Lindian Resources has secured independent validation from ANSTO of a complete hydrometallurgical flowsheet for its Kangankunde monazite concentrate, achieving near-complete NdPr extraction and producing a non-radioactive mixed rare earth carbonate product ready for commercial processing.
- 98% NdPr and 96% TREY extraction confirmed at scale
- Final MREC product certified non-radioactive under IAEA standards
- Flowsheet directly transferable to existing SARECO facility in Kazakhstan
- Low reagent use and robust impurity removal demonstrated
- Certification simplifies logistics and broadens market access
ANSTO Confirms Exceptional Rare Earth Recovery and Non-Radioactive Product
Lindian Resources (ASX:LIN) has crossed a major technical milestone with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) independently validating its downstream processing flowsheet for the Kangankunde monazite concentrate. The hydrometallurgical testwork achieved a remarkable 98% extraction of neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) and 96% total rare earth oxides plus yttrium (TREY) recovery at a scale larger than previous optimisation efforts, confirming the robustness of the conventional sulphuric acid bake process.
Crucially, ANSTO certified the final mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) product as exempt from radioactive transport and handling under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards. This means the product contains uranium, thorium, and associated decay-chain radionuclides below detection limits, including actinium-227, a radionuclide often problematic for downstream processors. This certification removes significant regulatory and logistical hurdles, allowing Lindian to ship and handle the product as a conventional industrial material.
Validation at Scale and Direct Transfer to SARECO Facility
The testwork program scaled up the sulphuric acid bake process to produce a pregnant leach solution with the highest rare earth concentration (21.1 g/L TREY) recorded during the program. Higher solution tenor reduces the size and cost of downstream equipment, lowers reagent and water consumption, and increases throughput capacity. Notably, the process performance improved with scale, alleviating a common risk in metallurgical projects.
Importantly, the validated flowsheet is directly applicable to the existing SARECO MREC facility in Kazakhstan, which already operates a conventional sulphuric acid processing circuit. Lindian’s concentrate has been successfully processed there before, and the facility benefits from an established, competitively priced sulphuric acid supply. This alignment significantly de-risks commercial implementation and accelerates Lindian’s downstream strategy.
Efficient Impurity Removal and Low Reagent Consumption
The purification circuit demonstrated exceptional selectivity, removing over 99% of phosphorus and iron, and reducing thorium below detection limits, while limiting NdPr losses to approximately 1.1%. The simplicity of this two-stage magnesium oxide pH adjustment process supports reliable plant operation and reduces commissioning complexity.
Additionally, uranium concentrations were sufficiently low to avoid the need for dedicated uranium removal circuits, streamlining the flowsheet and reducing capital and operating costs compared to typical monazite projects. Sulphuric acid consumption was measured at 1.2–1.4 tonnes per tonne of concentrate, with ongoing optimisation targeted at further reducing reagent use to improve economics.
Strategic Implications for Lindian’s Rare Earths Ambitions
Executive Director Zac Komur highlighted that the ANSTO validation materially reduces technical and execution risks by confirming the process at commercial scale and demonstrating repeatability across multiple concentrate feeds. This independent endorsement from Australia’s national nuclear agency strengthens Lindian’s position as it prepares to recommission and optimise the SARECO facility, aiming for first production of high-value MREC by late 2026.
The complete non-radioactive product chain, from Kangankunde concentrate through to final MREC, simplifies logistics and broadens access to downstream customers, including separation plants and magnet manufacturers seeking low-radionuclide feedstocks. This competitive advantage could prove pivotal in the tightly regulated rare earth supply chain.
With the downstream flowsheet validated and the processing facility secured, Lindian now pivots to operational execution, building on recent capital raises and construction progress at Kangankunde. The company’s integrated strategy positions it to become a globally significant critical minerals producer, leveraging both high-grade concentrate and value-added downstream products.
Bottom Line?
Lindian’s ANSTO-validated flowsheet and non-radioactive certification clear a key hurdle, setting the stage for commercial MREC production and supply chain integration.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Lindian optimise reagent consumption to enhance downstream operating costs?
- What timeline and challenges lie ahead for the recommissioning of the SARECO facility?
- How will the non-radioactive certification influence Lindian’s access to premium downstream customers?