CHAIRMAN and Executive Director of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute Dr Parris A Lyew-Ayee has assured that "unlike in many other countries where rare earth minerals are mined with severe negative impacts on the environment ... the Jamaican scenario is completely different".

Speaking during Monday's groundbreaking project for the US$3-million pilot plant at the institute's Hope Gardens home in St Andrew, the chairman said the process of extraction would be compatible with the environment.

 "Very importantly, we are also stewards of the environment. Our red mud deposits are located in well-engineered and managed containment ponds. Dried mud will then be harvested from these ponds for processing here at our pilot plant so there will be no mining operations and related pressures on the environment. The dried mud will then be neutralised before extraction of the rare elements," he explained.

The JBI executive director said the "neutralised non-toxic tailings will then be returned to a properly sealed containment pond, which is planned to be used to recover other minerals such as iron and titanium".

"We know it can be done," he added, noting that the launch was "a most auspicious day in the history of Jamaica and marks a new beginning".

Noting that Jamaica had ventured into the area several times before, but pulled back because of financial constraints, Lywe-Ayee said he strongly believed that "meaningful incentives should be granted to serious investors who would like to partner with us in these research and development exercises".

Scientists here have been able to extract the rare earth oxide from red mud in laboratories, but it's now time to take the next step, accoring to the JBI head.

"...Over the past year we have sampled, analysed and characterised the red mud in various locations and we are very satisfied with the results... Now we need to move on to the next step on a plant scale to ensure the commercial viability of this process. I do not need to emphasise the vast market that exists for the rare earth as it is still growing and growing exponentially," he said, counteracting arguments that Jamaica would be hardpressed to find a viable market since China currently controls some 97 per cent of the trade.

As far as the JBI head is concerned "the elusive bridge which we now must cross is how to efficiently and commercially extract the rare earth from the red mud here in Jamaica".

"We insist on that and our partners agree for it to be processed here as far downstream as we can to be able to have better benefits. We earnestly hope that the path to full commercial production will be cleared by this venture," he added.

Government announced plans to establish the pilot two weeks ago. It is being undertaken in partnership with researchers from Japanese firm Nippon Light Metal Company Limited, a publicly traded aluminium supplier headquartered in Tokyo with annual revenues of over US$7 billion and over 10,000 employees.

Nippon has confirmed high concentrations of rare earth elements in Jamaica's red mud, particularly in comparison to other areas. Mitsuru Ishihara, director and senior executive officer of the company, who arrived in the island with a delegation on Sunday, expressed certainty that there would be safety in the construction of the building which is expected to be completed in three months.

The two-storey building will be staffed jointly by personnel from the JBI and Nippon Light Metals.

"I do believe the project will (redound) to the benefit of both parties. Nippon Metal will now start to construct the pilot plant in cooperation with Jamaican builders," he said.

In the meantime, Yasuo Takase, Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica said the project is an indication that Japan is committed to partnerships between the two countries.

"Our sincere hope is that the pilot project will bear fruit to other explorations of economic opportunity for both Japan and Jamaica," he added.

The pilot plant project will develop methodology for neutralising the red mud with the objective of extracting some of the rare earth elements. It involves physical works at the JBI, the construction of adjunct laboratory areas, a stockpiling area for the red mud and acid, and a temporary waste storage site.

The pilot plant study will seek to specifically map the potential impact on land, water and air and the effect of neutralising the by-products of the extraction process. Rare earth elements or lanthanides, are extremely valuable elements which require advanced technology for their extraction so as to realise their commercial value. They currently trade at rates of up to US $3,500 per kilogramme.

Nippon Light Metal's ultimate objective is to extract some 1,500 metric tons per annum.

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Ucore Rare Metals Inc. ("Ucore" or "the Company") is pleased to report that United States Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Mark Begich (D-AK) jointly introduced a bill in Washington DC to authorize construction of a road on Prince of Wales Island to the Niblack and Bokan Mountain projects. Senator Murkowski noted that this bill would permit development of a road that minimizes costs, while also minimizing the effects on surface resources, preventing unnecessary surface disturbances and complying with all environmental laws and regulations.

Further, Ucore notes the introduction of Senate Joint Resolution No. 8 in the Legislature of the State of Alaska by Senators McGuire, Gardner and Ellis (the "Resolution"). The Resolution supports the continued and increased exploration, extraction, processing and production of rare earth elements in the State.

The Resolution supports a number of initiatives, and expressly urges State agencies that administer permits required for the development of rare earth element projects in Alaska to expedite the consideration and issuance of permits for the development of rare earth element deposits. The initiative further urges the Governor and the Department of Natural Resources to work closely with the US Geological Survey, US Department of Commerce and US Department of Defense to promote the development of rare earth elements extraction, processing and production in the State. The Resolution also urges the U.S. Congress to support the efforts of the State to develop rare earth elements for the benefit of the economic and national security of the United States.

"We're highly encouraged by these two initiatives to expedite the development of the Bokan project", stated Jim McKenzie, President & CEO of Ucore. "Alaska legislators have been exceptionally supportive of our development, which promises to bring skilled employment and numerous ancillary economic benefits to an area with tremendous potential. The bills additionally acknowledge and complement Ucore's commitment to complying with existing laws, fostering economic development in the region, and advancing production of materials designated as critical to national security by the U.S. Congress."

The Senate Bill and Resolution were independently introduced on January 30, 2013, both explicitly recognizing the heavy rare earth element content and logistical advantages of Ucore's Bokan Mountain property.

 

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Focus Graphite Inc. ("Focus" or the "Corporation") and partner SOQUEM Inc. ("SOQUEM") are pleased to provide an update of their 2012 exploration program at the Kwyjibo polymetallic Iron-Rare Earth Elements-Copper-(Gold) (Fe-REE-Cu-(Au)) Property ("Kwyjibo" or the "Property"), located in the Côte-Nord administrative district of Québec. The 2012 exploration program at Kwyjibo comprised of surface showing and trench re-sampling, core drilling and ground geophysical surveying.

Highlights of the Josette showing and trench re-sampling program include:

    Josette showing: 2.95% TREO, 37.35% REOc* and 1.44 % Cu over 10 m, including a high-grade sub-zone of: 4.59% TREO, 35.58 % REOc*, and 2.62 % Cu over 2m.
    Trench TR-95-30: 4.13% TREO, 36.08% REOc* and 0.23 % Cu over 2 m.
    Trench TR-95-29: 3.58% TREO, 39.90% REOc*and 0.17% Cu over 1.5 m.

*The ratio of critical rare earth elements ("REOc") is defined by The U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") as the sum of Nd+Eu+Tb+Dy+Y oxides divided by total rare earth oxides (TREO) : REOc = ((Nd2O3+Eu2O3+Tb2O3+Dy2O3+Y2O3)/TREO)*100. The REOc ratio is the expression of the importance of those REEs sought by the industry without considering the technological challenge to recover the REE and all the costs related to a mine development.

The new 2012 analytical results highlight the increasing total rare earth content of the mineralization related to the assaying of heavy rare earth elements in comparison to the 1995 analytical results. In 1995, only La, Ce and Sm were analyzed out of the suite of 17 rare earth elements at the Josette showing and in trenches TR-95-30 and TR-95-29.

In 2012, 10 new channel samples were collected at the Josette showing, two new channel samples were collected from trench TR-95-30 and one chip sample was taken from trench TR-95-29. The 13 samples were analyzed for the complete range of rare earth elements (Table 1). The 2012 results confirm the high heavy rare-earth elements ("HREE") content of the mineralization at Kwyjibo as well as the high ratio of critical rare earth elements (REOc) which ranges from 32.34% to 41.14%.

The results of the rare earth elements assay program are expressed as total rare earth oxides (TREO), including yttrium oxide and ratio of critical rare earth elements (REOc*). Values of TREO (REE2O3) presented are the sum of all rare earth oxides of the lanthanide series and yttrium oxide; strictly not a rare earth element, yttrium is included in the total amount of REE because of the chemical behaviour and uses that are similar to the lanthanides.

The Josette showing was re-sampled in a composite of ten (10) one-meter long channels, cut parallel to the 1995 channels. For trench TR-95-30, a new two-meter long channel was cut parallel to the trench blasted in 1995 while for trench TR-95-29, chips samples were taken over 1.5 meters intervals. The total length of the 2012 sampling channels in both trenches (TR-95-29 & TR-95-30) is less than in 1995 by 5.4 m due to destruction of portions of the original outcrops caused by the blasting done in 1995, and also because of the subsequent infilling of the trenches by blocks of rocks and dirt and the strong weathering of the outcrop in trench TR-95-29.

Quality assurance / Quality control

The channels were cut with a rock saw perpendicular to the main foliation of the iron-rich rock (magnetitite). All the channels are one meter long by 2.5 cm wide and vary in depth from 10 to 15 cm. For each channel, the rock samples were broken into pieces and then placed into a plastic bag. In the case of Trench TR-95-29, chips samples of 5 to 10 cm long, by 5 to 10 cm wide and 1 to 5 cm thick were collected from the weathered outcrop over 1.5 m intervals and then placed into a plastic bag. A numbered tag from the ALS laboratory was inserted into the bag prior to the sealing of the bag with a tie-wrap. The sample bags were carried to the camp by helicopter then loaded onto a float plane to Sept-Îles and sent by a carrier to ALS Laboratories ("ALS") in Val-d'Or (a certified laboratory; ISO 9001:2008 and ISO/IEC 17025:2005 for standards).

The samples were analyzed for all rare earth elements, most traces and major elements. Due to the limited number of channel samples analyzed, no standard or blank were introduced except the one used by the laboratory. Rare earths and trace elements were analyzed using lithium borate fusion of the sample prior to acid dissolution and analyzed by ICP-MS (Induced-Couples Plasma Mass Spectrometry). This method is best suitable for minerals resistant to acid digestion, like some REE-bearing silicates. For REE high grades samples, a re-analysis of the pulp was performed using high sample to volume ratios in addition to Class A volumetric glassware. ALS laboratory used certified high grade rare earth reference materials as part of their standard protocol. Major elements were analyzed using a lithium borate fusion of the sample prior to acid dissolution and analyzed by ICP-AES (Induced-Couples Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry). REE, traces and major elements were analyzed at ALS laboratories in Vancouver. For sulphide-bearing samples, copper, lead, silver, zinc and sulphur were digested in aqua regia, then analyzed by AAS technique (Atomic Absorption Spectrometry). Gold was analyzed by fire assay and AAS with a 50g nominal sample weight. Base metals and precious metals were analyzed at ALS in Val-d'Or.

2012 core drilling program

Thirty-one (31) holes (4,207 m) were drilled at Kwyjibo in 2012 with the aim of validating grades, thicknesses and continuity of the REE-Fe-Cu mineralization in the northeastern portion of the Josette horizon, where the best drilling intersections were obtained in 2011 from hole 10885-11-57 with 2.40% TREO over 48.8m and hole 10885-11-60 with 3.61% TREO over 33.1m (see Focus Metals press release dated March 13th 2012).

A map of the Kwyjibo property showing the location of the 31 drill holes is available on the Company's website at www.focusgraphite.com.

A total of 1,333 samples (1,249 half NQ drill core samples; 23 duplicates; 29 standard samples and 32 blank samples) were sent to ALS in Val-d'Or and Vancouver, for total rare earth elements, base metals, major elements and trace element analysis. The results from the 2012 core drilling program are pending.

Surface and borehole TDEM geophysical surveys

A ground time-domain electromagnetic ("TDEM") geophysical survey and a borehole Pulse-EM survey were completed by Abitibi Geophysic Inc. from Val-d'Or (Québec) in early October. A total of 75 km of lines were surveyed on five different loops that covered all significant VTEM anomalies from the 2006 survey and all known occurrences of the iron formation on the Kwyjibo Property.

Thirty (30) drill holes (5.492 m), were surveyed with borehole Pulse-EM on three loops. Eight (8) holes from the 1994 to 2011 core drilling programs were also surveyed for a total of 1,219 m for the most northeastern Grabuge - Gabriel showings loop. A total of 2,089 m from 11 drill holes (1994 to 2012) were surveyed on loop that straddled the Fluorine and Josette showings grids. Finally, 2,184 m from 11 holes (1995 to 2012) were surveyed in the loop that covers most of the Josette horizon and the Josette grid.

The new ground and borehole geophysical data are currently being processed and interpreted by MB Geosolution of Québec City. High-priority geophysical targets from the 2012 surveys will be followed-up though drilling in 2013.

Metallurgical tests and mineralogical study

A first round of metallurgical tests is planned at Kwyjibo this year. The testing will be performed on two representative samples of the mineralized iron formation (magnetitite) and the mineralized breccia in the aim to produce concentrates for critical rare earths, copper and iron. The first sample will be comprised of 80kg composite of mineralised rock from Josette showing. The second sample will consist of a 230kg composite from quarter-drill core samples from seven holes drilled below trenches TR-95-29 and TR-95-30. The contract to carry out the metallurgical testing has been awarded to COREM of Québec-City. In conjunction with the metallurgical testing, a mineralogical study will be undertaken in order to characterize the distribution of the REEs in the different REE-bearing minerals. Results from both studies are expected in the third quarter of 2013.

Property Location

The Kwyjibo polymetallic Iron-Rare Earth Elements-Copper-(Gold) (Fe-REE-Cu-(Au)) property, totalling 118 mining titles and covering 6,278 ha, is located 125 km northeast of Sept-Îles, in the Côte-Nord administrative district of Québec. The property is also located 25 km east of the Québec North Shore and Labrador railway line and is accessible by air from Sept-Îles.
 

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Northern Minerals has demonstrated its Browns Range heavy rare earth element (HREE) project in northern Western Australia is capable of producing a high value 92% mixed rare earth oxide.

The test work to date has confirmed the ability to produce a high grade mineral concentrate from the Browns Range xenotime mineralisation, which can then be relatively simply refined into a high purity mixed rare earth oxide dominated by yittrium (61%) and dysprosium (11%).

Significantly, this increases the market potential and value for the Browns Range product, as mixed rare earth oxide is more amenable to the production processes of potential offtake partners.

The positive hydrometallurgical results have now further de-risked the project and opened the door to a significantly larger and higher value market for the Browns heavy rare earth product.

First production of mixed rare earth oxide is targeted for 2016 with a $58 million funding package in place supporting the pathway to production.

Hydrometallurgical flowsheet

The hydrometallurgical flowsheet includes conventional unit processes of sulphation bake, water leaching, impurity removal, oxalate precipitation and calcination to produce the high purity mixed rare earth oxide.

Following the results from earlier testing, Northern Minerals engaged Tenova Mining and Minerals to develop and manage a detailed hydrometallurgical test work program.

The first stage of this program has now been completed with the confirmation test work undertaken at both ALS and Nagrom laboratories in Perth.

The key results from the program are:

- Extraction efficiency in the acid bake and water leach step exceeded 85%;
- The precipitation efficiency of the oxalate precipitation step exceeded 99%;
- The product purity of the final calcined exceeded the target of 92% TREO in the mixed rare earth oxide; and
- Heavy rare earths dominate the mixed rare earth oxide.

Scoping Study

Northern Minerals also recently commissioned a Scoping Study for a hydrometallurgical process plant to treat 10,000 tonnes per annum of Browns Range mineral concentrate containing 30% TREO.

The study was based on the hydrometallurgical flowsheet and locating the process plant at the Browns Range site.

The estimated capital cost for this facility is A$40 million (±35%) and the operating cost is estimated at A$4.40 per kilogram of mineral concentrate feed.

Additionally, Northern Minerals has commissioned an economic and environmental location study to investigate potential locations for the hydrometallurgical plant in Australia.

Northern Minerals has already begun the optimisation phase of the test work program, which will test key variables for each stage of the process to determine the optimal operating criteria.

The company recently signed a memorandum of understanding for offtake with an international partner.

The MoU allows for supply of product as either a 30% TREO mineral concentrate or a 92% mixed rare earth oxide.

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