The Iron Bear Project in Canada Achieves Success in Pilot Pellet Production
The Iron Bear project in Canada, operated by Cyclone Metals (ASX: CLE), has reached a significant milestone with the successful completion of its pilot pellet production run.
In a recent press release, CEO Paul Berend expressed excitement over the production of Direct Reduction (DR) Pellets, highlighting their excellent physical and metallisation properties. The project has yielded direct reduction pellets grading 67.5 percent iron, along with low percentages of silica, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, and other deleterious elements.
The pellets have been recognized for their world-class reduction and metallisation properties, boasting a cold crushing strength of 438 to 486 kilograms per pellet.
Cyclone Metals is now embarking on small-scale industrial production and plans to ship bulk concentrate samples to potential clients in the second quarter of 2025. The project has obtained run-of-mine sediment for processing at the Iron Bear pilot plant, located at the COREM research institute in Québec City, with metallurgical testwork already completed in August.
Future plans for the Iron Bear project include the production of high-grade Iron Bear DR concentrate, DR pellets, and blast furnace (BF) acid pellets. With a mineral resource of 16.6 billion tonnes grading 29.3 percent iron, the project is strategically situated in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, near key infrastructure such as railways and iron ore export ports.
Additionally, the project’s proximity to the Menihek hydroplant offers the potential for affordable renewable energy sources. Supported by existing iron ore export operations in the Labrador Trough, Iron Bear is well-positioned for growth in the iron ore sector.
Looking ahead, Cyclone Metals aims to optimize the chemical composition of its DR pellets and will conduct engineering studies to address infrastructure risks. The company is also exploring the feasibility of direct shipping ore and magnetite outcrops as part of its future growth strategy.
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Securities Disclosure: The author, Gabrielle de la Cruz, does not hold any direct investment interest in the companies mentioned in this article.