9.00 Opening Remarks from Conference Chair

9.10 The Management of Naturally Occurring Radioactivity in Rare Earth Processing

A major risk associated with rare earth processing arises from the fact that most rare earth minerals contain uranium and/or thorium. The chemical and/or thermal processing of such minerals requires that these contained elements, and their decay chain progeny, must be monitored and managed. This session will focus on:

• Ensuring occupational health and safety, product quality and environmental impacts are minimised
• The deportment of radioactivity during processing and measures to manage this radioactivity

Douglas Collier
Manager, Process Development Consulting
ANSTO MINERALS

9.50 End Uses and Applications of Rare Earths: a Review of the Key Demand Drivers

Rare-earth metals and compounds are enablers; they can have a profound effect on the ultimate performance of complex engineered systems and devices. As such, rare earths are critical to a wide range of technologies in the national defense, clean energy and hi-tech sectors. This session will focus on:

• Specific applications of rare earths, and how they are used within the technology supply chain
• Key end users of rare earths, and their perspective on the current supply and demand issues
• How some end users are evaluating ways to make better use of the rare earths available, or to replace them altogether.

Gareth Hatch
Founding Principal
TECHNOLOGY METALS RESEARCH LLC

11.15 Development of Flow-Sheet for Rare Earth Recovery

This session will be delivered by Karin Soldenhoff, Manager of Process Development Research for ANSTO Minerals. Karin has extensive experience in hydrometallurgical process development for base metals, precious metals, rare earths and uranium, with particular emphasis on solvent extraction and ion exchange technology

Karin Soldenhoff
Manager – Process Development Research
ANSTO MINERALS

11.50 CASE STUDY: CYU and Goldsearch - Exploring a New REE Province in the Mount Isa district

This session will look at the joint venture between China Yunnan Copper Australia and Goldsearch. It will specifically examine their heavy rare earth project at their Mount Dorothy site and will focus on:

• Exploring the Mary Katleen trend for light and heavy REE
• Growing Elaine resource of over 2000ppm REE.
• Mount Dororthy discovery of predominately Yttrium and Heavy REE.

Jason Beckton
Managing Director
CHINA YUNNAN COPPER AUSTRALIA

1.30 Minerals Down Under: Flagship Program – the Importance of Rare Earths & Strategic Metals

This session will look at the emergent rare earth industry in Australia, with a particular focus on technological solutions that can improve and maximise the supply chain.

• Challenging the uncertainty surrounding the processing supply chain and how we can improve and develop our current models and methods
• Utilising national expertise and applying this knowledge base to new rare earth and strategic metal projects
• Understanding that rare earths are often of ‘high value – low volume’ and using recycling methods to maximise their life cycle
• Using predictive geo-science to develop your understanding of the geological make-up of your site and planning the mining procedures based on your findings

Anna Littleboy
Deputy Director, Minerals Down Under Flagship
CSIRO

2.10 PANEL DISCUSSION: End Users of Rare Earths: The importance of Rare Earths & Strategic Metals in Electronics & a Cleaner Future

Rare earths and strategic metals are crucial for developing national defence and electronics, as well as moving toward a cleaner greener future. However production levels are set to outstrip global supply of these materials by 2014. With this in mind, it has never been more crucial to find and develop new sources. This panel discussion will look at ways rare earth companies can engage end-users in their projects.

• The integral role of rare earths and strategic metals on electronic technologies and the effects of the shortage of supply on this industry
• How strategic metals and rare earths are currently employed by end-use companies to produce a cleaner future environment
• If the end-users don’t get the supply they need, what is next for this industry? Are there alternate options beyond rare earths?

Joined by key end-users of rare earths

2.50 Rare Earths Ripe for Recycling: Extending the Life-Cycle: what Role for Recycling with Rare Earths?

Due to the high value – low volume of rare earth & strategic metals, it is crucial to ensure that we are actively working towards extending its life-cycle. This session will focus on:

• Understanding that supply and demand for individual rare earths is not even and seeking alternate options once the ‘peak’ of supply is reached
• How does recapture and reuse of rare earths such as lithium compare with other metals like copper and gold?
• How the responsible use of rare earths, in particular a move towards recycling rare earth products, will help the globe move toward a sustainable future

Damien Giurco
Professor
INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURES UTS

3.50 CASE STUDY: Rare Earth Elements: Mine-to-Market

Great Western Minerals Group is an integrated rare earths processor. Currently the company is planning to produce a separation plant at their Steenkampskraal site in order to become a fully integrated rare earths producer. This session will focus on their current work and the company’s future directions.

Gary Billingsley
Director
GREAT WESTERN MINERALS GROUP

4.30 Closing Remarks from the Conference Chair and End of Conference

4.45 WORKSHOP B: WORKING WITH END USERS OF STRATEGIC METALS WITHIN THE TECHNOLOGY SUPPLY CHAIN

Understanding the technology supply chain and the needs of the end-use companies within it, is an important part of the marketing and business development activities of any strategic-metals company. Players at either end of the technology supply chain often seem to talk past each other, without really understanding the perspective of the other side.

This interactive workshop will use case studies to give a better understanding of how the technology supply chain actually works.

Facilitator:

Jack Lifton & Gareth Hatch
Founding Principals
TECHNOLOGY METALS RESEARCH, LLC