Recent resource evaluation report & MRE beyond all expectations
Project: Sandy Mitchell Rare Earth & Heavy Metals
Minerals: All critical Light Rare Earths + dysprosium (Dy),terbium (Tb), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm) ytterbium (Yb), yttrium (Y) & Monazite, Zircon, Rutile, Xenotime & Ilmenite
Status: Maiden resource reports & MRE completed / Stage 2 Drilling & Updated resource report by end 2024
Sandy Mitchell Rare Earth Minerals Project
Once in a while, a truly unique & valuable opportunity comes along, and for those fortunate enough to be aware of it before its popularity blows up, it can be extremely lucrative.
The Sandy Mitchell Project looks more like one of those opportunities every day! Powerful forces have merged to create the ingredients for one of those rare opportunities you hear about but rarely catch on the way up.
Yes there is a long way to go, and no, there are no guarantees; however, these strong forces merging at this point in time make this opportunity one you won’t want to risk that you’ll miss.
Below, you’ll find an overview of the project plus the 4 key factors that show why so many investors who hear the Sandy Mitchell story become so bullish about it.
Important Update
Following its Maiden Indicated Mineral Resource estimate, Ark has undertaken an extensive reconnaissance drilling programme and, as a result, now is able to assess an exploration target range for the Sandy Mitchell tenement.
• The Exploration Target estimated for Sandy Mitchell: 1.3 billion tonnes to 1.5 billion tonnes @ 1250 to 1490 ppm monazite equivalent.
Executive Director Ben Emery said:
“The sheer scale of the Sandy Mitchell Exploration Target, up to 1.5 billion tonnes, delivers a clear statement that this is one of the world’s largest surface-expressed, sand-based placer Rare Earth deposits.
With the consistent grades of rare earths and heavy minerals from surface to only 11 metres deep, we are working with an exceptionally large and very simple deposit with an extremely low environmental impact.
Sandy Mitchell has considerable advantages over projects where rare earths are housed in ionic clays or hard rock material. Most of the processing has already been done by mother nature, so to produce a monazite concentrate, simple, low-cost gravity separation is all that is required. Our pre-feasibility study, which has commenced, will illustrate this.
While pre-feasibility work continues, we are also busy incorporating the second phase of drilling into an updated MRE and we are now advancing on mining and other relevant project development permits.”
Sandy Mitchell Project Overview
The Ark Mines (ASX: AHK) Sandy Mitchell Rare Earths Project is located in far north Queensland featuring both light and heavy rare earths in mineral sands deposits. These elements are crucial for manufacturing electric vehicles, wind turbines, eco-friendly products and many high tech products. As a wholly-owned Ark Mines project, it offers a unique and exciting investment opportunity in a mining-friendly state.
The rare earths at Sandy Mitchell are hosted in phosphate minerals like monazite and xenotime, which are part of a larger assemblage that formed as mineral sands through wave action, creating high-grade placer deposits. These deposits contain valuable elements such as praseodymium and neodymium for light magnets, and terbium and dysprosium for heavy magnets.
The project also contains sought-after co-products like zirconium, used in glass and ceramics, and titanium, used in aerospace and electronics. Extracting rare earths from placer deposits is cost-effective compared to hard rock and ionic clay deposits, as it involves near-surface mining without extensive overburden removal or drilling. Processing these sands requires low energy and minimal water, resulting in a smaller environmental footprint.
The rare earth concentrates can be sold to refineries in China, the USA, and Australia, generating revenue to support the development of a processing plant for producing mixed rare earth carbonates and NdPr oxides. This efficient mining and processing approach allows for quick development and production at Sandy Mitchell.
4 Key Factors That Make Sandy Mitchell So Attractive To Savvy Investors:
1. Project Ticks All Of These Boxes & More!
2. Government Who Understands The Importance of Rare Earths
The Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources has recently unveiled the Critical Minerals Strategy, aimed at enhancing the nation’s rare earth minerals sector. This comprehensive vision focuses on sustainable development, advanced processing technologies, and building a robust supply chain.
Key objectives include diversifying supply sources, boosting local processing capabilities, and promoting regional economic growth and job creation. Significant investments, such as the $4 billion Critical Minerals Facility, and a strategy that emphasises international collaboration and trade will position Australia as a leading global supplier of critical minerals.
The strategy underscores Australia’s commitment to a sustainable future and supports the global transition to renewable energy technologies. This commitment from the Australian Government and their understanding of the importance of rare earths open up many opportunities for Ark Mines going forward.
Media & Video About Sandy Mitchell & Rare Earths
3. Geopolitical Environment
The global supply chain for rare earth elements (REEs) is heavily dependent on China. This dependence has prompted Western governments, especially the United States, to urgently seek diversification of their rare earth sources to ensure national security and economic stability.
The U.S. government is pursuing a multi-faceted approach to secure reliable and independent sources of REEs including collaborating with allied nations rich in rare earth resources, such as Australia. The U.S. is investing in Australian rare earth projects, fostering financial investments, technological exchanges, and strategic partnerships to develop new mines and processing facilities. This diversification effort aims to build resilient supply chains less susceptible to geopolitical tensions and market fluctuations, enhancing national security, driving technological advancements, and supporting the global transition to a greener economy.
The benefits of this policy for Ark Mines could be significant, either directly through grants and partnerships or indirectly through a stronger rare earths industry in Australia.
4. Global Demand
The demand for rare earth elements (REEs) is currently driven by their essential role in the electronics, renewable energy, defence, and healthcare sectors. These 17 elements are crucial in manufacturing high-tech devices such as smartphones, electric vehicles, wind turbines, military systems, and medical imaging equipment.
As the world transitions towards greener energy solutions and more advanced technologies, the demand for REEs is set to surge. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that the need for rare earth magnets could increase fourfold by 2040, driven by the adoption of renewable energy technologies and electric vehicles. Technological advancements in electronics, telecommunications, and robotics will further fuel this demand.
Investment in mining, processing, and recycling infrastructure offers significant opportunities, as companies securing sustainable REE supplies will be well-positioned in the growing market. As the world advances towards a sustainable and technologically sophisticated future, rare earth elements will remain crucial in shaping the global economy.
