** Shares of Northern Minerals NTU.AX fall as much as 22.2% to A$0.049, their lowest level since October 20
** Stock marks its biggest intraday pct fall since October 15
** The critical minerals producer secures A$60.5 million ($39.31 million) placement
** Issue price of A$0.051 represents a discount of 19% to the stock's last close
** Funds raised from the placement will be used to advance the Browns Range Heavy Rare Earths Project
** About 104.5 million shares change hands, 2.2 times the 30-day avg
** Stock is up 147.6% YTD, including the session's moves
($1 = 1.5389 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Anjali Singh in Bengaluru)
((anjali.singh2@thomsonreuters.com;))