Study Finds Electrifying NioCorp’s Critical Minerals Mine Could Lead to Faster Time to Full Production Plus Significant Economic and Environmental Gains

A scoping study completed by Optimize Group Inc. suggests that NioCorp Developments Ltd. could significantly cut CAPEX and OPEX costs, reach full commercial production sooner, and operate with a lower carbon footprint by electrifying its proposed Elk Creek Critical Minerals Mine via a Railveyor™ system

NioCorp Receives Preliminary Indicative Term Sheet from U.S. Export-Import Bank on Potential $800 Million Debt Financing

CENTENNIAL, Colorado – May 6, 2024 – NioCorp Developments Ltd. (“NioCorp” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:NB) announces that it has received a preliminary, non-binding indicative...

NioCorp Plans to Investigate Feasibility of Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Recycling

NioCorp plans to investigate the feasibility of rare earth permanent magnet recycling.

NioCorp Joins With Major Automotive Manufacturers to Urge Action by Biden Administration on Mining Tax Incentive

NioCorp (NASDAQ:NB) (TSX:NB) has joined with major automotive manufacturers, mining companies, and electric vehicle battery companies to urge the Biden Administration to allow a 10% tax credit to apply to both mineral extraction and mineral processing in the U.S.

A Unique Critical Minerals Company

The Elk Creek CRitical Minerals Project 


NioCorp is developing the Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project, which is North America’s only niobium / scandium / titanium project in Nebraska.  The Project’s Mineral Resource also comprises America’s second largest rare earth indicated resource. See this short video to learn more about this strategic American asset.

A Climate-Smart Critical Minerals Mine

Critical Minerals at a Critical Time

NioCorp’s critical minerals are considered by defense experts to be among the MOST critical to America’s economic and national security.

 

A Shovel Ready Project with Permits Secured

NioCorp’s Elk Creek Project has already obtained all federal, state, and local government permits needed to move to a construction start.

 

Climate Smart Mine Design

Zero process water discharge. Groundwater protection. Reagent recycling. Tailings used as underground mine backfill.  And much more.

 

Very Attractive Financial Returns

The Elk Creek Project’s Feasibility Study shows a $2.8 billion net present value, a 29.2% pre-tax internal rate of return, and $403 million in averaged annual EBITDA2 over a 38-year mine life.

Trading on the Nasdaq

NioCorp’s stock trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “NB“. 

2nd Largest Indicated Rare Earth Resource

The Elk Creek Mineral Resource is the second largest rare earth resource in the U.S., according to USGS data and company reports

Highly Experienced Management Team

NioCorp’s management team has decades of combined experience in developing, constructing, and operating mineral projects.

RECENT NEWS

NioCorp To Discuss Technology Innovation at Scandium Symposium

NioCorp To Discuss Technology Innovation at Scandium Symposium

NioCorp will provide an update to markets and government leaders at the 3rd Annual Scandium Symposium in Washington, D.C. on October 14, 2024 on the Company’s efforts to advance technology innovation that relies on scandium to lightweight vehicles, cut automotive manufacturing costs, and reduce CO2 emissions.

read more

The NioCorp-Stellantis Initiative

NioCorp CEO Mark Smith discusses the implications of the recent NioCorp-Stallantis agreement on prospective rare earth supply to Stellantis.

Explore Other NioCorp Videos

Our Critical Minerals

NioCorp plans to produce some of the world’s most critical minerals, including Niobium, Scandium, and Titanium.

Niobium

NioCorp plans to make Ferroniobium, which is used as an additive to steel, making the steel much tougher, stronger, and more corrosion-resistent.  Niobium-strengthened steel also allows for lighter-weight applications, reducing  energy consumption and harmful air emissions.

Scandium

  • Powerful alloy with Aluminum
  • Lightweights vehicles / aircraft
  • Demand limited by low production
  • USA 100% dependent on imports
  • NioCorp is 12% sold out

Scandium is a remarkable element with many uses, including as an additive to aluminum.  It makes for alloys that are much stronger and corrosion-resistant than other aluminum alloys.  Scandium also allows these alloys to be reliably welded, which opens up many applications in transportation and aerospace.

Titanium

  • Large global markets
  • Premium on high purity
  • Critical to US defense
  • US largely dependent on imports of mineral concentrate

Titanium is a highly sought-after refractory metals and is used across many industries, including industrial processes, aerospace and defense, medical applications industry, and many more. The U.S. is highly reliant upon foreign imports of this critical mineral, including (historically) from Russia and Ukraine.

FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS UNDERWAY

Magnetic Rare Earth Elements

NioCorp is also conducting technical and economic analyses on the potential addition to its planned product suite of several magnetic rare earth oxides, shown below, which are forecast to experience large supply shortages because of sharply rising demand.

NdPr Oxide

Neodymium-Praseodymium Oxide

Also known as “NdPr” or “Didymium Oxide,” this purified rare earth oxide is indispensable to the manufacturing of high-performance rare earth permanent magnets.  These magnets are crucial to electric vehicles and other energy efficient applications. 

Dysprosium Oxide

Dysprosium Oxide

This  “heavy” rare earth is used in a variety of electronic, automotive, and other applications, including high-performance rare earth permanent magnets. The Elk Creek Project contains the 2nd largest indicated Dysprosium Mineral Resource in the U.S.

Terbium Oxide

Terbium Oxide

Like Dysprosium, Terbium is “heavy” rare earth is used in a variety of electronic, automotive, and other applications, including high-performance rare earth permanent magnets. The Elk Creek Project contains the largest indicated Terbium Mineral Resource in the U.S.

Newsletter Mockup

A Climate Smart Minerals Project

NioCorp’s Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project was designed from the ground up with sustainability in mind.  In addition to incorporating a range of environmental, recycling, and emissions reduction features, the Project is also fully aligned with the Equator Principles, which provides independent auditing and reporting mechanisms.

Zero process water discharge facility with mine water treatment

Avoidance of permanent impacts to Federally Jurisdictional Waters

Recycling of reagents

Groundwater protection with artificial ground freezing

Utilizing tailings as underground mine backfill

Local employment

Compelling financial returns

Elk Creek Feasibility Study

NioCorp’s June 2022 Elk Creek Feasibility Study provides a high level of detail on the Project, including its projected economic performance.  

Information for Investors

A publicly traded mineral exploration company (Nasdaq: NB), NioCorp is currently developing the Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project in southeast Nebraska rich in Niobium,

All About The Project

Latest Presentation

See NioCorp’s most updated corporate presentation here.

Elk Creek Project: By The Numbers

The Elk Creek Project’s 2022 Feasibility Study projects relatively robust economic performance and financial returns to investors from the Project. 

$2.82 Billion Pre-Tax NPV

%

29.2% Pre-Tax IRR

$2.35 Billion After-Tax NPV

%

27.6% After-Tax IRR

$397.5 Million Averaged EBITDA Over Mine Life

%

68% Averaged Annual EBITDA Margin over Run of Mine

%

$10.9 Billion After-Tax NPV Cumulative Net Free Cash Flow over Run of Mine

38 Year Mine Life

Putlitzer-Prize winning journalist from the New York Times, Dionne Searcey, recently investigated NioCorp’s proposed Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project in Nebraska.

In addition to conducting numerous interviews, Ms. Searcey spent more than a week on the ground in southeast Nebraska talking with Nebraskans from all walks of life about how they viewed the Project.

Her story, published on the front page of the Times on February 2, 2023, can be seen here.