NioBay Announces the Completion and Success of Metallurgical Work on the Crevier Project
Original announcement by tmx on
- Company
- NioBay Metals Inc.
- Ticker
- NBY
- Exchange
- TSX
- Region
- Québec
- Primary commodity
- Niobium
- Secondary commodities
- Tantalum, Zirconium
- Document categories
- Metallurgy
- Extracted
- 2026-09-12 14:59:37 UTC
Analysis by Minestarters Atlas
Minestarters Atlas analysis
Summary
NioBay has completed successful pilot-scale metallurgical and hydrometallurgical testing at the Crevier Project. The work demonstrated high extraction rates for niobium (92.3%) and tantalum (95.8%), with significant potential for zirconium by-product valorization.
Reasoning: Successful pilot-scale metallurgical testing demonstrating high recoveries and extraction efficiencies for the primary metals and a valuable byproduct.
Positive factors
- High extraction efficiency for both niobium and tantalum
- Successful pilot-scale demonstration
- By-product valorization potential with zirconium
- High final product purity
Facts used in scoring: 5
Classification and evidence
High Recoverypositive
Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: Niobium and tantalum extraction rates of 92.3% and 95.8% are exceptional for the reported processes.
Evidence · text
“overall extraction rates (conventional process) averaging 92.3% for niobium and 95.8% for tantalum”
Pilot Scale Completepositive
Pilot or demonstration plant testing completed under continuous operation.
Why it applies: The release explicitly states the completion of pilot-scale niobium-tantalum concentration process demonstration.
Evidence · text
“Demonstration of the Pilot ‑ Scale Niobium ‑ Tantalum Concentration Process”
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: the document describes a flotation route ("flotation")
Multi-Domain Testedpositive
Variability across ore domains (oxide, transition, fresh) has been addressed.
Why it applies: 3 distinct composites were tested
Extracted facts
Stored fact records: 5. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.
Metallurgical Results (5)
flotationCrevier Project · niobiumRecovery: 70 %Head Grade: 17Head Grade Unit: % Nb₂O₅View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Crevier Project
- Commodity
- niobium
- Region
- canada_qc
- Reported Region
- Québec
- Ticker
- NBY
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- flotation
- Processing Route
- Pilot-Scale Niobium Magnetic separation and Flotation
- Sample
- Pilot-scale niobium magnetic separation and flotation tests on a 10 metric tonne bulk sample
Recovery
- Recovery
- 70 %
- Head Grade
- 17
- Head Grade Unit
- % Nb₂O₅
Lab
- Laboratory
- SGS Canada Inc.
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-04-08T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 70% recovery of Nb2O5 achieved at targeted grades during pilot-scale testing.
Positive factors
- Achieved targeted grades
Evidence · text
“demonstrates a 70% recovery of Nb₂O₅, achieving the targeted grades ranging from 17% Nb₂O₅ to 36% Nb₂O₅”
Tags used in scoring
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: processing_route matches the flotation signal
Pilot Scale Completepositive
Pilot or demonstration plant testing completed under continuous operation.
Why it applies: test_type names pilot-scale work
leachingCrevier Project · niobiumRecovery: 92.3 %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Crevier Project
- Commodity
- niobium
- Region
- canada_qc
- Reported Region
- Québec
- Ticker
- NBY
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- leaching
- Processing Route
- conventional process
- Sample
- Hydrometallurgical extraction (conventional process)
Recovery
- Recovery
- 92.3 %
Lab
- Laboratory
- SGS
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-04-08T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Strong extraction rate of 92.3% for niobium via conventional hydrometallurgical process.
Positive factors
- High extraction efficiency
Evidence · text
“overall extraction rates (conventional process) averaging 92.3% for niobium”
leachingCrevier Project · tantalumRecovery: 95.8 %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Crevier Project
- Commodity
- tantalum
- Region
- canada_qc
- Reported Region
- Québec
- Ticker
- NBY
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- leaching
- Processing Route
- conventional process
- Sample
- Hydrometallurgical extraction (conventional process)
Recovery
- Recovery
- 95.8 %
Lab
- Laboratory
- SGS
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-04-08T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Strong extraction rate of 95.8% for tantalum via conventional hydrometallurgical process.
Positive factors
- High extraction efficiency
Evidence · text
“overall extraction rates (conventional process) averaging ... 95.8% for tantalum”
leachingCrevier Project · niobiumRecovery: 86.4 %Head Grade: 13Head Grade Unit: % Nb₂O₅View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Crevier Project
- Commodity
- niobium
- Region
- canada_qc
- Reported Region
- Québec
- Ticker
- NBY
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- leaching
- Processing Route
- alkaline fusion and water leaching
- Sample
- Alkaline fusion and water leaching on low-grade concentrate
Recovery
- Recovery
- 86.4 %
- Head Grade
- 13
- Head Grade Unit
- % Nb₂O₅
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-04-08T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: High extraction yield of 86.4% achieved using alkaline fusion and water leaching on a 13% Nb2O5 concentrate.
Positive factors
- High extraction yield from low-grade concentrate
Evidence · text
“achieved high extraction yields - 86.4% for niobium”
leachingCrevier Project · tantalumRecovery: 91.4 %Head Grade: 13Head Grade Unit: % Nb₂O₅View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Crevier Project
- Commodity
- tantalum
- Region
- canada_qc
- Reported Region
- Québec
- Ticker
- NBY
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- leaching
- Processing Route
- alkaline fusion and water leaching
- Sample
- Alkaline fusion and water leaching on low-grade concentrate
Recovery
- Recovery
- 91.4 %
- Head Grade
- 13
- Head Grade Unit
- % Nb₂O₅
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-04-08T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: High extraction yield of 91.4% achieved using alkaline fusion and water leaching on a 13% Nb2O5 concentrate.
Positive factors
- High extraction yield from low-grade concentrate
Evidence · text
“achieved high extraction yields - ... 91.4% for tantalum”
How Atlas produces this analysis
Minestarters Atlas uses automated extraction to summarize mining announcements, identify reported measurements, and classify supporting evidence. Sentiment reflects the extracted narrative and classification rules; it is an interpretation, not a reported measurement. Evidence quotes and context are provided where available. Missing data, low-confidence results, and review flags indicate limitations. Check the original publisher announcement before relying on an interpretation.