Rare Element Resources
Bear Lodge Project
Canadian NI 43-101 Technical Report
October 9
th
, 2014
10135-200-46 - Rev. 0
24-3
24.3.5 By-Product Recovery - Zinc
Zinc is separated from the main solution by selective precipitation. The main solution
is neutralized to a pH of approximately 7.5 using sodium hydroxide. The solid is then
filtered and calcined to yield a zinc hydroxide product while the zinc-depleted solution
is sent to the manganese recovery unit.
24.3.6 By-Product Recovery - Manganese
Manganese is separated from the main solution by selective precipitation. The main
solution is reacted with sodium carbonate to increase pH to 8.5 and precipitate
manganese carbonate. The manganese carbonate solid is then filtered and dried
before being sold as a manganese carbonate product while the depleted solution is
sent to the barren solution crystallizer.
24.4 Potential Revenue from By-Products
Order of magnitude cost estimates were completed for the various process plants that
would be required to recover the potential by-products and then an economic analysis
was performed for each by-product. Based on this analysis, it is recommended that
RER further investigate the production of the following by-products in the laboratory
to confirm that their production is viable: barium-sulfate, gold, manganese, zinc, and
lead. Table 24.1 provides the potential quantities of the various by-products that
could be recovered from the pre-concentrate.
Table 24.1 - Bear Lodge Price Sensitivity ± 25% Summary (Million)
Element
Form
Tons/Ton of Pre-con
Barium Case
Barium
BaSO4
0.04
Gold Case
Gold
Metal ppt.
0.023*
Mn/Zn/Pb Case
Manganese
MnCO3
0.12
Zinc
ZnO
0.01
Lead
PbO
0.01
* Troy ounces per ton (Roche, 2014)
