ABx Group (ASX:ABX) has completed leach tests on a 100kg ionic adsorption clay (IAC) rare earth material sample from the Deep Leads Project in Northern Tasmania, achieving greater than 70% extractions of dysprosium and terbium.
The results are also consistent with previous leach tests conducted by Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) that found out samples from Deep Leads exhibited the highest extraction under near-neutral conditions reported from any clay-hosted resource in Australia.
ABx, which has a market capitalisation of $10.83 million, says this means that its resource has the highest ionic adsorption of any clay-hosted rare earths resource in the country.
As previously reported, the sample contains 77.9 parts per million (ppm) dysprosium and 13.1ppm terbium, grading between 60-69% of extractions for four magnet rare earths in leach testing at its in-house facilities in Launceston.
CEO Mark Cooksey says achieving high extractions for two strategically valuable rare earths and confirming the in-house results is considered an important milestone.
“The ability for Deep Leads to effectively be leached above pH 4, while reducing impurities, also points to lower operating costs and a cleaner process,” Cooksey says.
Concurrently, the company is awaiting confirmation from ANSTO on the production of mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC), which is expected in Q4 2025.
ABx has begun slurry tests – as part of ANSTO’s diagnostic leach tests – where the leaching performance will be measured when a higher solids loading is used.
Cooksey adds with the program on track to deliver the first MREC sample later this year, the company is advancing towards commercial outcomes.
“ABx is aiming to be first MREC producer from an ionic adsorption clay resource in Australia,” he says.
“China’s ionic adsorption clay mines that dominate the supply of dysprosium and terbium are typically smaller than ABx’s current resource.”
ABx executed a memorandum of understanding with Ucore Rare Metals (TSX-V:UCU) which focuses on rare earths processing facilities in North America. The company is also in discussions with additional potential offtake partners.
The Deep Leads-Rubble Mount and Wind Break discoveries contain a resource of 89 million tonnes @ 844ppm total rare earth oxides.
Dysprosium is considered important for enhancing the high-temperature performance of magnets used in high-tech applications such as electric vehicle motors, wind turbine generators, and robotics.
Terbium is important for its use in phosphors for LED lighting and display screens, high-temperature magnets for EVs and wind turbines, as well as a stabiliser in field cells. As such, terbium is a critical mineral for energy-efficient applications, clean energy technology, and advanced electronics and defense systems.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: ABx Group
