Trekor Metals Limited has refined the process flowsheet for its wholly-owned Aley niobium project in northeastern British Columbia, delivering improved recovery rates and lower reagent consumption through an optimized flotation method.

The technical work involved a pilot test program using metallurgical samples taken in 2018. That program validated the new flotation process, which Trekor has now patented in the United States, Australia, Brazil, and Europe. The resulting concentrate was successfully used to develop a two-stage smelting process that produced marketable ferroniobium. Alongside ferroniobium production, the project team is developing a hydrometallurgical flowsheet designed to produce high-purity niobium oxide directly from Aley’s flotation concentrate.

Based on a previously issued technical report, the advanced-stage development asset contains an estimated 84 million tonnes of proven and probable mineral reserves grading 0.50% Nb2O5. Under current mine design parameters, the project features a processing rate of 10,000 tonnes per day, supporting a production capacity of 14,000 tonnes of ferroniobium—equivalent to nine million kilograms of contained niobium—per year over a 24-year mine life.

To support the transition toward product marketing and customer engagement, Trekor has appointed Steve Sparkowich as Director, Aley Niobium. Sparkowich is a licensed professional metallurgical engineer with more than 30 years of experience in materials engineering, metallurgy, and supply chain innovation, focusing extensively on critical and refractory metals. His role centers on connecting the project's technical capabilities with major consuming customers, including large steel mills, stainless steel producers, and superalloy manufacturers seeking a reliable North American supply chain.

The project team is now scaling up the pilot program to produce additional quantities of ferroniobium, with operations shifting toward product marketing initiatives and commercial discussions with potential offtake parties and third-party processors.

“Our technical team has done a great job improving Aley’s process flowsheet in recent years. We believe Aley has the potential to be a major new source of niobium, a designated critical mineral in Canada, the United States and Europe, and we look forward to advancing commercial and strategic discussions with niobium consumers seeking a reliable North American supply chain.”

— Stuart McDonald, President & CEO

Read the full announcement: Trekor Updates Status of Aley Niobium and Strengthens Project Team