Dr Dreisinger on extraction technologies for Rare Earths
Channel: InvestorCoffee
Date: 24/03/2017

David Dreisinger, Director and VP of Metallurgy for Search Minerals Inc. (TSXV: SMY), in an interview with InvestorIntel’s CEO Tracy Weslosky discuss the company’s rare earth extraction patent. The rare-earth-carrying minerals found in their deposits in Newfoundland and Labrador (Allanite and Fergusonite) are highly reactive to acid. This feature greatly simplifies the extraction process by cutting out the labor and facility demanding technique of flotation, gravity, and magnetic separation. Additionally, this ease of extraction means that they can scale to the right size and meet market demands.

Tracy Weslosky: David, I understand that you are considered one of the top rare earth experts in the world. To confirm you have 21 patents?

David Dreisinger: Yes, I have 21 U.S. patents in different areas including the Search Minerals patent.

Tracy Weslosky: Please share a little bit about the Search Minerals’ patent with our audience.

David Dreisinger: What we figured out Tracy is that our Foxtrot Deposit in Labrador has 2 types of minerals, Allanite and Fergusonite minerals, that carry our rare earths, which are quite reactive with acid. We have figured out a way to directly extract our rare earths from our minerals without having to go through the usual steps of grinding, flotation, gravity and magnetic separation. We directly treat the mineral, cover the rare earths in the solution and we come out with a rare earth product that goes directly to the refinery.

Tracy Weslosky: David, could you clarify this for me and for our InvestorIntel audience members that don’t fully understand this patent. Obviously this is a competitive advantage for Search Minerals, yes?

David Dreisinger: It’s a huge advantage for us because we have the ability to scale to the right size to meet the market. We are planning 1,000 tons a day of ore treatment. We don’t have to build a huge mineral processing facility. We can directly treat the ore, and go through to this mix rare earth oxide. We are located on tidewater in Labrador and have good infrastructure around us. We have a low capital cost and a reasonable operating cost. We are well positioned to hit the rare earth market as it matures and grows in the years ahead.

Tracy Weslosky: For everyone out there in InvestorIntel that may not be familiar with Search Minerals, this is a company that anyone interested in sustainability is going to love.

Disclaimer: Search Minerals Inc. is an advertorial member of InvestorIntel.