The Cummins Range project is rather isolated located near Halls Creek in the Kimberley region of WA. The deposit is a complex ore type containing high concentrates of phosphate and rare earth elements. The resources are large with both oxide and fresh rock from a carbonatite-type deposit. The challenge for the owner’s team was to identify a project development scenario maximising the value of the project while observing risks / opportunities.
Primero was engaged due to their experience in developing rare earth projects from the early stage through to construction and operations. Primero has assisted with test work management and process development work at an early stage. A scoping study was performed by Primero in 2022 which designed and costed a possible development scenario. Primero has continued to offer technical and project development advice to RareX to assist with determining the best development scenario.
Cummins Range contains a high content of both phosphate and rare earths. These products are contained in both oxidized and fresh rock ore types.
Primero has helped to identify a Direct Ore Shipping project which mines high-grade phosphate ore. The high-grade phosphate ore is suitable as a direct organic fertilizer that can be applied directly to the agricultural industry.
Primero has also provided technical input to the development of a beneficiation process that takes lower-grade ore and produced a high-grade phosphate flotation concentrate. This process can be used to treat lower-grade material so that high grade fertilizer products can be produced from more of the ore body.
Laboratory testing has revealed that Cummins Range contains significant quantities of high-grade organic phosphate fertilizer. A low-cost starter project for the development would be a direct ore shipping project which is simple and safe to execute. Primero looks forward to working with Rare X to design and construct the DSO operations and supporting facilities.
In addition, Primero has identified a processing method for producing high-grade phosphate concentrates from other ore types in the deposit. This will form part of a longer-term project for Cummins Range.