ABx Group (ASX:ABX) has returned its first formal customer assessment for its mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) product, with CEO Mark Cooksey saying the review by Rare Earth Technologies (RETi) is “extremely positive” and matches expectations.
“Rare earth products can have very high quality requirements that vary amongst different applications, so positive customer feedback is crucial,” Cooksey says.
ABx provided RETi with a sample of the maiden MREC product sourced from the company’s Deep Leads Project in Tasmania. RETi determined the sample to be of ‘high purity’, as well as suitable for its process.
“We have consistently emphasised that because the Deep Leads deposit is an ionic adsorption clay rare earth resource, it is conducive to low-cost extraction and high MREC product quality,” Cooksey says.
“This feedback from RETi is very strong supporting evidence for the high value of the Deep Leads MREC.
“Our focus is on finalising a project design that can be advanced to commercial operation in the shortest time and at the lowest cost.”
The two companies are looking to advance discussions for the supply of MREC products.
RETi CTO Dejene Kifle says the company is pleased with the company of the sample received from ABx.
“Our testing confirmed the material’s exceptional purity and compatibility with our proprietary process,” Kifle says.
“The ABx MREC dissolved fully and yielded excellent results during cerium depletion and chromatographic separation, enabling efficient production of high-purity rare earth streams.
“This is an ideal feedstock for our technology, and we look forward to discussions with ABx on a long-term supply arrangement to support our growing US production.”
ABx Group is focused on delivering materials for a cleaner future with priority projects in heavy rare earths, clean fluorine chemical production, and near-term bauxite production.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: ABx Group
