Niocorp Developments Ltd (NB)

[tedro84]

The tailings are required for backfill. They go right back into the mine. Sims comments are certainly interesting, but pulling any other elements from the mineral ore would require a redesign of the chemical plant and metallurgical process. It may not be possible to extract niobium, Scandium, and another mineral at the same time in a cost effective process. Titanium is commonly referred to as a byproduct in Niocorps proposed process because it’s extraction cost is nil. A chemist may be able to give a detailed answer, but it is very possible that the Scandium extraction process does not allow for easy extraction of other elements. Conversely, pulling out other elements before the ore goes through the Scandium circuit could raise the price of the Scandium extraction.