NioCorp Developments Ltd. has announced the successful completion of a Whole Ore Pre-Leach Pilot Plant (WPL) as part of its Elk Creek Superalloy Materials Feasibility Study. The WPL validated results from earlier bench-scale testing and paves the way for the remaining Feasibility Study pilot plants to commence at the SGS Lakefield metallurgical testing facility in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada.
This pilot plant is a key component of the metallurgical development and design program that will lead to the completion of the Elk Creek Superalloy Materials Feasibility Study. It was designed to test the continuous operation of the WPL operation as well as providing Scandium-bearing solutions for a subsequent Scandium Solvent Extraction Pilot Plant, along with Pre-Leach Residue for a subsequent Acid Bake / Water Leach Pilot Plant.
Between May 24 and 27, 2016, and again between June 6 and 10, 2016, a continuous WPL operated at SGS–Lakefield. The WPL treated approximately 1.34 tonnes of representative material from the Elk Creek resource. Assay results show that scandium extraction was in line with expectations for the pilot and consistent with previous bench test results. The WPL produced 4,045 liters of Pre Leach Liquor containing between 20 and 24 mg/L Scandium. It also produced 485 kg of Pre Leach Residue containing between 1.24% and 1.95% Niobium and 4.76% and 6.1% Titanium, along with the remainder of the Scandium that is recovered in subsequent stages.