Harena reports efficient rare earth recovery in Madagascar

Published 16/04/2025, 07:34
Harena reports efficient rare earth recovery in Madagascar

LONDON - Harena Resources Plc (LSE:HREE) has announced significant metallurgical test results from its Ampasindava Rare Earths Project in Madagascar, which is 75% owned by the company. The tests confirmed that critical magnet metals such as Neodymium (Nd), Praseodymium (Pr), Dysprosium (Dy), and Terbium (Tb) can be efficiently recovered using low-impact heap leach processing techniques.

The use of simple ion desorption with high extraction rates was achieved using an ammonium sulphate leach in low-acid conditions. This supports Harena’s goal of establishing an environmentally responsible and geopolitically independent supply of magnet metals crucial for the defence, energy, and technology sectors.

SGS (SIX:SGSN) Lakefield’s testwork, which utilized a pH 5 ammonium sulphate solution, delivered strong results. The optimal column heap leach test, conducted over 218 hours, demonstrated recoveries of 88% Nd, 86% Pr, 73% Dy, 79% Tb, and 67% Y using ammonium sulphate at a pH of 4. Notably, the recovery of Cerium, a low-value and high-bulk element, was minimal, which is advantageous for producing high-grade magnet metal concentrates or carbonates.

Joe Belladonna, Managing Director of Harena, commented on the findings, highlighting the environmentally and ecologically friendly process to be employed at Ampasindava. He also noted the significance of these developments in the context of the global race to secure heavy rare earth feedstocks for defence and new energy applications.

The test work, carried out by the University of Toronto, Outotec, and SGS Lakefield, included 54 bulk and discrete samples of regolith clays and culminated in 12 optimum eluant tests and follow-on column tests. The column tests, designed to simulate heap leaching conditions, confirmed that ionic clay-hosted rare earth elements are released from their adsorption bond liberally with a low-intensity pH of 4 to 5 and a residence time of around 10 days.

Harena Resources aims to contribute to a more resilient global supply chain by providing a sustainable source of critical minerals for the global energy transition and military defence industries. This announcement is based on a press release statement from Harena Resources.

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