Aldoro Resources Demonstrates 72% Rare Earth Recovery with Simplified Processing at Kameelburg
Aldoro Resources has achieved a major metallurgical milestone at its Kameelburg project, with direct acid leach tests recovering up to 72% of rare earth elements and over 99% of strontium without prior beneficiation, suggesting a potentially lower-cost development pathway.
- Direct hydrochloric acid leach recovers 72% total rare earth elements
- Strontium extraction exceeds 99%, highlighting dual-product potential
- No need for flotation or thermal cracking simplifies processing
- Niobium-rich zones confirmed at carbonatite margins
- Phase II drilling supports updated Mineral Resource Estimate due in June
Simplified Processing Breakthrough at Kameelburg
Aldoro Resources (ASX:ARN) has unveiled metallurgical testwork results that could reshape the economics of its flagship Kameelburg Rare Earth and Strontium Project in Namibia. The company’s maiden hydrometallurgical program demonstrated that run-of-mine style ore can be directly leached with hydrochloric acid, extracting approximately 72% of total rare earth elements (TREE) and more than 99% of strontium. This direct acid leach approach bypasses the complex beneficiation and thermal cracking stages typically required in rare earth projects, potentially slashing capital and operating costs.
The 91 kg composite sample, sourced from 30 drill core intervals, revealed a high-grade head assay of 1.28% TREE and 2.67% strontium, dominated by light rare earths such as cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium. Notably, the 69% single-pass rare earth recovery at 15% hydrochloric acid compares favourably to the 42.7% recovery reported at Tanzania’s Ngualla project, underscoring Kameelburg’s processing advantage.
Strontium Recovery and Dual-Commodity Upside
Strontium extraction exceeded 99% across all acid leach tests, confirming Kameelburg’s status as the world’s largest reported strontium resource. This exceptional recovery opens the door to a dual-product strategy, with strontium carbonate production complementing rare earth outputs. Given strontium carbonate’s rising global demand and supply constraints, this diversification could bolster project resilience and revenue streams.
Chairperson Quinn Li emphasised the significance: “Achieving these recoveries without conventional flotation concentration suggests a simplified processing route relative to many rare earth projects globally. The exceptional strontium recovery further highlights the unique multi-product nature of Kameelburg.”
Geological Zoning Validated by Phase II Drilling
Complementing the metallurgical progress, recent assays from diamond drill hole DD003B have confirmed the company’s geological zoning model. The hole intersected a broad 169.7 m zone averaging 0.81% TREE, 3.21% SrCO₃, and 0.43% Nb₂O₅ along the carbonatite margin, with discrete high-grade niobium sub-zones reaching up to 1.23% Nb₂O₅ over 8 m. Towards the intrusion’s centre, a 5 m interval returned 2.94% TREE and 7.64% SrCO₃, consistent with a rare-earth-rich sovite core.
This zonation confirms a niobium-enriched beforsite phase at the margins grading inward to a rare-earth and strontium-rich core, providing critical vectoring for the upcoming Phase II Mineral Resource Estimate update scheduled for June. The drilling program, now complete with 15 holes totaling 7,190 m, is expected to underpin a more confident resource model.
Pathways to Optimise Recovery and Cut Costs
While the initial 72% TREE recovery is a strong baseline, Aldoro has identified clear opportunities to enhance extraction and reduce processing inputs. Planned next steps include mineralogical characterisation to identify refractory rare earth hosts, elevated temperature leaching to improve dissolution kinetics, finer grinding, and pre-concentration trials using flotation and gravity methods to reject gangue minerals ahead of leaching.
The company is also evaluating acid management strategies such as counter-current leaching and hydrochloric acid regeneration, alongside iron and impurity removal techniques. A dedicated strontium recovery flowsheet is in development to maximise the value of this co-product.
Potential Cost Advantages in Rare Earth Processing
Kameelburg’s ability to avoid flotation concentration and energy-intensive thermal cracking steps could materially reduce plant complexity, capital intensity, power consumption, and water demand. These factors may accelerate project timelines and improve environmental footprints compared to peers relying on refractory phosphate or silicate host minerals.
Industry experience suggests that further optimisation could push TREE recoveries beyond 72%, enhancing project economics. However, Aldoro cautions that these results derive from laboratory-scale testwork on a composite sample; pilot-scale validation and detailed engineering studies remain necessary to confirm commercial viability.
Bottom Line?
Kameelburg’s direct leach breakthrough and confirmed multi-commodity mineralisation position Aldoro to refine a lower-cost rare earth and strontium development, with upcoming resource updates and optimisation work key to unlocking its full potential.
Questions in the middle?
- How will pilot-scale metallurgical testing influence the feasibility of direct acid leach processing?
- What impact will the dual rare earth and strontium product strategy have on project economics amid evolving market prices?
- To what extent can pre-concentration and elevated temperature leaching improve rare earth recoveries beyond the initial 72% benchmark?
