American Rare Earths targets 94% gangue rejection in accelerated Halleck Creek pilot plant
American Rare Earths hired metallurgical engineer Jaye T. Pickarts and received IRMS units plus a GradePro Reflux Classifier to fast-track its Halleck Creek pilot plant. Preliminary tests show 94% gangue rejection, 70% rare earth oxide recovery and a tenfold grade uplift from 3,100 tonnes of stockpiled ore.
1. Key hire and leadership
American Rare Earths engaged veteran metallurgical engineer Jaye T. Pickarts to lead the Halleck Creek pilot plant, leveraging his decades of experience in mine development, mineral processing and rare earth demonstration facilities to de-risk circuit integration and optimisation.
2. Equipment procurement for pilot plant
The company has ordered and received two Induced Roll Magnetic Separators from Mineral Technologies and is expediting fabrication of a GradePro Reflux Classifier from FLSmidth, while relying on conventional processing equipment for the remainder of the front-end flowsheet.
3. Preliminary test results and ore stockpile
Initial flowsheet trials have achieved approximately 94% gangue rejection, 70% total rare earth oxide recovery and a tenfold grade increase, using 3,100 tonnes of mined Halleck Creek material held under a 60,000-tonne exploration permit to produce pre-commercial concentrates.