Vital Metals announced that it has commenced production at its Nechalacho rare earths project in Northwest Territories, Canada where it becomes the first rare earths producer in Canada and the second rare earths mine in North America, joining MP Materials’ Mountain Pass Mine in California.

Rare earth production began at the mine with ore crushing and ore sorting. Blasting and mining activities ramped up with the first ore mined in June 2021.

Vital Metals’ managing director Geoff Atkins said: “Our crews worked hard onsite through June to accelerate mining activities, complete the installation of crushing and ore sorting equipment and commence commissioning.

“Mining activities are over 30 percent complete with waste material removed from the pit to enable the first blast of ore on 28 June and we are now stockpiling ore for the crusher. “We will continue to ramp up crushing and ore sorting with full production rates expected to be achieved in July.

Beneficiated material will be stockpiled for transport to our extraction plant in Saskatoon. We look forward to keeping the market updated throughout the ramp up process in what is a very significant milestone for the company and North America”