New Frontier Minerals Targets Upgraded Rare Earth Concentrates at Pomme Project

Metallurgical Testwork Aims to Unlock Pomme's Potential

New Frontier Minerals Limited (ASX:NFM) is advancing its Pomme Rare Earth Element (REE) Project in Quebec by commencing metallurgical testwork designed to produce higher-grade REE concentrates. This move could be pivotal in unlocking the economic potential of the large carbonatite-hosted system, which has already demonstrated significant mineralisation in previous drilling campaigns.

The company will apply a two-pronged approach: starting with conventional metallurgical testwork on existing drill core samples, followed by proprietary Flash Joule Heating (FJH) technology from processing partner Metallium Limited. The FJH method aims to upgrade REE mineralisation efficiently, potentially offering a scalable and low-cost processing pathway.

Targeting High-Grade Zones from Scout Drilling

The testwork will focus on mid-to-high-grade mineralised zones identified in scout drilling, particularly from drill holes POM-23-03, POM-23-01, and POM-23-07. These intercepts include intervals such as 30.5 metres at 1.13% total rare earth oxides (TREO) and 0.03% niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5), and 26.5 metres at 1.45% TREO, among others. Such grades are encouraging for the project's development and highlight the potential value of upgrading the mineralisation.

Chairman Gerrard Hall emphasised the importance of this phase, noting the commitment to understanding how the mineralisation responds to processing. The partnership with Metallium and the inclusion of FJH technology reflect a strategic effort to identify the most effective beneficiation route for Pomme.

Strategic Location and Staged Earn-In Structure

The Pomme Project is situated roughly 500 kilometres northwest of Montréal, near the service town of Lebel-sur-Quévillon and close to the Waswanipi Cree First Nation community. It covers about 2,400 hectares across 43 mineral claims and lies just 7 kilometres from the Montviel Deposit, a world-class resource with an indicated and inferred resource of 266 million tonnes at 1.46% TREO and 0.14% Nb2O5.

New Frontier holds an option to earn up to a 90% interest in Pomme through a two-year staged earn-in agreement, requiring modest upfront cash and share payments alongside minimum annual expenditure commitments. This structure limits initial capital exposure while maintaining upside potential as the project advances.

Scope for Further Discovery Amid Broad Drill Spacing

Geological interpretations suggest higher-grade mineralisation occurs within a ring structure surrounding a magnetic ultramafic carbonatite core. However, large portions of this prospective ring remain untested due to broad drill spacing, indicating clear opportunities for follow-up drilling to expand the resource base.

This geological setting, combined with the extensive mineralised system exceeding two square kilometres and open at depth, underscores the project's exploration upside. The upcoming metallurgical results will be crucial in determining how best to process and upgrade the mineralisation to enhance economic viability.