NovaBay(US:NBY) Globenewswire·2025-10-20 21:30Core Insights - NioBay Metals Inc. has announced significant progress in its Crevier niobium and tantalum project, supported by a grant from the Mining Exploration Support Program for Critical and Strategic Minerals [1][5] - The company has successfully completed metallurgical work demonstrating the niobium-tantalum concentration process on a pilot scale, utilizing nearly 10 million tons of ore [2][5] - The results indicate a potential for further improvement in the extraction process, with plans for a second pilot project to process 145 million tons of ore [4][5] Project Details - The Crevier Project is located approximately 50 km north of Girardville, Quebec, and is situated in the ancestral territory of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation [1][9] - The funded project aimed to test the robustness of the process flowsheet for extracting niobium and tantalum oxides from the Crevier deposit [2] Results and Performance - The pilot project achieved a peak recovery rate of 84.6% Nb2O5, with an average recovery of 65% during the production of 17 kg of concentrate at 32% Nb2O5 [8] - Compared to laboratory tests conducted in 2012, the final Nb2O5 content of the concentrate improved by 56%, increasing from 20.3% to 36% [8] Future Plans - The company is planning a second pilot project to further enhance production capabilities and market additional products [5] - The final report from SGS regarding the current pilot will be filed on SEDAR once available [4] Company Vision - NioBay aims to lead in the development of low-carbon mines and responsible environmental practices, emphasizing the importance of Indigenous community participation [7] - The company holds a 100% interest in the James Bay Niobium project and a 72.5% interest in the Crevier project [9] Industry Context - Niobium is a highly valuable metal used in various applications across mobility, structural, and energy sectors, enhancing material properties and reducing environmental impact [10]