Critica (ASX:CRI) has begun aircore drilling to progress a Scoping Study for the Jupiter Rare Earths Project in Western Australia.
The company is drilling 143 holes for between 7,000m and 10,000m, using 125m by 125m drill spacing to support an upgraded resource from the inferred category to indicated.
The resource upgrade is intended to strengthen the basis for mine planning and study inputs at the Jupiter deposit, along with regional exploration at the Juno and Aurora prospects.
Regional drilling is funded by the Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS), implemented by the Western Australian Government.
Drilling at Juno and Aurora will take place across the broader Brothers Project area.
CEO Jacob Deysel says the drilling campaign is the next step in advancing the greater Jupiter Project through the Scoping Study stage.
“The resource upgrade drilling targets priority areas to support upgrading portions of the current inferred Resource to indicated classification, with SRK Consulting engaged to update the mineral resource model as new data is incorporated,” Deysel says.
“In parallel, regional drilling at Juno and Aurora is testing high-priority targets across the broader Brothers Project, with 50% of drilling and mobilisation costs supported under the Western Australian Government’s EIS co-funded program.
“Following the recent production of commercial-quality MREC (mixed rare earth carbonate), the company remains focused on disciplined resource upgrade, metallurgical optimisation and study progression toward development.”
Critica expects to deliver the Scoping Study by the end of H1 2026, as reported by Mining.com.au.
Critica is advancing the Jupiter Project in Western Australia, Australia’s largest clay-hosted rare earth resource, with a focus on a mine-to-magnet plan to meet growing demand.
The company will be at this year’s Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), held from 1-4 March 2026 in Toronto. Mining.com.au is a media partner of this year’s convention.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Critica
