Critica (ASX:CRI) is advancing its development path at the Jupiter Project in Western Australia, after receiving results from a metallurgical testwork program which includes the full suite of rare earths.
The testwork – conducted by the Centre for Science and Technology of Mineral Resources and Environment in Vietnam – confirms Jupiter’s ability to generate high-quality, upgraded material using conventional low-cost beneficiation.
Critica reports the results show beneficiation of Jupiter’s clay-hosted mineralisation through wet low intensity magnetic separation and froth flotation, producing a beneficiation grade of 15,000 parts per million (ppm) total rare earth oxide (TREO).
The results also include 1,400ppm heavy rare earth oxide (HREO) and 5,200ppm neodymium-praseodymium+HREO with a 95% mass reduction.
Critica, which has a market capitalisation of $45.86 million, says these results confirming Jupiter to deliver a valuable mix of strategic rare earths supports its development as a “significant” contributor to the magnet rare earth supply chain.
The company will now optimise its resource model to prioritise these HREO-rich zones, with results expected to be released in the coming weeks.
CEO Jacob Deysel says it reflects a technically sound, low-cost beneficiation route and supports the vision of transitioning Critica from explorer to near-term developer.
“One of the most important – yet underappreciated – outcomes is the exceptional 94.5% mass reduction achieved,” Deysel says.
“This dramatically lowers the volume of material requiring chemical processing, which in turn reduces capital and operating costs, minimises environmental impact, and enhances permitting and environmental, social, and governance outcomes.
“Jupiter’s sheer scale, grade, and location remain critical advantages, but it’s our ability to now show tangible progress toward a commercial outcome that sets us apart.”
The Jupiter Project, part of the broader Brothers Project, is a clay-hosted rare earths discovery first announced in late 2023.
Critica is focused on exploring, advancing, and developing the project with a global inferred resource of 1.8 billion tonnes @ 1,700ppm including 520 million tonnes @ 2,200ppm TREO.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Critica
