Critica (ASX:CRI) reports a 30% reduction in sulphuric acid consumption at its Jupiter Rare Earth Project in Yalgoo, Western Australia following hydrometallurgical optimisation work.
An independent testwork program was undertaken by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), the Centre for Science and Technology of Mineral and Environment, and Australian Minmet Metallurgical Laboratories (AMML).
The testwork demonstrates sulphuric acid consumption down to approximately 1 tonne per tonne of feed while maintaining rare earth extraction rates above 84%.
Critica notes the results mark an improvement from the reference basis of approximately 1.4 to 1.6 tonnes of acid per tonne of feed announced on 16 February 2026.
CEO Jacob Deysel says the company has focused on systematically optimising each stage of the Jupiter processing flowsheet.
“Following the improvements already demonstrated in magnet rare earth recovery and concentrate grade, our downstream optimisation work is now demonstrating materially lower sulphuric acid consumption,” Deysel says.
“This is particularly important given the significance of acid consumption to the hydrometallurgical processing cost.”
In April 2026, pilot beneficiation optimisation delivered approximately 81% magnet rare earth recovery. Subsequent optimisation in May 2026 produced an intermediate concentrate grading approximately 3% total rare earth oxides, representing an approximately 14-fold upgrade from feed while rejecting approximately 95% of the original feed mass.
The company is now finalising the Jupiter Scoping Study, which remains targeted for release in the third quarter of 2026.
Critica is a mineral explorer and developer focused on critical minerals like tin, rare earths, and tungsten.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
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