Quarterly Activities Report to 30 September 2020

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Month: October 2020

Quarterly Activities Report to 30 September 2020

Posted on by Ian Donabie

Highlights

ASM Korean Metals Technology

  • High purity titanium (Ti) metal 20.8kg produced assaying 99.83%
  • Innovative metals process confirms 70% lower energy consumption
  • Ziron Tech optimisation increases metal efficiency by 50%
  • Significant environmental benefits of innovative metal process confirmed
  • Production of 7.6kg of neodymium metal at 99.8% purity
  • Production of 5.3kg praseodymium metal assaying 99.3% purity
  • Production of 9.2kg of titanium metal powder assaying 99.83%
  • Production of 9.0kg of Neodymium Praseodymium (NdPr) alloy assaying 99.65%
  • Production of 7.5kg of heavy rare earth dysprosium metal assaying 99.53%

Optimisation of the Dubbo Project

  • Work completed on initial flotation test work programme to deliver an increased ore feed grade to the solvent extraction plant. The integration of flotation into the proven flowsheet is a key part of targeting a reduction in the capital and operating costs for the development of the Dubbo Project.
  • Production of metals from the Dubbo Project products have confirmed the proven flowsheet.
  • Key products defined as zirconia, dehafniated zirconia for zirconium metal production and hafnium oxide; rare earths in the form of oxides for neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium, and niobium.
  • Hatch engineering has been engaged to complete the optimisation study by the end of the first quarter 2021.

Corporate

  • Successful demerger from Alkane Resources Ltd
  • Cash position totalled A$16.5M
  • Acquisition of a 95% interest in joint venture partner Ziron Technology Corporation (Ziron Tech)
  • Ziron Tech acquisition gives ASM ownership of all associated intellectual property including patented metal-refining technology
  • Ziron Tech team will continue development of metallisation technology within ASM

 

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ASM produces 8.6kg of high purity zirconium metal in Korea

Posted on by Ian Donabie
Highlights:
  • ASM produces 8.6kg of high purity Zirconium metal powder
  • Zirconium powder assay – 98% Zr and 1.5% Hf
  • Confirmation of zirconium metal sample meets the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute standards

ASM, through its partner Ziron Technology Corporation (Ziron Tech), has successfully produced 8.6kg of a high purity zirconium metal at its commercial pilot plant in South Korea.

The planned flowsheet for ASM’s Dubbo Project in central west NSW, incorporates the production of both industrial grade zirconia and dehafniated zirconia (ZrO2) and hafnium oxide (HfO2) using a process patented by Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation’s (ANSTO) with ASM having an exclusive global licence. Successful production of this high purity zirconium metal from commercial grade zirconia is an important milestone for ASM.

Ziron Tech has received confirmation that the laboratory sample of dehafniated zirconium metal previously produced from Dubbo ore and submitted to the Korean Atomic Energy Institute (KAERI) meets the standards set by them that are crucial for the Korean market, with further work planned to produce 2 tonnes of high purity dehafniated zirconium (Zr) before the end of the year. ASM has now successfully produced key permanent magnet metals of neodymium, praseodymium, neodymium-praseodymium alloy, dysprosium, titanium metal, titanium alloy, titanium metal powder, and zirconium using its innovative metallisation process.

Zr Metal Powder Produced at the Ziron Tech Pilot Plant

The focus is now on the production of 250kg of Neodymium-Praseodymium (NdPr) metal, to be turned into sintered permanent magnets samples in partnership with the Korean Institute of Rare Metals (KIRAM) for the Korean market. Work on the production of ferro-dysprosium and ferroniobium is scheduled for Q4 2020, which will mark the completion of the metallisation of the final products sourced from the Dubbo Project.

ASM Managing Director, David Woodall said: “The production of zirconium metal is a significant result for ASM and the potential development of the Dubbo Project. The successful production of zirconium and the other metals planned to be produced at Dubbo has enabled ASM to optimise the project flowsheet. In the 2018 FEED Study, the plan was for the project to produce predominately zirconium oxychloride (ZOC), today’s result will see the percentage of ZOC reduced significantly to focus on and meet the high purity zirconium metal and hafnium production targets, with potential benefits in the capital and operating costs.”

“I am returning to Korea to continue investment discussions, oversee the design and construction of a 250 kg per day continuous metal plant in Korea, and to continue advancing discussions for a potential partner in the metal business.” Mr Woodall said.

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ASM produces 7.5kg of heavy rare earth metal dysprosium in Korea

Posted on by Ian Donabie
Highlights:
  • ASM produces 7.5kg of heavy rare earth dysprosium metal
  • Dysprosium metal assay – 99.53%
  • Metallisation of ferro-dysprosium and zirconium progressing

ASM, through its partner Ziron Technology Corporation (Ziron Tech), has successfully produced 7.5 kg of a high purity dysprosium metal at its commercial pilot plant in South Korea.

After producing 0.76 kg of the heavy rare earth metal last month, this second run confirms that it can be done at scale, marking the completion of the final key permanent magnet metals to be produced at the Ziron Tech facility. ASM has now produced neodymium, praseodymium, neodymium praseodymium alloy and dysprosium, all key for permanent magnets, through the commercial pilot plant using its innovative metallisation process.

Work has commenced on the production of ferro-dysprosium and zirconium metals. These are anticipated to be the final products metallised from material sourced from the Dubbo Project in central west NSW.

ASM Managing Director, David Woodall said: “ASM is progressing further in its development to become an integrated mine to metal business, with the successful production of the heavy rare earth metal, dysprosium. With the production of these key permanent magnets metals and metal alloys, and the development of zirconium metal production, ASM is one step closer to converting all products from the Dubbo Project into value-adding metals.”

“Our focus is now on commencing the design and construction of a 250 kg per day continuous metal plant in Korea. This is the first phase of our strategy to develop a 3,000-5,000 tonne per year plant designed to meet some of the demand for critical materials in the Korean manufacturing sector. ASM continues to advance discussions for a potential partner in the metal business,” Mr Woodall said.

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