While there has been a rash of new players and discoveries in recent months, including a number of clay-hosted finds that are easier to process than Northern's xenotime mineralisation, the junior continues to push forward with its development plans.

 

It has announced a 47% increase in resources at its Browns Range project in Western Australia's Kimberley region.

 

Its cornerstone Wolverine deposit, just north of its pilot plant, has increased to 6.4 million tonnes at 0.96% total rate earth oxides for 61,492t of TREO, based on work completed over the past seven years.

 

Wolverine is said to have high levels of heavy rare earths dysprosium and terbium that are in demand in the magnet and energy sectors.

 

In boosts project resources to 10.81Mt at 0.76% for 81,450t TREO.

 

Northern's new executive chairman Nick Curtis said Wolverine will form the basis of a proposed restarted definitive feasibility study for a full-scale beneficiation plant.

 

"The increased mineral resource at Wolverine is an important step in our plan to establish ourselves as a significant producer of dysprosium and terbium, offering a reliable alternative to production sourced from China," Curtis said.

 

The company had A$2.9 million cash at mid-year, having sold its last stockpiled rare earth carbonate produced from the pilot plant for $1.5 million. 

 

The pilot plant ran for about three years between 2018 and 2022.

 

Northern shares were last trading up 5% at 4.3c, valuing it at $209 million.

 

The stock has traded at 3.5-7.2c over the past year.