NioBay Improves the Concentrate Content by 56% as Compared to Historical Metallurgical Results
Original announcement by tmx on
- Company
- NioBay Metals Inc.
- Ticker
- NBY
- Exchange
- TSX
- Region
- Quebec
- Primary commodity
- Niobium
- Secondary commodities
- Tantalum
- Document categories
- Metallurgy
- Extracted
- 2026-09-12 16:03:24 UTC
Analysis by Minestarters Atlas
Minestarters Atlas analysis
Summary
NioBay has successfully completed a pilot-scale metallurgical test at the Crevier Project in Quebec, demonstrating improved niobium concentrate grades. The pilot achieved peak niobium recoveries of 84.6% and produced concentrates up to 36% Nb2O5, representing a 56% improvement over 2012 historical results.
Reasoning: The pilot plant successfully demonstrated niobium and tantalum concentration, significantly improving concentrate grade over 2012 historical results.
Positive factors
- Significant improvement in concentrate grade compared to historical results
- Successful pilot scale demonstration
- High peak recovery achieved
- QP sign-off provided
Negative factors
- Average recovery (65%) is significantly lower than peak recovery (84.6%)
Facts used in scoring: 3
Classification and evidence
Pilot Scale Completepositive
Pilot or demonstration plant testing completed under continuous operation.
Why it applies: The company successfully completed a pilot scale demonstration of the concentration process.
Evidence · text
“Demonstration of the niobium-tantalum concentration process on a pilot scale”
QA/QC Disclosedpositive · Story-specific tag
Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods (blanks, standards, duplicates).
Why it applies: The release mentions work carried out by SGS and is reviewed/approved by a Qualified Person.
Evidence · text
“metallurgical work carried out by SGS in Quebec City”
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: the document describes a flotation route ("concentrate")
Single Domain Onlynegative
Testing limited to one composite or domain — representativeness not established.
Why it applies: only one composite was tested
Extracted facts
Stored fact records: 3. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.
Metallurgical Results (3)
pilot plantCrevier Project · niobiumRecovery: 84.6 %Head Grade: 0.2Head Grade Unit: % Nb2O5View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Crevier Project
- Commodity
- niobium
- Region
- canada_qc
- Reported Region
- Quebec
- Ticker
- NBY
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- pilot plant
- Processing Route
- Demonstration of the niobium-tantalum concentration process on a pilot scale
- Sample
- Crevier Project ore, just under 10 mt used for pilot tests
Recovery
- Recovery
- 84.6 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 0.2
- Head Grade Unit
- % Nb2O5
Lab
- Laboratory
- SGS
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: High peak recovery achieved during pilot scale demonstration.
Positive factors
- Peak recovery of 84.6% is strong for pilot scale
Evidence · text
“Recovery reached a peak of 84.6% Nb2O5”
Tags used in scoring
Pilot Scale Completepositive
Pilot or demonstration plant testing completed under continuous operation.
Why it applies: test_type names pilot-scale work
pilot plantCrevier Project · niobiumRecovery: 65 %Head Grade: 0.2Head Grade Unit: % Nb2O5View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Crevier Project
- Commodity
- niobium
- Region
- canada_qc
- Reported Region
- Quebec
- Ticker
- NBY
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- pilot plant
- Processing Route
- Demonstration of the niobium-tantalum concentration process on a pilot scale
- Sample
- Crevier Project ore, just under 10 mt used for pilot tests
Recovery
- Recovery
- 65 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 0.2
- Head Grade Unit
- % Nb2O5
Lab
- Laboratory
- SGS
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Average recovery reported is 65%, which is lower than the peak performance.
Negative factors
- Average recovery is notably lower than peak recovery
Evidence · text
“establish an average recovery of 65% during the production of 17 kg of concentrate at 32% Nb2O5”
Tags used in scoring
Pilot Scale Completepositive
Pilot or demonstration plant testing completed under continuous operation.
Why it applies: test_type names pilot-scale work
Fact 3Crevier Project · tantalumHead Grade: 200Head Grade Unit: ppm Ta2O5View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Crevier Project
- Commodity
- tantalum
- Region
- canada_qc
- Reported Region
- Quebec
- Ticker
- NBY
Test Work
- Sample
- Crevier Project ore, just under 10 mt used for pilot tests
Recovery
- Head Grade
- 200
- Head Grade Unit
- ppm Ta2O5
Lab
- Laboratory
- SGS
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2025-10-20T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Head grade provided for tantalum in the pilot feed.
Evidence · text
“at a grade of 0.2% Nb2O5 and 200 ppm Ta2O5”
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.