NioCorp Developments is developing its Nebraska-based Elk Creek project, a pure-play critical minerals project. The company claims it hosts the highest-grade primary niobium deposit under development in North America. Also, the deposit can be leveraged to a large-scale scandium production and it is the second largest indicated-or-better rare earths resource in the US.
The 2022 updated feasibility study for Elk Creek includes a new model for mineral reserves and economics. While it does not include any projections on rare earths production, the report does feature a longer expected mine life, higher expected ore grades and tonnages and improved expected project economics for niobium, scandium and titanium production.