Vital Metals plans to develop the Tardiff deposit at Nechalacho to build a large-scale, long-life rare earths project. Tardiff is one of the highest grade rare earth deposits in the world and the only rare earth project capable of beneficiation solely by ore sorting.
Tardiff has a Measured & Indicated Mineral Resource of 192.7 million tonnes at 1.3% TREO, containing 2.5 million tonnes of TREO, as announced January 2025.
Tardiff is estimated to include more than 636,000 tonnes of neodymium oxide +praseodymium oxide (NdPr).
Vital’s 2025 MRE update also reported a niobium (Nb2o5) resource for the first time, as niobium is hosted within the same geological formations hosting the rare earth mineralisation.
Recent metallurgical test work indicated potential to produce neodymium oxide (Nd2O3) and praseodymium oxide (Pr6O11), which are light rare earth oxides (LREO) with magnetic properties and are in demand due to their use in technologies such as high-strength magnets, aircraft engines, and various industrial and electronic applications.
The work also indicated an opportunity to further investigate and advance the potential opportunity to recover niobium minerals from Tardiff ore. Niobium is in demand due to its low oxidation point and relatively high melting point. It is used as an alloy in aeronautic engines, electronic applications (due to its superconducting properties) and as an additive to lithium-ion batteries to enhance battery life.
Vital is completing a Scoping Study to examine the size and scalability of future Rare Earth Element (REE) production scenarios. This is due for delivery in 1H CY2025.
Nechalacho includes a 40-person camp and airstrip, with more than $120 million spent on drilling, permitting and development by previous owners.
