Northern Minerals: Heavy Expectations
All Images: Northern Minerals. BY CAMERON DRUMMOND NORTHERN Minerals’ Browns Range heavy rare earth (HRE) project is underway, with a Stage 1 pilot plant near completion amidst big plans to meet the growing demand for dysprosium. 160KM south east of Halls Creek in northern WA, Browns Range represents an opportunity for Australia to become a leading producer of dysprosium outside China. The little-read-about element is crucial to the manufacture of permanent magnets and a fundamental ingredient in high-torque motors used in wind turbines as well as electric vehicles, which use about 100 grams of the HRE. Dysprosium makes magnets last longer and retain efficiency at extremely high temperatures. It also makes up part of the control rods used in nuclear…