Australian Rare Earths (ASX:AR3) has commenced pilot processing of approximately 30 tonnes of material from its Koppamurra Rare Earths Project at ANSTO‘s critical minerals facility in Sydney.
The company completed commissioning on 31 July 2026 using around 1 tonne of Koppamurra ore at the purpose-built pilot processing plant.
The program targets completion of four cycles of eight columns to validate Australian Rare Earths’ full processing flowsheet at pilot scale.
The continuous operation will generate technical data and process validation to advance toward a Bankable Feasibility Study to support Koppamurra’s development timeline.
Chief Executive Travis Beinke says this is a “genuine step up” from laboratory-scale testwork.
“We are now generating engineering data and product samples for direct evaluation by potential customers and offtake partners,” Beinke says.
“With our first bulk mixed rare earth oxide [MREO] sample expected in late September 2026, this program is delivering exactly what we need to finalise Koppamurra’s process design and drive toward a bankable, investment-ready outcome,” Beinke says.
The commissioning phase validated operating parameters including agglomerate preparation, irrigation flow rates, and lixiviant makeup requirements. The company produced 940kg of on-specification agglomerates with column loading and irrigation at above design rates with no flow degradation.
Liquor produced from each cycle will undergo processing to produce MREO via an oxalate precipitate route to generate product specifications and samples.
Australian Rare Earths expects to produce the first bulk MREO sample in late September 2026 for customer analytical review, with heap leaching activities expected to be completed by December 2026.
The company notes this work builds on prior testwork and aligns with its Prefeasibility Study.
Australian Rare Earths is a diversified critical minerals company aiming to meet the growing global demand for uranium and rare earths.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Images: Mining.com.au
