Rare Earths - All eyes on ANSTO

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While the Australian rare earths story most commonly focuses on Lynas Corporation, Alkane Resources is on the cusp of developing one of the world's largest zirconium deposits in regional NSW.

The Dubbo Zirconia project is located 20 kilometres south of Dubbo, and is home to one of the world's largest reserves of rare earths.
 
As the company approaches production its main focus has been on developing a pilot processing plant with the help of the Australian National Nuclear Research and Development Organisation (ANSTO).
 
While more famous for housing the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor, ANSTO also works with mining companies to help determine the best way to treat minerals with naturally occurring radioactivity.
 
Local focus

On a tour of its ANSTO pilot plant Alkane managing director Ian Chalmers told Australian Mining the company was aiming to be producing rare earths by 2015.

Chalmers said the Dubbo deposit was "very homogenous" and expected to generate revenue of around $504 million a year.
 
Subject to approvals construction is expected to begin in 2013, and Alkane says it expects to create 300 to 400 jobs during construction and 200 jobs during operation.
 
Apart from the most technical roles, which will be brought in from other parts of Australia, Alkane says workers for the project would be sourced from the local community.
 
Alkane has worked hard to bring the community into the fold from early on, and had some farmers in the mine's region visiting the pilot plant regularly.
 
The company also runs tours for schools and interested community members to ensure everyone's well informed.
 
Chalmers told Australian Mining Alkane's close relationship with the community had been part of the reason why the company had avoided the difficulties faced by Lynas.
 
Lynas has faced significant community opposition to its rare earth processing plant in Malaysia, and protestors have been the source of ongoing delays, cost blowouts, and multiple court battles.
 
Chalmers said while radiation levels were virtually non-existent in the Dubbo project, he could not rule out being targeted by protestors.
But while the company's community and environmental relations are a focus, the research at its ANSTO plant is all about the science behind rare earths processing.