Kazakhstan: to develop the Irgis rare metal deposit

Kazatomprom recently announced that its subsidiary, Ulba Metallurgical Plant, has obtained the exploration license for Upper Irgiz rare metal deposits in Aktobe. Ulba Metallurgical Plant is one of the leading international producers of uranium, beryllium, tantalum, and niobium products, which can meet the needs of nuclear power, electronics, metallurgy, and other industries.

The company plans to explore the deposit to evaluate and confirm the reserves and resources of rare metals (tantalum, niobium, beryllium). This project will enable the company to provide its own mineral resource base for existing production, reduce the cost of final products, improve economic efficiency, and create new job opportunities. The company points out that it has a certain level of experience and level in rare metal development, as well as modern technology for extracting high-purity rare and rare earth metals.

According to previous studies, the Upper Irgiz rare metal deposit is mainly niobium and tantalum ores. The ore body occurs in Precambrian Gneiss, Amphibolite and Quartzite. The ore body is about 20 to 1000 meters long and 0.1 to 10 meters thick. The main ore types are alkaline feldspar metasomatic rock type and ore bearing weathering crust type after primary ore weathering. The ore minerals are mainly Tantalite and Columbite.