{kanada_flagge}Searchlight Resources Inc (TSXV: SCLT; FRA: 2CC2) has contracted the Saskatchewan Research Council (“SRC”) laboratory in Saskatoon to conduct metallurgical testing for optimal recovery of rare earth elements from a high-grade 20 kilogram monazite sample from Searchlight’s Fanta zone near Kulyk Lake, Saskatchewan. The SRC will provide the results in the form of a rare earth element (REE) beneficiation study. This will test various methods to separate the valuable monazite mineral from the rock sample, and test whether any other elements are present which could complicate extraction of the ore mineral.
Conclusion. Searchlight Resources has focused on its Kulyk Lake uranium/REE project this season. Geologists have been to the project three times to explore the nearly 10 kilometer long pegmatite dyke. With the hoped-for uranium grades not confirmed, the focus has shifted to rare earth elements in the central part of the pegmatite. The REE grades historically measured there are extremely high. Nearby Saskatoon would offer ideal conditions for processing a monazite concentrate, given the short distances involved. In addition, the newly built plant is actively searching for suitable material. It will be interesting to see how the tests for the extraction of REE turn out. However, the host mineral, monazite, is well known in the industry and should not present any major challenges. Good results would catapult Searchlight out of nowhere into the group of promising REE companies.
{kanada_flagge}Searchlight Resources Inc (TSXV: SCLT; FRA: 2CC2) has contracted the Saskatchewan Research Council (“SRC”) laboratory in Saskatoon to conduct metallurgical testing for optimal recovery of rare earth elements from a high-grade 20 kilogram monazite sample from Searchlight’s Fanta zone near Kulyk Lake, Saskatchewan. The SRC will provide the results in the form of a rare earth element (REE) beneficiation study. This will test various methods to separate the valuable monazite mineral from the rock sample, and test whether any other elements are present which could complicate extraction of the ore mineral.
Searchlight is exploring an occurrence of high grade monazite which has systematically been exposed in trenches and sampled through a series of diamond saw outcrop cuts which have grades of Total Rare Earths approaching the theoretical maximum for the mineral monazite, a preferred ore mineral for rare earths.
The best way to think about monazite is to consider the analogy with an automobile. The mineral is the car with a phosphate body, which can transport rare earth passengers as well as thorium and even uranium. In the case of Searchlight’s monazite samples, the main economic rare earths of interest are the magnet metals, Neodymium and Praseodymium which are used in highly efficient electric motors for wind turbines and electric vehicles.
New REE processing plant for rare earths in Saskatoon to come on stream in 2023-2024
Significantly for investors, a brand-new CAD 50 million rare earth processing plant is scheduled to come online in Saskatoon, SK in the next two years. The construction of this plant was financed with public funds. The plant has already produced magnet metal ingots and will be ramping up to commercial scale over the next several months. The plant is designed to exclusively process the mineral monazite. Searchlight is one of only two companies with high grade monazite zones at surface in Saskatchewan. The high-grade monazite samples found by Searchlight were collected in a region which has roads as well as mining infrastructure and could be delivered to the new processing plant with comparative ease. Currently, the new monazite processing plant does not have a secure REE feedstock supply, as the importation of monazite sands from Brazil is problematic due to the unexpectedly expensive logistics for the feedstock. The mineral monazite is slightly radioactive and must be declared as a hazardous material when transported. Within Saskatchewan, transportation is less challenging and less expensive.
The study, if successful, could provide a major incentive for Searchlight to begin a resource definition drilling program at Kulyk Lake.
Figure 1: Heavily weathered rock at Searchlight’s Fanta REE project. Measured REE values in three samples exceed previously measured grades in the district by a factor of 10.
Specifically, testing includes accurate chemical analysis and characterization of the Fanta sample, including ICP and X-ray diffraction and particle size distribution. In addition, preliminary processing tests include heavy liquid separation, gravity and magnetic separation, and flotation.
Stephen Wallace, Searchlight’s Chief Executive Officer said, “These tests are an important step in understanding the chemistry of the high-grade Fanta monazite deposit at Kulyk Lake and assessing whether the material can be processed at the SRC rare earth processing plant.”
The Kulyk Lake Critical Elements project is located approximately 165 kilometers north of La Ronge, Sask, and 65 kilometers south of the Key Lake uranium mine. The project covers 346.7 square kilometers with several rare earth targets, including the high-grade Fanta rare earth target. The 37 claim blocks at Kulyk Lake were all acquired by staking and are 100% owned by Searchlight Resources, royalty free.
Searchlight acquired the Fanta deposit in 2019 by staking based on sampling, trenching and mapping reports from 2009/2010. Initial trenching samples were collected in 2009 and analyzed using a rare earth analysis package at the Saskatchewan Research Council laboratory. Results include: 56.18% TREO (total rare earth oxides), including 12.49% CREO, in historical grab sample AGKJR001; including 9.61% Nd2O3, 2.71% Pr6O11 and 1,194 ppm (parts per million) Dy2O3. As well as 30.60% TREO, including 6.82% CREO, in historical grab sample AGKJR002; including 5.21% Nd2O3, 1.52% Pr6O11 and 608 ppm Dy2O3In 2010, samples from a number of follow-up trenches were similarly analyzed at the Saskatchewan Research Council laboratory. Selected results include: 45.10% TREO, including 10.08% CREO, in historic 0.6 m trench sample DFKJR026; including 7.64% Nd2O3, 2.29% Pr6O11 and 1,114 ppm Dy2O3. As well as 24.44% TREO, including 5.49% CREO, in historic 0.7-m trench sample DFKJR025; including 4.18% Nd2O3, 1.22% Pr6O11, and 735 ppm Dy2O3.
Conclusion. Searchlight Resources has focused on its Kulyk Lake uranium/REE project this season. Geologists have been to the project three times to explore the nearly 10 kilometer long pegmatite dyke. With the hoped-for uranium grades not confirmed, the focus has shifted to rare earth elements in the central part of the pegmatite. The REE grades historically measured there are extremely high. Nearby Saskatoon would offer ideal conditions for processing a monazite concentrate, given the short distances involved. In addition, the newly built plant is actively searching for suitable material. It will be interesting to see how the tests for the extraction of REE turn out. However, the host mineral, monazite, is well known in the industry and should not present any major challenges. Good results would catapult Searchlight out of nowhere into the group of promising REE companies.
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