American Rare Earths has successfully produced mixed rare earth oxides from Halleck Creek ore, marking a pivotal technical breakthrough in its mineral processing program. This achievement advances the project closer to commercial viability amid growing demand for critical minerals.
- Production of mixed rare earth oxides (MREO) from Halleck Creek ore using updated PFS flowsheet
- High recovery rates of rare earth elements, including key magnets like NdPr, Tb, and Dy
- Effective uranium removal achieving 99% reduction in leachate solution
- Ongoing solvent extraction simulation and metallurgical optimization
- Supports U.S. strategic independence in rare earth supply chains
Technical Breakthrough at Halleck Creek
American Rare Earths (ASX – ARR) has announced a significant technical milestone in its Halleck Creek Project in Wyoming, successfully producing a mixed rare earth oxide (MREO) from ore using an updated mineral processing flowsheet. This achievement confirms the feasibility of extracting rare earth elements (REEs) into metallic oxides, a critical step toward refining these essential materials for advanced technologies.
The process, conducted in collaboration with SGS in Canada, involved precipitating a mixed rare earth oxalate from a purified leachate solution, followed by calcining at 1,000°C to produce the MREO powder. Notably, the calcining step oxidizes cerium to a form that improves downstream solvent extraction efficiency, underscoring the technical sophistication of the approach.
Implications for Rare Earth Element Supply
MREO serves as the precursor for producing separated rare earth oxides such as Neodymium-Praseodymium (NdPr), Terbium (Tb), and Dysprosium (Dy), which are critical for manufacturing permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defense applications. Successfully producing MREO from Halleck Creek ore addresses one of the most challenging steps in rare earth processing, positioning the project as a potential cornerstone for U.S. critical mineral independence.
Additionally, the company reported uranium removal efficiencies of up to 99% from the rare earth enriched solution, mitigating environmental and processing risks associated with radioactive contaminants. This aligns with American Rare Earths’ commitment to environmentally responsible mining practices.
Next Steps and Ongoing Development
With the MREO production validated, American Rare Earths is advancing solvent extraction simulations using MetSim software to optimize refinery design, cost modeling, and process specifications. Parallel metallurgical optimization efforts include comminution testing and magnetic separation techniques to refine ore processing further.
The company continues to engage with environmental regulators and stakeholders to ensure permitting and baseline studies support sustainable project development. These technical and regulatory advances collectively enhance the project's readiness for the upcoming Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) update.
Strategically located on Wyoming State land with streamlined permitting advantages, Halleck Creek’s progress is timely amid global supply chain concerns and increasing demand for rare earth elements critical to clean energy and national security technologies.
Bottom Line?
American Rare Earths’ technical progress at Halleck Creek sets the stage for advancing U.S. rare earth supply chains, but upcoming solvent extraction results and economic modeling will be key to commercial viability.
Questions in the middle?
- How will solvent extraction simulation outcomes influence final processing costs and refinery design?
- What timelines are anticipated for completing the updated PFS and moving toward production?
- How will environmental permitting and community engagement shape project development?