fob China) 41.55 51.65 77.75 87.1%
Terbium Oxide (99.9% fob China) 487.50 717.00 942.00 93.2%
Dysprosium Oxide (99.5% fob China) 234.50 243.00 292.00 24.5%
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Metallurgical Test Work Program Summary and Highlights
A number of sequential processing stages have been recommended for treatment of the
xenotime mineralization at Lofdal and include upfront ore sorting, magnetic separation,
flotation and gangue acid leaching to produce a mineral concentrate. Each of these stages is
being evaluated during Term 1 using a representative 18 tonne sample that was collected
from trenches along 650 meters of strike length from the Area 4 deposit.
Ore Sorting Tests
Ore s orting technologies provide opportunities to reject considerable volumes of waste
thereby upgrading run-of-mine feed before requiring more expensive crushing and milling for
downstream processing. Test wo rk has been completed on 8.6 tonnes confirming the
amenability of Lofdal mineralization to be significantly upgraded using either x -ray
fluorescence (“XRF”) or x -ray transmission (“XRT”) sorting technology. Mineralization at
Lofdal is amenable to XRF sorti ng by analyzing for the element yttrium, which is directly
related to the concentration of the heavy rare earth mineral xenotime. It is amenable to XRT
sorting because of the dominance of higher density gangue minerals (carbonates) to host the
xenotime mineralization.
XRF sorting tests were carried out by Rados International in Pretoria on size fractions between
20-150 mm, and XRT sorting tests were carried out by IMS/Steinert on size fractions between
10-75 mm in Johannesburg. A total of 8.6 tonnes was p repared from the representative
sample for the sorting tests by Light Deep Earth (“LDE”) in Pretoria and final ICP-MS analyses
appropriate for rare earth element analyses (method code ME -MS81h with lithium meta -
borate fusion) were carried out by ALS Minerals (sample preparation in Johannesburg and
analyses in Vancouver). QAQC was monitored through internal laboratory standards, blanks
and duplicates with the provision of refereed rare earth standards from Lofdal.
Very clear grade, recovery and mass pull cu rves were established for both technologies and
can be u sed to evaluate the most favourable economic scenarios available to the project.
Outcomes for upgrading of dysprosium from all size fractions for both XRF and XRT tests, and
grade recovery curves for one size fraction are shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1 – Mass pull vs dysprosium upgrade ratios on all size fractions (left) and mass pull vs dysprosium grade
and dysprosium recovery for the 40-75 mm size fractions (right). Test results from Lofdal Area 4 bulk sample
showing XRF (orange) and XRT (blue). Operator can pre-select desired upgrade or mass pull and determine
recovery. Example shown by dashed black lines on left: if a mass pull of 40% was selected it would double the
grade of dysprosium and reject 60% of the mass after sorting with a resulting dysprosium recovery of 85% using
XRF and 78% using XRT.
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In addition to quantifying outcomes for upgrading of heavy rare earths the test work will also
be evaluated for efficiencies in rejecting unwanted iron, calcium and silica. Scavenging tests
on XRF discard products have demonstrated opportunities for further increased recoveries
with minimal additional mass pulls. Sorted products from these bulk runs have been utilized
to provide representative samples for next stage process steps – gravity, magnetic separation
and flotation.
Gravity, Magnetic Separation and Flotation
Systematic evaluations of gravity separation technologies had not been previously undertaken
on Lofdal and this work is now being undertaken by Light Deep Earth using sorted XRF sample
and fines. Test work has been completed to evaluate dense media separation on coarse size
fractions between 1-10 mm, shaking table separation on size fractions between 0.05-1.0 mm
and multi gravity separation on size fractions between <0.05–0.1 mm. Reports are pending.
Previous metallurgical test work at Lofdal had demonstrated the amenability of the
mineralization to magnetic separation using wet high intensity magnetic sepa ration
(“WHIMS”) equipment and it is expected that magnetic separation will be maintained as an
important processing step in beneficiation. The focus of magnetic separation test work at LDE
is to evaluate wet belt rare earth magnet separation technology (“WRER”) to compare with
WHIMS. Test work on this has been completed and reports are pending.
Flotation has also been demonstrated to be an important step in beneficiation and this work
will be undertaken by SGS (Canada) in conjunction with addi tional WHIMS test work . SGS
has extensive experience in mineral processing of a number of rare earth deposits including
Mountain Pass, Nechalacho, Strange Lake , Bokan Mountain, Bear Lodge, Kipawa ,
Zandkopsdrift, and Wicheeda Lake. Samples of both XRF and XRT sorted products and fines
have been prepared for shipment to the SGS facility in Lakefield, Ontario . The test program
will compare upgrades and recoveries of XRF and XRT products through direct flotation
followed by magnetic separation, and through direct magnetic separation followed by flotation
as shown below:
JOGMEC Joint Venture Agreement
As previously announced (Company press release January 27, 2020), the joint venture
agreement with JOGMEC provides for the two companies to jointly explore, develop, exploit,
refine and/or distribute mineral products from Lofdal. JOGMEC has the right to earn an interest
in stages following an initial non-refundable exploration commitment of CD$3,000,000 (Term
1). Subsequent financial commitments may be exercised at the sole discretion of JOGMEC
upon completion of each phase with Term 2 requiring a CD$7,000,000 contribution to earn
40% interest in Lofdal, Term 3 requiring a CD$10,000,000 contribution for an additional 10%
interest in Lofdal after which JOGMEC may elect to acquire an additional 1% interest for
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CD$5,000,000. The agreement contemplates completion of a feasibility study for Lofdal at the
end of Term 3 and makes provision for JOGMEC to elect to exclusively fund development of
Lofdal provided that the Company’s interest will not be diluted below 26%. The additional
expenditure of CD$1,100,000 during Term 1 can be credited towards the Term 2 expenditure
commitment of CD$7,000,000. Please refer to the Company press release of January 27,
2020 for further details.
About Namibia Critical Metals Inc.
Namibia Critical Metals Inc. holds a diversified portfolio of exploration and advanced stage
projects in the country of Namibia focused on the development of sustainable and ethical
sources of metals for the battery, electric vehicle and associated industries. The two advanced
stage projects in the portfolio are Lofdal and Epembe. The Company also has significant land
positions in areas favourable for gold mineralization.
Rare Earths: The Lofdal Heavy Rare Earth Project is the Company’s most advanced
project having completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment in 2014 and full Environmental
Impact Assessment in 2017. An application has been made for a mining licence at Lofdal. The
project is now in joint venture with Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corpora tion
(“JOGMEC”) who are funding the current $ 4,100,000 drilling and metallurgical program with
the objective of doubling the resource size and optimization of the process flow sheet. The
Otjitanga Light Rare Earth Project is situated within the company’s K unene exploration
area and hosts a new discovery of neodymium -rich carbonatite veins which is in the early
stages of exploration.
Gold: At the Erongo Gold Project, stratigraphic equivalents to the sediments hosting the
recent Osino gold discovery at Twin Hills have been identified but not yet sampled. Soil
surveys are progressing over this highly prospective area. The Grootfontein Base Metal
and Gold Project which has potential for magmatic copper-nickel mineralization, Mississippi
Valley-type zinc-lead-vanadium mineralization and Otjikoto -style gold mineralization.
Detailed interpretation of geophysical data and regional geochemical soil sampling surveys
are under way.
Tantalum-Niobium: In addition to Lofdal, the Epembe Tantalum-Niobium Project is also
at an advanced stage with a well -defined, 10 km long carbonatite dyke that has been
delineated by detailed mapping with over 11,000 meters of drilling. Preliminary mineralogical
and metallurgical studies including sorting tests (XRT), indicate the potential for significant
physical upgrading. Further work will be undertaken to advance the project to a preliminary
economic assessment stage.
Copper-Cobalt: The Kunene Co pper-Cobalt Project comprises a very large area of
favorable stratigraphy (“the DOF”) along strike to the west of the Opuwo cobalt-copper-zinc
deposit. Secondary copper mineralization over a wide area points to preliminary evidence of
a regional-scale hydrothermal system. Exploration targets on EPLs held in the Kunene project
comprise direct extensions of the DOF style mineralization to the west, sediment -hosted
cobalt and copper, orogenic copper, and stratabound manganese and zinc-lead
mineralization.
The common shares of Namibia Critical Metals Inc. trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under
the symbol “NMI”.
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Donald M. Burton, P.Geo. and President of Namibia Critical Metals Inc., is the Company’s
Qualified Person and has reviewed and approved this press release.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term
is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For more information please contact -
Namibia Critical Metals Inc.
Don Burton, President
Tel: +01 (902) 835-8760
Fax: +01 (902) 835-8761
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.NamibiaCriticalMetals.com
The foregoing information may contain forward -looking information relating to the future performance of Namibia Rare Earths Inc. Forward -
looking information, specifically, that concerning future performance, is subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ
materially. These risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the appropriate securities commissions.