Mineral sands and rare earth company VHM has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Currumbin Minerals for the supply of high-grade zircon-titania heavy mineral concentrate (HMC) from its Goschen rare earths and mineral sands project in north-west Victoria, Australia.

Currumbin operates a fully owned state-of-the-art heavy mineral sands processing plant in Queensland. The facility features gravity, electrostatic and magnetic processing technologies.

The Queensland processing facility is backed by Southern Gold Coast Laboratories (SGCL), one of Australia's latest mineral sands testing facilities. Currumbin is set to expand the facility with financial assistance from the Queensland Critical Minerals and Battery Technology Fund.

The MOU outlines a collaborative framework, aiming for a formal agreement to sell HMC to Currumbin for processing at its Queensland facility.

This development follows the primary approval received in December 2024 and the mining licence earlier this month for the Goschen project.

The Goschen project will commence production in the fourth quarter of 2026 (Q4 2026). It is recognised for its dual commodity potential for producing revenue from both rare earth elements and HMC, including zircon and titanium.

The project's mineral assemblage contains both light (neodymium and praseodymium) and heavy (dysprosium and terbium) rare earths within its orebody.

With all necessary land acquired, VHM is advancing the project towards secondary approvals.

VHM CEO Ron Douglas said: “The collaboration with Currumbin Minerals is a significant step in VHM’s strategy to build a domestic supply chain for both its rare earths and mineral sands products to further align itself with the Victorian Governments Critical Minerals Roadmap, whilst supporting further processing opportunities with companies like Currumbin Minerals in Queensland.”

In May 2024, VHM signed an MOU with Yellow Iron Fleet to develop the Goschen project.