Niocorp Developments Ltd (NB)

[chico237]

Hey Norcal - Niocorp has announced improved recovery rates for both Niobium & Titanium & is currently continuing to PROVE out at Demonstration SCALE the new OXIDES. Take a peek at the trail of Q/A & Niocorp material News announcements below. (We are all waiting for that FINAL EARLY 2024 Feasibility Study! Independently Verifying the FINAL future production & OPEX/CAPEX numbers of all the goodies Niocorp intends to produce.)

Please see Jim's responses to questions posed for comment-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. "

MAY 25th 2023 ~NioCorp Demonstrates Higher Niobium Recovery Rates
https://www.niocorp.com/niocorp-demonstrates-higher-niobium-recovery-rates/
New Processing Approach Demonstrates the Ability to Make More Niobium per Tonne of Ore, Produce a Higher Purity Product, and Potentially Address New Markets with Different Niobium Products


MAY 26th 2023~NioCorp Demonstrates the Ability to Potentially Double Projected Titanium Recovery Rates for the Elk Creek Project
https://www.niocorp.com/niocorp-demonstrates-the-ability-to-potentially-double-projected-titanium-recovery-rates-for-the-elk-creek-project/

Here NIOCORP released material news stating they have doubled the recovery rate from 40% to 83% or from 400,000 TONS to 800,000 Tons per year & continues to work on producing TiCl4 "Tickle" at Demonstration Scale (Final Tonnage & Pricing T.B.D. in 2024 F.S.)

Demonstration Plant Shows New Recovery Process May Double NioCorp’s Titanium Production per Tonne of Ore as well as Produce a Higher Purity Product that May Command Higher Market Prices

NioCorp’s demonstration plant in Trois Rivieres, Quebec, has shown that the Company’s new and improved recovery process can likely achieve an 83.7% rate of overall titanium recovery to final product. This compares to a 40.3% titanium recovery rate in NioCorp’s previous process approach. This new result points to a potentially large increase in the amount of titanium that NioCorp can potentially produce at currently planned rates of mining.

NioCorp’s current Feasibility Study shows the Project producing approximately 431,793 tonnes of titanium dioxide. The titanium produced by NioCorp’s new process is in the form of titanium tetrachloride (“TiCl4”), known in commercial markets as “tickle.” This is a purer form of titanium than the synthetic rutile, and generally commands a higher market price. TiCl4 is an input for the production of high-purity titanium oxides and compounds, which are used primarily in the manufacture of white pigments, and titanium metal and aerospace-grade titanium alloys.

When I asked Jim/Niocorp about Rare Earths ON ~MAY, 26th 2023~
**RESPONSE:

"NioCorp has not made a final determination on which REE products we will make, including tonnages, etc.. That determination can only be made in the context of publication of an updated Feasibility Study"

(Norcal - Jim;s response tells me the - FINAL TONNAGES FOR EACH RARE EARTH PRODUCT & PRICING will all be calculated in the Final, independently verified EARLY 2024 F.S.) Gotta wait for that too....

CAN'T FORGET ABOUT THE SCANDIUM
MAY 29th 2023~NioCorp Launches Phased Approach to Commercial Production of Made-in-America Aluminum-Scandium Master Alloy
https://www.niocorp.com/niocorp-launches-phased-approach-to-commercial-production-of-made-in-america-aluminum-scandium-master-alloy/

NioCorp Partnering with Nanoscale Powders LLC to Explore the Possibility of Establishing the First US-Based Mine-to-Master-Alloy Vertically Integrated Production of the High-Performance MaterialNioCorp’s Potential Commercial Production of Al-Sc Master Alloy Could Launch Prior to the Company’s Planned Production of >100 Tonnes/Year of Scandium Oxide at its Proposed Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project in Nebraska and Would Use Scandium Produced at the Elk Creek Facility as well as From Other SourcesChina Now Dominates the Scandium World, but North America is Now Positioned to Emerge as a “Leading Scandium Producer,” says NioCorp CEO

MAY 29th 2023~ Jim/NIOCORP respond to question on recent Scandium News Release above:
What comes to mind right off the bat is:
*A)"How is this Scandium AlSc master Alloy different than what Niocorp produced with IBC & AMES laboratory???"
*Response:

"It is a different process that will be utilized. "

*B) Will this be a Patentable approach now moving forward? in conjunction with Nanoscale???
*Response:

" Yes and yes. But we do not discuss the details of intellectual property matters except as required by law"

*C) IS NIOCORP still engaged with IBC, AMES & OTHER ENTITIES in regards to Scandium Alloy production & uses moving forward? and with the New Niobium & Titanium oxides as well!!!!
*Response:

"We are focusing on our partnership with Nanoscale on the production of AlSc master alloy, but we engaged with a number of parties on various elements of our scandium-aluminum master alloy business development. We are not working with IBC on niobium or titanium product development efforts."

(****Norcal - This SOUNDS LIKE OTHER COLLABORATIONS ARE ONGOING WITH POSSIBLE PRIVATE & GOVERNMENT ENTITIES?? OFF-TAKE AGREEMENTS & SO MUCH MORE! COULD BE IN PLAY AS THE MINE IS BUILT & NEARS PRODUCTION!!!!!!)

**NOTE: ~THE 2023 & 2024 National Defense Acts Call out NIOBIUM & TITANIUM & SCANDIUM & the need to establish a U.S. Industrial Base for the Supply & Processing of ALL!
https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20220711/CRPT-117hrpt397.pdf
(2023 N.D.A. See pages #246 -#256)

https://armedservices.house.gov/sites/republicans.armedservices.house.gov/files/FY24%20NDAA%20CHM%20Mark%20Package.pdf
(2024 N.D.A. Page #388 & more!....)


ON AUGUST 9th, 2023,~ Nebraska’s U.S. Senator Deb Fischer and Congressman Don Bacon Secure $10 Million in Federal Funding for U.S. Aluminum-Scandium Master Alloy Production:
https://www.niocorp.com/nebraskas-u-s-senator-deb-fischer-and-congressman-don-bacon-secure-10-million-in-federal-funding-for-u-s-aluminum-scandium-master-alloy-production/

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (August 9, 2023) – NioCorp Developments Ltd. (“NioCorp” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:NB) (TSX:NB) is praising U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) and U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) for securing legislation in both the House and Senate versions of the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act regarding the strategic importance of scandium, as well as securing $10 million in federal funding to support commercial production of aluminum-scandium (“AlSc”) master alloy production in the U.S.
“Through their positions in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, Senator Fischer and Congressman Bacon are recognized as national leaders in U.S. defense policy in the Congress,” said Mark A. Smith, CEO and Executive Chairman of NioCorp. “They understand the strategic importance of establishing a domestic supply chain for scandium and aluminum-scandium alloys and their prospective importance to defense and essential civilian technologies.”

“On behalf of the many thousands of Nebraskans who are stakeholders and supporters of the Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project in southeast Nebraska, I want to thank Senator Fischer and Congressman Bacon for championing the scandium and aluminum-scandium master alloy that we intend to produce in Nebraska,” he added. “Through the Elk Creek Project, once sufficient project funding is obtained, Nebraska may very well become a leading scandium producer and could be in a position to help the U.S. Armed Forces take full advantage of the revolutionary performance benefits that scandium can deliver to air-, land-, and sea-based systems.”

In addition to pursuing construction and eventual commercial operations of the Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project (the “Elk Creek Project”) once sufficient project funding is obtained, NioCorp is also currently engaged in a phased commercialization effort to establish production of AlSc master alloy in the U.S.

****NIOCORP REPSONDS TO RELEVANT QUESTIONS ABOVE:
ON AUGUST 14, 2023 ~Good morning - Jim!
The announcement for Scandium Alloy Production & Scandium alloy funding are most welcome! Leading me to add to my line of questions regarding Scandium & (Niocorp).

A) Would Niocorp qualify for a portion of this recent funding once approved by Congress? Moving forward.

RESPONSE:

***"This funding was placed in the FY24 DoD Appropriations bill at the request of Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, for the purpose of helping to fund NioCorp's effort to establish domestic commercial production of AlSc master alloy. There is always a process within the DoD to select appropriate projects with funding provided to it by Congress. In this case, however, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees provided additional guidance to DoD on this topic in their respective National Defense Authorization bills, including prioritizing domestic production of such materials.

"Next Question ~ For context:
(Imperial mining, CleanTech, & Scandium International all have patents on Scandium & Sc aluminum alloy products. Rio Tinto has established a North American domestic supply(@15 tons/year with expansion capabilities) & has established a working relationship with Boeing.
Niocorp has produced Scandium aluminum with both IBC (under Chris Huskamp now with Jabil) & with Ames Lab, but has yet to patent any process or materials.
Niocorp has established a working relationship with Nanoscale to produce patentable Scandium Aluminum products in the years ahead…)

Jim-

B) How Does/will Niocorp’s expected Scandium production & future patentable Scandium materials be utilized by management moving forward? Once realized…. ; and How do/would they compare to those materials & alloys already developed or patented?
RESPONSE:

***"Latent markets for scandium oxide and aluminum-scandium master alloy – both commercial and military -- are quite large, and we are working with a number of potential scandium consumers and related technology companies interested in scandium. We will make announcements in this area as developments require. In general, we don’t comment on detailed commercial business strategies except in the course of necessary announcements and/or public filings. "

C) In addition to Niocorp’s collaboration with NanoScale. Is Niocorp currently working/engaged with other entities such as (Ames Lab, DoD, DoE, Chris Huskamp/Jabil & others) on Scandium Materials/patents?
Or on Niobium, Titanium, or Rare Earth future products (Oxides, Magnets…)
Please comment where possible.
RESPONSE:

***"There are multiple such engagements ongoing now for each product in our planned product offering. In general, we don’t comment on commercial business strategies except in the course of necessary announcements and/or public filings. "

D) Are other Entities besides EXIM Bank and Stellantis still interested as possible Debt/Equity finance or Anchor Investor/s partners moving foward?
Leading to a Final Elk Creek Finance package?
RESPONSE:

****"YES"

Oct. 30th, 2023,~What’s in the FY2024 NDAA for Critical Minerals?
What’s in the FY2024 NDAA for Critical Minerals? | Bipartisan Policy Center
https://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/whats-in-the-fy2024-ndaa-for-critical-minerals/
THERE ARE SEVERAL ITEMS THAT JUMP OUT FOR ME... HERE IS ONE-

***Extends the stockpile’s contract duration authority to 10 years and permits the stockpile to co-fund bankable feasibility studies for the development of new critical mineral projects located in or controlled by a reliable source."

SOME HIGHLIGHTS 2023 ~ REVIEW NIOCORP'S NEW INVESTOR PRESENTATION & WEBSITE~
https://www.niocorp.com/wp-content/uploads/Detailed_Investor_Presentation.pdf



*******OCT. 14th,2024,- WHEN I ASKED JIM ABOUT THE MSP & Potential U.S. Govt. assistance. Judge for yourselves...
RESPONSE

"The Mineral Security Partnership is largely designed to encourage critical minerals projects in nations outside of the U.S. This is not an exclusive rule, but it clearly is the US State Department’s intent. These kinds of multilateral international processes tend to move relatively slowly given that several dozen various governmental bureaucracies across all participating nations get involved in these decisions. You can think of these multilateral efforts as operating like the United Nations … nothing really gets decided that quickly, and there will be an enormous amount of government oversight and regulation that will come to any project that secures funding through the Partnership.

****In contrast, we are a much faster track in seeking U.S. government assistance by working directly with the Export-Import Bank and other U.S. federal agencies. Not that anything moves as quickly as we would like when it comes to securing US government assistance for large projects like ours …" ******

DEC. 4th, 2023~ NioCorp Completes Metallurgical Test Program and Begins Making Titanium Samples for Prospective Customers
https://www.niocorp.com/niocorp-completes-metallurgical-test-program-and-begins-making-titanium-samples-for-prospective-customers/

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (December 4, 2023) – NioCorp Developments Ltd. (“NioCorp” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: NB) (TSX: NB) is pleased to announce that it has completed its metallurgical testing program at its Quebec-based demonstration plant. Results show that NioCorp’s enhanced processing design can produce, at demonstration scale, higher-purity forms of niobium and titanium, and higher yields for each product, than previously attained. The results also show that NioCorp can produce, at demonstration scale, scandium and magnetic rare earth products with commercial purities at recovery rates of 92% or higher.

With all metallurgical work required to update NioCorp’s current Feasibility Study for the Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project (the “Elk Creek Project”) now completed, NioCorp is working to update its mineral reserve to include rare earths, complete additional engineering required by the new processing design, update project capital and operating cost estimates, and producing other information required for publication in an updated Feasibility Study. This is expected to be completed as early as possible in 2024.

"NORCAL- It has indeed taken a bunch of Time! Longer than we expected. Everything must be proven & independently verified at SCALE via the EARLY 2024 F.S. , Anchor Investors, Finance, OFF-Take agreements are left on my list. I did want to ask a few more questions though-"

****ON DEC. 4th, 2023, ~ Encouraged & happy to see forward progress on (TiCl4 /REE's) & the F.S. (early 2024 now) I asked Niocorp management to respond to the following Questions:
PLEASE SEE RESPONSES TO RELEVANT QUESTIONS SHARED BELOW:

JIM: Circling back - can you offer comment on the following: Back in June 2023
NioCorp Completes Geotechnical Drilling Campaign at the Elk Creek Critical Minerals Mine Site | NioCorp Developments Ltd.
A) Have those results been compiled & completed to date?
***RESPONSE

****"YES"

B) Does/Will Niocorp utilize the results the Geotechnical results & incorporate them into the new early 2024 F.S.? (Alongside recent announced Met/Program results being completed...)
***RESPONSE

******"YES"

GIVEN: NioCorp Completes Metallurgical Test Program and Begins Making Titanium Samples for Prospective Customers (mailchi.mp)
"The Company has shifted operations at its demonstration plant to produce sufficient quantities of TiCl4 for quality and purity testing by multiple prospective customers who have requested samples."

C) Are both Government & Private entities interested in (TiCl4 ~REE's production from the Elk Creek Resource?) Comment if possible....
***RESPONSE

********"There are multiple interested parties, but I cannot comment on who is interested in what."

WHO???? INDEED???? LOL

D) I know .... you know what the last question might be LOL!😉.... "Are (SEVERAL Govt. & Private ENTITIES) ALL still interested????" Comment if possible....
***RESPONSE

*******"YES"

NORCAL IT IS STILL "YES"! Had to ask bro!

FORM YOUR OWN OPINIONS & CONCLUSIONS ABOVE:
(NDAA - A CONTNUATION OF 2023 to 2024 ...PERHAPS SOMETHING NEEDS TO PASS HERE????
GiVEN:

****"In contrast, we are a much faster track in seeking U.S. government assistance by working directly with the Export-Import Bank and other U.S. federal agencies. Not that anything moves as quickly as we would like when it comes to securing US government assistance for large projects like ours …" ******

THE U.S & ALLIES, MIGHT NEED THE 2nd LARGEST PROVEN, PERMITTED, STABLE, SECURE, STRATEGIC, ESG, GENERATIONAL MINE IN NEBRASKA TO SUPPLY & PROCESS NIOBIUM, TITANIUM, SCANDIUM & SEVERAL RARE EARTH MINERALS ~ SOON???
(Form your own opinions & conclusions!!!!)
I'LL BE WAITING A BIT MORE.... TILL EARLY 2024 THEN!....
NIOCORP....

Show me that ANCHOR INVESTOR, SOME NEW OFF-TAKE AGREEMENTS, THE EARLY 2024 F.S. & A FINANCE TO BUILD THIS PROJECT!
Because TEAM Niocorp has completed just about everything else on my list!

Waiting with many STILL.... "with my PPE on!"
2024 or BUST! - Yadda-Yadda...



Chico