Critica Limited has declared a maiden Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate for its Jupiter Project, establishing it as Australia’s largest and highest-grade clay-hosted rare earth deposit. Early metallurgical testwork shows promising beneficiation results, positioning the company as a strategic player in the rare earths sector.
- Maiden Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 1.8 billion tonnes at 1,700 ppm TREO
- High-grade component of 500 million tonnes at 2,200 ppm TREO
- Initial metallurgical testwork delivers an 830% upgrade with over 50% REE recoveries
- Strong cash position of A$4.7 million with zero debt and A$1 million R&D tax refund
- Project benefits from strategic location and established infrastructure in Western Australia
Maiden Resource Declaration Marks a Milestone
Critica Limited has announced a significant advancement in its rare earths exploration with the maiden Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the Jupiter Project, part of the broader Brothers Clay-Hosted Rare Earths Project in Western Australia. The MRE, independently prepared by SRK Consulting, quantifies a global resource of 1.8 billion tonnes grading 1,700 ppm total rare earth oxides (TREO) at a 1,000 ppm cut-off. Within this, a high-grade component of 500 million tonnes at 2,200 ppm TREO stands out, positioning Jupiter as Australia’s largest and highest-grade clay-hosted rare earth resource.
This rapid delineation, achieved in just over a year since discovery in November 2023, underscores the effectiveness of Critica’s low-cost Aircore drilling strategy. The resource’s scale and grade place it alongside leading global clay-hosted deposits in China and Brazil, highlighting its potential strategic importance to Australia’s rare earth supply chain.
Promising Metallurgical Testwork Boosts Project Prospects
Complementing the resource declaration, initial metallurgical testwork has delivered an impressive beneficiation upgrade of approximately 830%, achieved through a simple flotation process at ambient temperature. This process reduced mass by 94.5% while achieving early-stage rare earth element (REE) recoveries exceeding 50%. The beneficiation results suggest a technically robust and economically efficient pathway to producing a high-grade concentrate, a critical step toward commercial viability.
Critica is advancing multiple metallurgical testwork streams aimed at further improving beneficiation and progressing toward producing Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate. These ongoing efforts will be pivotal in defining the processing route for a potential future mining operation.
Strategic Location and Strong Financial Position
The Jupiter Project benefits from its enviable location within the Mt Magnet–Yalgoo mining district, a tier-one jurisdiction with established transport, power infrastructure, and proximity to the Port of Geraldton. Such infrastructure advantages enhance the project’s development optionality and reduce logistical risks.
Financially, Critica reported a cash balance of A$4.7 million as of 31 March 2025, with zero debt excluding trade creditors. The company also received a A$1 million Research and Development Tax Incentive refund post-quarter, further strengthening its funding position to advance exploration and development activities throughout 2025.
Looking Ahead: Exploration and Development Trajectory
With Jupiter just one of six discrete rare earth discoveries within the Brothers Project, Critica plans to extend its exploration focus to satellite discoveries that may add high-grade, high-MREO material to the existing resource base. The company’s Managing Director, Philippa Leggat, highlighted the district-scale opportunity and the strategic imperative of developing a sustainable rare earth supply chain amid global market uncertainties and China’s dominance in rare earth products.
Critica’s next chapters will be shaped by ongoing metallurgical results, further drilling campaigns, and the refinement of processing pathways. The company’s ability to translate these promising early results into a commercially viable operation will be closely watched by investors and industry stakeholders alike.
Bottom Line?
Critica’s maiden resource and strong beneficiation results set the stage for a potentially transformative rare earths project in Australia’s strategic minerals landscape.
Questions in the middle?
- How will further metallurgical testwork impact the economic feasibility of the Jupiter Project?
- What is the timeline and budget outlook for advancing Jupiter from resource definition to development?
- Can Critica leverage its strategic location and infrastructure to attract partnerships or off-take agreements?