Mount Ridley Mines (ASX:MRD) appoints Technical Advisor – Metallurgy & Processing

Mount Ridley Mines has appointed Mr Chris Larder as Technical Advisor – Metallurgy & Processing to support the advancement of its rare earth and critical minerals strategy at the Mount Ridley Project in Western Australia.

Highlights

• Appointment of Mr Chris Larder as Technical Advisor – Metallurgy and Processing
• Over 30 years of experience in mineral processing, flowsheet design and pilot plant development
• Extensive experience across rare earth elements, gallium and complex hydrometallurgical systems
• Involvement in the design and evaluation of major gallium and REE processing flowsheets in Western Australia
• Strengthens Mount Ridley’s internal technical capability across metallurgy and processing
• Supports the Company’s accelerated downstream strategy and integrated recovery pathway
• Provides technical oversight across metallurgical testwork and third party programs, including coordination with international partners and evaluation of technology licensing opportunities

Mr Larder is a highly experienced process engineer with over 30 years of experience in mineral processing, including significant involvement in the design and optimisation of complex hydrometallurgical flowsheets, including gallium processing systems in Western Australia.

His experience spans metallurgical testwork design and oversight, flowsheet development and pilot scale program support across a range of commodities.

The appointment reflects the Company’s focused approach to rapidly progressing metallurgical testwork and downstream processing initiatives in parallel with ongoing resource and exploration activities.

Mount Ridley is focused on fast tracking the definition of a scalable, integrated processing pathway, with the objective of reducing development timelines and enhancing overall project value, including engagement with international partners and the assessment of technology opportunities to support downstream development.

Mr Larder will provide technical oversight of metallurgical testwork programs, contribute to flowsheet development and optimisation, and support the evaluation of relevant processing technologies and licensing opportunities.

His appointment strengthens the Company’s internal technical capability and supports the advancement of an integrated downstream development strategy.

Mount Ridley Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Allister Caird said

“The appointment of someone with Chris’ experience is a hugely exciting step for the Company. As we continue to place greater emphasis on our downstream strategy, this appointment is an excellent fit and reinforces Mount Ridley’s focus on advancing an integrated processing pathway, unlocking greater value from the project.”

The Company’s next steps include review of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory MTA results once received and support preparation of the CRADA framework and program scope, alongside leveraging historical metallurgical testwork to inform current programs and avoid duplication across Grass Patch focused workstreams.

Work will also support the design and optimisation of metallurgical testwork programs aligned with an integrated flowsheet development pathway and evaluate downstream processing opportunities and associated technology pathways.

Additional work includes providing technical input into ongoing engagement with international partners undertaking metallurgical programs and supporting interpretation of re assay results from approximately 3,300 samples recently submitted, with a view to expanding and upgrading the Mineral Resources at Mount Ridley.

The Mount Ridley Project is located approximately 25 kilometres north of the deep water port of Esperance in Western Australia and hosts defined heavy rare earth element, scandium and gallium resourced identified through 70 000 metres of historical drilling.

Multiple high priority walk up drill targets have been identified through historical drilling, geophysics and recent technical reviews.

Complementary to its upstream business, the Company is actively pursuing longer term downstream pathways aimed at enhancing value through processing and separation of critical minerals for supply into allied markets.

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