The Iron Problem Seems to Have Been Solved as Early as 1821 https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/107618.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A50812216284a1a800e562a6ad61ba724 With the iron out of the way, any other impurities could be dealt with using solvent extraction. It would constitute a huge advancement to bypass Class 1 nickel and go directly from (awaruite) ore to battery grade nickel sulfate.
Even if FPX declines to take this step in house, it will open up a brand new market for the awaruite concentrate. So, I just cannot believe that they are not working this possibility behind the scenes.