Rare Element Resources
Bear Lodge Project
Canadian NI 43-101 Technical Report
October 9
th
, 2014
10135-200-46 - Rev. 0
vi
Recovery Methods ..................................................................................................17-1
17
17.1
Process Summary............................................................................................................ 17-1
17.2
Process Description Unit 100 – Physical Upgrade Plant ................................................. 17-2
Size Reduction (common for all ore types) ...................................................................... 17-2
17.2.1
Ore Comp 4...................................................................................................................... 17-3
17.2.2
Ore Comp 1 & 2 ............................................................................................................... 17-3
17.2.3
Ore Comp 3...................................................................................................................... 17-4
17.2.4
Reagent Preparation ........................................................................................................ 17-5
17.2.5
Reject Rock Management................................................................................................ 17-5
17.2.6
Water Supply.................................................................................................................... 17-5
17.2.7
17.3
Process Description Unit 200 – Hydromet Plant Leach ................................................. 17-14
Chemistry ....................................................................................................................... 17-15
17.3.1
17.4
Process Description Unit 300 – Precipitation & Calcination .......................................... 17-17
Oxalate Precipitation Chemistry..................................................................................... 17-19
17.4.1
17.5
Process Description Unit 350 – Acid Regeneration, Metal Carbonates,
and Calcium Chloride..................................................................................................... 17-19
Metal Carbonate Precipitation Chemistry ...................................................................... 17-20
17.5.1
17.6
Process Description Unit 400 – Utilities ......................................................................... 17-20
Plant Water Supply Facilities ......................................................................................... 17-20
17.6.1
Compressed Air Supply Facilities .................................................................................. 17-21
17.6.2
Steam and Cold Water Utilities ...................................................................................... 17-22
17.6.3
17.7
Process Description Unit 500 – Chemical Reagent Storage Facilities .......................... 17-22
Ammonium Hydroxide Chemistry................................................................................... 17-23
17.7.1
17.8
Process Description Unit 600 – High Purity REO Product............................................. 17-23
Nitric Acid Leach ............................................................................................................ 17-23
17.8.1
Thorium Removal ........................................................................................................... 17-24
17.8.2
Rare Earth Hydroxide Precipitation................................................................................ 17-25
17.8.3
Rare Earth Oxide Final Product ..................................................................................... 17-25
17.8.4
17.9
Preliminary Design Basis ............................................................................................... 17-50
Production Capacity ....................................................................................................... 17-50
17.9.1
Product Specifications.................................................................................................... 17-50
17.9.2
Feedstock....................................................................................................................... 17-50
17.9.3
Operating Factor ............................................................................................................ 17-55
17.9.4
Storage Capacities ......................................................................................................... 17-55
17.9.5
Control and Automation ................................................................................................. 17-56
17.9.6
Radionuclides................................................................................................................. 17-56
17.9.7
17.10
Recovery Calculation using METSIM ............................................................................ 17-57
17.11
Objectives of METSIM Model......................................................................................... 17-57
17.12
Results ........................................................................................................................... 17-57
17.13
Model Inputs................................................................................................................... 17-57
Screening Recovery....................................................................................................... 17-57
17.13.1
17.14
Model Parameters .......................................................................................................... 17-60
