How European Resources Boosted Korsnäs REE Grades by Up to 75% in New Tests

Metallurgical Progress at Korsnäs

European Resources Limited has taken a significant stride forward in developing its Korsnäs Rare Earth Element (REE) Project in Finland, unveiling promising preliminary metallurgical test results. Conducted by PT Geoservices in Indonesia, the screening test work focused on gravity separation, magnetic separation, and sulphide flotation of samples from both the hard rock mineralised system and the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF).

The standout outcome was the gravity separation tests on allanite- and apatite-dominant samples, which delivered a substantial uplift in total rare earth oxides (TREO) grades, ranging from 45% to 75%, while recovering between 40% and 60% of the rare earth elements. This suggests a simple pre-concentration stage could effectively enhance the ore before the main flotation circuit, potentially simplifying the processing flowsheet.

Challenges and Opportunities in Flotation and Magnetic Separation

While magnetic separation was tested as a potential pre-concentration method, results showed minimal selectivity due to the magnetic susceptibility of most minerals in the samples. This outcome, though disappointing, is strategically useful as it narrows the processing options early, allowing the company to focus resources on more promising techniques.

Meanwhile, sulphide flotation on the TSF apatite-dominant samples achieved approximately 80% lead recovery and 85% sulphide recovery. However, a notable proportion of REE-bearing minerals, around 55% to 60%, also reported to the flotation concentrate. This indicates that further optimisation of reagents and cleaning stages will be necessary to improve selectivity and effectively separate valuable REE minerals from sulphide gangue.

Accelerating Downstream Processing Efforts

Building on these encouraging screening results, European Resources is fast-tracking concentrate production test work at the University of Oulu and GTK in Finland. Concurrently, downstream processing test work is underway at ANSTO in Australia to evaluate extraction and residue profiles, which will inform the selection of practical processing routes for rare earth oxide products.

Managing Director Jason Beckton emphasised the importance of these developments, noting that the project’s simple yet growing geological resource combined with advancing flowsheet options positions Korsnäs well within the EU’s strategic framework for securing domestic rare earth supplies essential for modern industries.

Strategic Implications and Next Steps

These metallurgical advancements not only enhance the technical foundation of the Korsnäs project but also reinforce its strategic value amid global supply chain pressures for critical minerals. The company plans to continue refining processing techniques, including pilot-scale downstream testing, to optimise recovery and concentrate quality.

While the results are preliminary and some challenges remain, particularly in flotation selectivity, the progress marks a clear step forward. Investors and stakeholders will be watching closely as European Resources moves towards defining a viable, scalable processing flowsheet that could underpin future production and contribute to Europe’s rare earth independence.