Rare Element Resources
Bear Lodge Project
Canadian NI 43-101 Technical Report
October 9
th
, 2014
10135-200-46 - Rev. 0
17-60
17.14 Model Parameters
General
17.14.1
A model of the PUG process was build using METSIM (version 2013.12), a
commercially available process simulation software. Three flow sheets,
corresponding to the three PUG configurations were modeled and used to simulate
the operation of the plant. Since recovery data was only available for the main
component, minor components recoveries were estimated from the Hydromet feed
assays. Since these component typically represent a very small fraction of the
processed material, the implied error is negligible in the context of a pre-feasibility
level engineering study.
The METSIM model is only representative of the expected mass balance for the
metal components of the PUG.
No comminution parameters such as the minerals bond work index and breakability
factors have been used.
Furthermore, the model was built using the oxides compounds of the elements
present in the resource, and therefore cannot be relied upon to predict the effect of
the PUG process on specific anions such as chloride, carbonate, phosphate and
fluoride. The expected assays of these anions were estimated using the Hydromet
pilot plant feed analyses.
The PUG feed has been defined by WLRC in the Bear Lodge Mine Production
Schedule.
Only main components of each ore type are presented in this section. The complete
data is available in “An Investigation into Pilot Scale Physical Upgrading Testing on
Samples from the Bear Lodge Deposit”.
