Aclara Resources’ Pilot Plant for Unique Rare Earths Harvesting Process Kicks Off in 2023

Aclara Resources (TSX:ARA) expects to have the pilot plant for its proprietary Circular Harvesting Process up and running by the second quarter of 2023, allowing the company to test the technology on its rare earths ionic clay deposit in Chile.

This is according to Aclara Resources CEO Ramon Barua, who said the process is unique and will enable harvesting of rare earths without the use of explosives.

“We are going to extract the clays without using explosives. So the amount of noise and dust is going to be quite limited,” he explained. “Secondly, you know in mining companies, the largest carbon emissions come from crushing and milling; we do not have any crushing and milling in Aclara, so the amount of energy consumed is also very little.”

Aclara Resources is an exploration and development mining company focusing on its Penco Module ionic clay asset in Chile, with a vision to reinvent mining as a climate-friendly industry and sustainably supply the minerals for a low-carbon future.

Ionic clay rare earths deposits are few and far between, and production is currently dominated by China. The other known ionic clay deposits outside of China and Myanmar are in Brazil and Uganda.

“The problem is that the supply chain of these (rare earth) elements is highly concentrated in China, as we know, and not necessarily following the environmental standards that we would want in order to feed our (clean) technologies,” Barua said.

“We're also seeing that consumers are looking for mineral sources that are traceable, that are clean and that are sustainable,” he added.

Aclara is touting its Circular Harvesting Process as a sustainable and clean alternative to the traditional process of extracting rare earths from ionic clays. Developed through a collaboration with the University of Toronto and University of Concepción in Chile, the process is able to recirculate 95 percent of the water and 99 percent of the ammonium sulfate used in the extraction process.

“The only outflow of the process of the plant is going to be the final product. And then the spent clays, we will wash them with recycled water and we will put them back again, as much as possible, into the pits or the quarries where we took it,” Barua explained.

Watch the full interview with Ramon Barua, CEO of Aclara Resources.

Disclaimer: This interview is sponsored by Aclara Resources (TSX:ARA). This interview provides information that was sourced by the Investing News Network (INN) and approved by Aclara Resources in order to help investors learn more about the company. Aclara Resources is a client of INN. The company’s campaign fees pay for INN to create and update this interview.

INN does not provide investment advice and the information on this profile should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. INN does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company profiled.

The information contained here is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of securities. Readers should conduct their own research for all information publicly available concerning the company. Prior to making any investment decision, it is recommended that readers consult directly with Aclara Resources and seek advice from a qualified investment advisor.

This interview may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, receipt of property titles, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. The issuer relies upon litigation protection for forward-looking statements. Investing in companies comes with uncertainties as market values can fluctuate.