IAMGOLD has updated on the rare earth elements (REE) exploration nearby the Niobec niobium mine in Canada. The location of the recognized rare earth element zone (REE zone) is around 1 km to the northern part of the Niobec mine.
The company’s $2.5 million supplemental exploration has been permitted to drill test the estimated niobium resources expansions at Niobec, and for drilling the REE zone. IAMGOLD has started a 21,000 m diamond drill program, in which 8,500 m of drilling is intended for the REE zone.
IAMGOLD has completed diamond drilling for over 7,000 m in the REE zone during the end of 2011 August. The plan of the drill campaign is to validate the three-dimensional traces of mineralization that commences very near to the surface, perform initial metallurgical test work and offer a primary grade estimate of the rare earth elements group.
Four holes have been drilled at the mineralized zone during the beginning of 2011 drilling program and the drilling results have substantiated the past Total Rare Earth Element Oxides (TREO) grades. Cerium, Dysprosium, Europium, Gadolinium, Lanthanum, Neodymium, Samarium, Praseodymium and Terbium are the key rare earth elements.
The company has begun metallurgical test work on the drilling samples. The results from the primary metallurgical test work have indicated the retrieval of bulk flotation concentrate with the percentage varying from 58% to 70%. IAMGOLD is continuing the test work and will commence the initial leaching tests in the future weeks. It has drilled 18 further holes and assay test work is continuing on these samples.
Source: http://www.iamgold.com/