Critica (ASX:CRI) has produced a second mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) grading about 58% total rare earth oxide (TREO) from its Jupiter Rare Earth Project in Western Australia.
The latest MREC, produced by Australian Minmet Metallurgical Laboratories (AMML), replicates the 58% TREO grade achieved in the first MREC produced by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) in February 2026.
The product delivered increased magnet rare earth oxide (MagREO) content of 15%, compared with 14.1% in the first MREC, with MagREO representing about 26% of TREO.
Heavy rare earth oxide (HREO) content also increased to about 3.66%, from 2.41%, including higher concentrations of dysprosium and terbium.
Testwork achieved about 87% total recovery, including about 91% through the MREC production stage.
CEO Jacob Deysel says the result demonstrates repeatability in producing a ‘high-grade’ rare earth carbonate from Jupiter.
“Producing a second MREC at approximately 58% TREO is an important result, demonstrating repeatability in our ability to produce a high-grade rare earth carbonate from Jupiter,” Deysel notes.
“Importantly, the latest product also delivered increased magnet rare earth and heavy rare earth content, further strengthening the product quality.”
Deysel says the two MRECs, together with previously produced high-purity mixed rare earth oxides (MREOs), are building a body of testwork demonstrating repeatable production of downstream rare earth products.
Neodymium oxide increased from 10.6% to about 11.2%, dysprosium oxide from 0.26% to 0.49%, and terbium oxide from 0.07% to 0.14%.
Recent work has improved several parts of Jupiter’s flowsheet. Pilot beneficiation optimisation achieved about 81% MagREO recovery. An intermediate concentrate graded about 3% TREO, a 14-fold upgrade from feed while rejecting about 95% of original feed mass.
Sulphuric acid consumption fell to about 1 tonne per tonne of feed, a 30% reduction from the previously reported reference range.
Critica is advancing parallel Scoping Studies across Jupiter and its Mt Lindsay Tin-Tungsten Project in Tasmania, both targeted for completion in Q3 2026. An updated resource estimate for Jupiter is underway.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Main image: Critica
