Niocorp Developments Ltd (NB)

[chico237]

You are not wrong Skiluc- Please Follow the Trail since 2020:

Repost -DD & Trail of questions & responses from Jim/Niocorp for new & prospective investors:
ON Sept. 29th 2020-NioCorp R&D Effort Identifies Possible Improved Approach to Niobium Extraction for its Elk Creek Project
https://www.niocorp.com/niocorp-rd-effort-identifies-possible-improved-approach-to-niobium-extraction-for-its-elk-creek-project/

L3 and the Company intend to conduct additional carbonation testing at a larger scale to optimize carbonation operating conditions, confirm reaction kinetics, evaluate total potential extraction for niobium and other elements and complete additional mass balances, as funds become available.

(Niocorp announces a "NEW proprietary Carbonation Method" along with optimization of the Hydrometallurgy (stated in the 2019 F.S.); New HPGR ground Elk Creek Ore (which includes the most successfully separated listed below). Planning to improve & complete all FINAL- Separation & Economic estimates- for Niobium, Scandium, Titanium, & Byproducts of Scandium, REE's, CaCO3, MgCo3 & an Fe product T.B.D. Incorporating the numbers into a new 2023 F.S. which will allow an updating to the engineering/P&ID's & systems to be incorporated into the above ground Separation System.)

All the Scandium, Niobium, Titanium & other goodies are in the Elk Creek Carbonatite ore! Please see:
Petrogenesis and rare earth element mineralization of the Elk Creek carbonatite, Nebraska, USA
https://www.usgs.gov/publications/petrogenesis-and-rare-earth-element-mineralization-elk-creek-carbonatite-nebraska-usa
a) Bastnäsite (or bastnaesite) is one of a family of three carbonate-fluoride minerals. Bastnasite ores contain mostly rare earths near the beginning of the series, La, Ce, Pr, and Nd.
b) Monazite is a primarily reddish-brown phosphate mineral that contains rare-earth elements.
c) Dolomite (/'d?l.??ma?t, 'do?.l?-/) is an anhydrous carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate, ideally CaMg(CO3)2

(If you have not done so... Please View/Read the following Niocorp announcements. Scott Honan describes the NEW Simplified process below:)
REPLAY: NioCorp Live Investor Update Webcast of May 25, 2022
https://www.niocorp.com/replay-niocorp-live-investor-update-webcast-of-may-25-2022/
(***NOTE: In addition to Niobium, Scandium, Titanium & REE's (Nd, Pr, Dy, Tb) - CaCO3, MgCO3 & an Fe product are all shown in the new "simplified P&ID's".)
(***Scott states the new simplified process utilizes a form of supercrital CO2, Carbonation, Ammonium Chloride, Carbonic acid, HCL leaching & more... I am sure Scott & his team/s cannot wait to unleash the final process when they can do so! & No One could describe it better!!!)

Please also see Jims's responses to Relevant Separation & Process Questions shared:
ON-3/17/2022
A) Could you comment on what the production of higher purity niobium & titanium could be utilized for once realized?

If the higher purity niobium and titanium intermediates that L3 was able to produce at bench-scale are replicated and proven at demonstration scale, this would put us in a position to more easily move to other products beyond those outlined in our 2019 Feasibility Study. Niobium oxide for use in Li-Ion batteries is one possible example, although the production of that product would require additional processing steps beyond the higher-purity niobium intermediate that we discussed in last week’s news release. The company is not yet in a position to make a determination on whether or not, and when, to possibly expand our Niobium product offering. Higher grade TiO2 could expose us to additional markets where higher margins could be obtained. But, again, we are not in a position to speak to those possibilities in any detail yet.

B) Niocorp’s preferred separation method is SX. Are these higher purity processes part of an improved SX process or “something else”?

No, the processes we recently discussed occur in the earlier stages of the flowsheet, prior to any SX processing. We look forward to unveiling those details once these processes are verified at the demonstration plant level and once all associated work needed to complete an updated Feasibility Study is completed.

ON 6/29/2022
Jim: I will ask a question you should be able to respond to as "PLANS" may have changed since 2020??
Question:
Could the Elk Creek mine "Separation Process" now under development be utilized as a method for "In situ carbon mineralization/carbon capture"?

Not ‘in situ,’ as that implies injecting chemicals underground to perform the desired reaction. The carbonization process we are testing MAY result in some carbon sequestration, depending upon whether and how we end up making more byproducts from the magnesium and calcium we remove from the ore. That is all still TBD.

Sharing Jims's "New" responses to my follow up questions 11/15/2022:
1) - Has Niocorp recently applied for a DoE/LPO loan for "debt"..?

We are indeed in discussions with several U.S. federal agencies about potential financial assistance to the Project, but all have very strict rules about disclosure of those discussions and processes. I’m sorry but I cannot say anything more about this at present.

2) - Could any additional CO2 capture methods still be possible by ex-situ, direct mineralization, or other methods now being undertaken via the New Process? (You did hint earlier that there "May" be some (byproducts), but more work is needed & yet T.B.D.)

The reagent recycling tied to the Calcium and Magnesium removal, which we recently announced as part of our demonstration plant operations, is effectively a carbon sink and is expected to reduce the carbon footprint of the eventual operation.

What are Carbon Sinks: A carbon sink is anything, natural or otherwise, that accumulates and stores some carbon-containing chemical compound for an indefinite period and thereby removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.
(Very Interesting "DOTS"... I guess I'll be bugging Jim & Scott again once more results & material news is released!)

3) - Who owns the patent/rights to this New Process being implemented? Or can it be licensed moving forward?

We hold the rights to any intellectual property developed and related to the Elk Creek process by virtue of our contractual relationships with L3 and other entities involved in the work. While our focus remains on using proven commercial technologies in the public domain, we will act to protect the parts of our process that may be novel.

(Interesting.. hints-"Other entities???" & Parts of the new process that may be "Novel"..)

(***Note: those attending the recent town-hall meeting have confirmed/stated on this board that Scott did mention Niocorp may indeed be seeking patent protections moving forward.)
NioCorp Demonstration Plant Achieves Key Phase 1 Milestone
https://www.niocorp.com/niocorp-demonstration-plant-achieves-key-phase-1-milestone/

Phase I demonstration plant operations will continue with calcination and a ramp-up of leaching operations as testwork and assembly of Phase II and Phase III of the demonstration plant’s planned operations proceed in parallel.

Just Listen to MARK SMITH-
NioCorp Developments (TSX:NB) demonstration plant achieves phase 1
milestone
https://themarketherald.ca/niocorp-developments-tsxnb-demonstration-plant-achieves-phase-1-milestone-2022-10-28/?utm_source=stockhouse.com&utm_medium=widget&utm_campaign=stockhouse.com%7Cwebpart_news%7Cquote_tab

Form Your Own Opinions & Consclusions!
IMHO- It sounds like there might be a touch more to the "NEW" process than has been released; as those are interesting byproducts with additional ESG & GHG capabilities... T.B.D.! We are all waiting for Demo-news, & now perhaps "Novel" portions of the process need to be protected moving forward into the FINAL 2023 F.S.
Front row seats for me & many..,
Waiting for Mark, Scott & our Team/s to start "Shouting!" As material News becomes available! "Can't wait for Niocorp to Unleash our SCOTT!"
Bonne Chance Team/s Niocorp, L3... &.....
Chico