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INTERVIEW: Avalon Rare Metals (AVL:TSX) – 3 Advanced Stage Projects Capitalizing on Scarce Rare Earth Elements

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 12:55 PM on Monday, December 8th, 2014

AVL: TSX, AVL: NYSE MKT

  • Three advanced stage projects
  • Nechalacho Deposit, exceptional in its size and enrichment in the scarce “heavy” rare earth elements
  • HREE-rich resource in the Basal Zone contains Measured and Indicated Resources of 61.90 million tonnes grading 1.64% TREO (total rare earth oxides) and 21.53% HREO/TREO (heavy rare earth oxides as a percentage of TREO) at the Base Case US$345 Net Metal Return cut-off value
  • Key to enabling advances in clean technology and other growing high-tech applications

Highlights

  • The Nechalacho deposit is rich in the heavy rare earths, which the European Union identified as the critical raw material with the greatest supply risk in May 2014.
  • Avalon has invested approximately $100 million into the Nechalacho Project to date, including $60 million to complete a comprehensive Feasibility Study. Nechalacho is now the most advanced heavy rare earth project in the world outside of China. Results of the discounted cash flow analysis produced for the April 2013 Feasibility Study yielded a pre-tax IRR of 22.5% and an NPV at a 10% discount rate of $1.35 billion, with a payback period of 4.3 years and a $1.575 billion capital cost.
  • Many opportunities were identified in the April 2013 Feasibility Study to optimize the project development model to reduce technical risk and increase revenues. These include improving rare earth recoveries and revising the mine plan to improve operational efficiencies. The most significant optimization was the development of a new hydrometallurgical process that increases recoveries of the heavy rare earths while suppressing recovery of low-value cerium. An updated Feasibility Study is targeted for completion in late 2014.
  • Avalon holds a diverse rare metals project portfolio, including advanced tin (East Kemptville) and lithium minerals (Separation Rapids) properties.
  • The principles of sustainability, environmental and social responsibility are core values of the company.

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