Critica (ASX:CRI) has received metallurgical results from the Jupiter Project in Western Australia, which validate its beneficiation-first strategy and de-risks its flowsheet, marking the transition from explorer to developer.
The first mixed rare earth product (MREP) produced from Jupiter concentrate achieved 84% total rare earth oxide with 78% recovery to mixed rare earth oxide.
Critica, which has a market capitalisation of $113.7 million, says this shows that beneficiated Jupiter concentrate can be leached using conventional, scalable hydrometallurgy, yielding a high-purity oxide product.
CEO Jacob Deysel says with beneficiation proven, MREP achieved, and pilot commissioning underway, the company is moving decisively from explorer to developer.
“Our focus now is optimisation, product specification, and engagement with prospective offtake and strategic partners as we continue building a credible, low-cost, Western-aligned rare earth supply chain anchored in one of the world’s largest and cleanest clay-hosted deposits,” Deysel says.
Critical is advancing construction of a 3,000kg closed-circuit pilot plant at GAVAQ in Hanoi, with equipment installation and commissioning activities underway.
The pilot will enable continuous operation to optimise upgrade and recovery performance, generate larger volumes of concentrate for downstream hydrometallurgical testwork, and provide data for an upcoming Scoping Study.
The pilot and hydrometallurgical results are expected to be incorporated into the Scoping Study during Q1 2026, while a Prefeasibility Study will be initiated in the following quarter.
Critica is focused on advancing the Jupiter Project, part of the broader Brothers Project, which has a 1.8 billion tonne resource in magnet rare earths.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Critica
