The Federal Budget surplus is providing millions of dollars towards project exploration and feasibility studies
\nGodolphin Resources\u2019 Narraburra project is a government-stamped critical minerals project
\nProject contains a high-grade 20Mt core at 1079ppm TREO<\/p>\n
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A Federal Budget surplus of $9.3 billion has given further wind to Australia\u2019s rare earths scene, providing additional funding initiatives to explorers such as Godolphin Resources looking to accelerate critical minerals projects.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The explorer is in charge of one of Australia\u2019s most promising major REE deposits, Narraburra, in NSW\u2019s prolific Lachlan Ford mineralised belt, known for high-grade gold, copper, tin and now rare earths.<\/p>\n Stockhead<\/em> spoke to Godolphin Resources (ASX:GRL)<\/strong><\/a> MD Jeneta Owens to give us her thoughts on the new initiatives and how critical minerals explorers are set to benefit from the surplus.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great that the government sees the long-term agenda, that all these minerals are required for transition into clean energy models,\u201d Owens says.<\/p>\n \u201cAssisting not just individual companies but promoting the refining capabilities as well.<\/p>\n \u201cThe trickle-down effect this has is really impactful. Investors see the government backing as a stamp of approval for what we\u2019re doing, which it really is. That builds trust from the backers and helps projects develop.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a long time coming and there\u2019s a lot of positives around the sector for what lies ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n After posting a $9.3 billion windfall, the Federal Government\u2019s updated provision is:<\/p>\n A 10 per cent production tax credit totalling $7 billion over the decade for all 31 critical minerals to drive critical minerals processing in Australia<\/p>\n \u201cThis will enable us to realise the full value of our natural resources and maximise benefits for our nation,\u201d says federal resources minister Madeleine King.<\/p>\n Inclusions:<\/p>\n $10.2m for pre-feasibility studies to develop critical mineral common-user processing facilities to enhance Australia\u2019s capacity to process critical minerals, sovereign capability and economic resilience The upgrade aims to hasten the development of tangible deposits into production. For REE deposits, it\u2019s a more than welcome boost. Here\u2019s why\u2026<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Those in the know have seen just how long it\u2019s taken world-class deposits like Arafura Rare Earths\u2019 (ASX:ARU)<\/strong><\/a> Nolans Bore or Lynas\u2019 (ASX:LYC)<\/strong><\/a> Mt Weld to get going over the years.<\/p>\n That\u2019s \u2018cos governments and industries since the late \u201980s got their fill from cheap Chinese labour that undercut the need for domestic supply chains.<\/p>\n And that\u2019s bitten us in the tooshie now that China, the world\u2019s second-largest economy, is deciding economic movements on its own terms.<\/p>\n The wakeup call is real and the West has finally come to terms with the necessity to diversify supply chains from China\u2019s hegemony (which the West created, mind you); and both government and private backing for rare earths supplies outside the Middle Kingdom is at the top of many governments\u2019 critical minerals list.<\/p>\n \u201cThe government clearly sees the extra demand for these types of products and the ongoing need for them into the future \u2013 particularly the support they\u2019ve given Arafura,\u201d Owens says.<\/p>\n \u201cInvestors themselves can see that these commodities are going to be needed in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Godolphin\u2019s existing 94.9Mt at 739ppm TREO resource \u2013 which includes a high grade core of 20Mt at 1079ppm TREO (using a 600ppm cut-off) \u2013 may just get bigger, too.<\/p>\n The junior expanded the footprint of its landholding by another 112km2 recently, as well as putting ore samples through Phase 2 metallurgical testing via ANSTO, which achieved up to 95% recovery rates of the high-value magnetic rare earths neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Narraburra REE project and and current mineral resource. Source: Godolphin.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n GRL has new target areas to dig up west of the current resource, which is the basis for ongoing drilling and resource expansion.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re quite rich in the heavies (heavy rare earths) and they, and our lights extract really well,\u201d Owens says.<\/p>\n \u201cIndustry standard at the moment is about 60% REE extraction across the board and from our samples so far we\u2019ve averaged about 66%. With the higher grade core of the resource we\u2019re pushing those numbers up to 95%.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re looking forward to doing more metallurgy to increase and exploring out from our resource.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n\n \ufeff<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n At Stockhead we tell it like it is. While Godolphin Resources is a Stockhead advertiser, it did not sponsor this article.<\/em><\/p>\n This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.<\/em><\/p>\n The post Godolphin says Budget surplus slice for projects will spur REE investment<\/a> appeared first on Stockhead<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"But first\u2026 What\u2019s the initiative?<\/h2>\n
\n$5.8m for a critical minerals trade enhancement initiative
\nAnd $1m for a pilot educational program, to strengthen the capabilities of Australia\u2019s critical minerals sector to detect, prevent and mitigate foreign interference<\/p>\nWhy the West is scrambling for rare earths<\/h2>\n
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NSW\u2019s own Tier 1 rare earths deposit<\/h2>\n