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Leading Edge Materials further bolsters Swedish rare earth project with nepheline potential

Last updated: 00:09 22 Jun 2018 AEST, First published: 19:28 21 Jun 2018 AEST

1529591491_GLASS-BLOWING
Nepheline is used in the glass making industry

Leading Edge Materials Corp (CVE:LEM, OTCQB:LEMIF) has further bolstered the credentials of its  Norra Karr heavy REE (rare earth element) deposit in Sweden, revealing that  high purity nepheline could be mined as a by-product.

The non-magnetic minerals at Norra Kärr include nepheline and feldspar, which, LEM says, are highly sought industrial minerals for ceramics, glass manufacture, plastics, cosmetics, paint and building products.

When nepheline is added to ceramic and glass products, it lowers the melting point of silica, thus reducing energy required for production and increasing hardness and durability.

"Our research focus is to optimize all parts of the Norra Kärr project, both financially and environmentally," said Blair Way, president and chief executive.

"Nepheline and feldspar together comprise around 60% of the rock at Norra Kärr, and finding a market for these industrial minerals is a very important step in our target to achieve a zero waste mine design. 

"This latest round of research has produced samples that appear equivalent to product sold in Europe today, and we are very encouraged by this latest increase in resource efficiency of Norra Kärr."

Leading Edge noted that nine tests were completed on samples where the nepheline/feldspar sample was passed through a second phase of magnetic separation under varying conditions to remove any remaining iron impurity. 

The "clean-up" stage was highly effective in removing iron, which was lowered to a level consistent with peer materials that are sold within Europe today.

Europe is the largest global market for nepheline and feldspar, with supply from mines including Stjernøy in northern Norway, western Turkey and northwestern Russia.

Shares in LEM eased 1.67% to stand at C$0.59.

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