Critica Limited's recent bulk sample testing at its Jupiter project in Western Australia has demonstrated up to 95% waste removal and a six- to 10-fold increase in TREO grades, highlighting significant potential for efficient rare earth production.

The successful metallurgical tests confirm that Jupiter's ore can be upgraded efficiently, with head grades between 1300 ppm and 2240 ppm TREO being enriched to 1.2% to 2% TREO in concentrates, indicating substantial enrichment.

Testing conducted on a 400-kilogram sample in Vietnam showed consistent high-grade concentrate upgrades across various ore types, with TREO grades rising from around 1300-2240 ppm to 1.2-2% in concentrates, demonstrating reliable processing results.

Early tests on smaller samples achieved an 830% TREO upgrade, turning 1430 ppm TREO into 13,310 ppm with 94.5% waste removal using simple flotation at room temperature, underscoring the process's effectiveness.

Jupiter's concentrates contain significant magnet rare earth oxides, including neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium, along with scandium oxide, emphasizing its high-value rare earth element potential.

Critica's approach of early waste removal and upfront value packing distinguishes Jupiter’s clay-hosted ore from ionic clays, making it more attractive to investors and buyers.

The company's metallurgical work confirms that Jupiter's ore can be upgraded efficiently, and it is progressing from exploration to development by advancing processing flowsheets, hydrometallurgical methods, and product chemistry.

Critica is constructing a closed-circuit pilot plant at GAVAQ to improve recovery rates and concentrate grades, which will generate concentrates for further chemistry testing with partners like the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and Minutech.

Critica plans to develop mixed rare earth carbonate and oxide products, leveraging Jupiter’s non-ionic clay-hosted mineralogy, which allows early waste removal and reduces processing costs.

The pilot plant aims to produce concentrates for developing specific rare earth products and to test hydrometallurgical processes, supporting offtake agreements and further processing.

The results show that head grades between 1300 ppm and 2240 ppm TREO are upgraded to 1.2% to 2% TREO in concentrates, representing a significant enrichment that enhances economic viability.

These positive metallurgical results come eight months after Jupiter's initial testing and seven months after its maiden resource estimate of 1.78 billion tonnes grading 1651 ppm TREO.

The company intends to operate the pilot plant, optimize leaching pathways, and develop a scoping study to secure approvals and offtake agreements, aiming to commercialize its rare earth products.