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Australia

Nyngan Project

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Summary

Mine TypeOpen Pit
Study CompletedFeasibility
StagePermitting
Commodities
  • Scandium
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotNyngan is considered a State Significant Project and poised to be the world’s first primary scandium mine.

All required governmental approvals to proceed have been received.

In November 2023, Scandium International Mining commenced physical development of the Nyngan Project following the results of the 2023 Nyngan drilling program.

Scandium International Mining's plan of operation for 2025 is to continue to advance commercial discussions with potential offtake partners. The execution of sufficient offtake agreements, totaling a minimum committed quantity, is a key milestone required for the Company to consider a Final Investment Decision (FID) to move the Nyngan Scandium Project into full construction and production.

In addition, the Company has been in discussions with the NSW government to finalize the reinstatement of the original Mining License.
Latest NewsScandium International Mining Announces Grant of New Mining Lease at Nyngan Scandium Project     October 10, 2025

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Scandium International Mining Corp. 100 % Indirect
Scandium International Mining Corp. holds a mine lease grant, a development consent, and 100% of the mineral rights on the Nyngan Scandium Project.

The project is held through its Australian subsidiary, EMC Metals Australia Pty Ltd.

Contractors

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Deposit type

  • Laterite
  • Saprolite

Summary:

The Nyngan scandium resource is located within a limonitic and saprolitic tertiary age laterite profile, covered by 12 to approximately 25m of Cainozoic alluvium. A fairly typical laterite profile is developed at the prospect:
-Hematitic clay.
-Limonitic clay.
-Saprolitic clay.
-Weathered bedrock.
-Fresh bedrock.

Mineralisation
A geological interpretation plan has been previously prepared, based on bedrock intersections in both recent and previous drilling. Because of the weathered nature of the drill cuttings, the geological plan must be considered interpretive. The igneous rock types which have been encountered are:
Pyroxenite.
-Olivine Pyroxenite.
-Hornblende Pyroxenite.
-Hornblendite.
-Magnetite Pyroxenite.
-Dunite.
-Monzonite.

There is a suggestion of a layered trend of the complex in a NW-SE direction (this is supported by the magnetic pattern). These trends reflect a broadly concentric zonation of lithologies (mafic lithologies in the centre becoming intermediate in moving out from the “core”) in the complex. There also appears to be a zone of stronger alteration in the (south) centre of the zone where abundant magnetite and mica (phlogopite) occur.

The area is located within the western-most north-south structural zone of the Lachlan Fold Belt, which is known as the Girilambone Structural Zone. It is composed of Cambrian-Ordovician metasediments and minor basic volcanics and is known as the Girilambone Group, and it is intruded by numerous mafic and ultramafic bodies of similar age and by middle Silurian granite and volcanics.

Scandium levels appear to be highest in the pyroxenite and olivine pyroxenite phases of the complexes, so these rock types are considered to be the main bedrock sources for the scandium mineralisation in the laterites. The highest scandium grades occur in the limonitic laterite units, overlying or close to the pyroxenite source rocks.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Comminution

Crushers and Mills

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Processing

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Commodity Production

CommodityUnitsAvg. AnnualLOM
Scandium kg 37,6901,436,429
All production numbers are expressed as oxide.

Operational metrics

Metrics
Daily processing rate 240 t *
Annual ore mining rate 75,000 t *
Plant annual capacity 75,000 t *
Annual production capacity 38.7 t of scandium oxide *
Annual processing rate 71,820 t *
Waste tonnes, LOM 4,306,281 t *
Ore tonnes mined, LOM 2,047,334 t *
Total tonnes mined, LOM 6,353,615 t *
Tonnes processed, LOM 1,436,429 t *
* According to 2016 study.

Production Costs

CommodityUnitsAverage
Cash costs Sc2O3 USD 557 / kg *  USD
Assumed price Sc2O3 USD 2,000 / kg *  USD
* According to 2016 study / presentation.

Operating Costs

CurrencyAverage
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* According to 2016 study.

Project Costs

MetricsUnitsLOM Total
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Pre-tax NPV @ 8% $M USD  ......  Subscribe
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After-tax NPV @ 8% $M USD  ......  Subscribe
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Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Apr 15, 2016
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Oct 10, 2025

Workforce

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