Critica Limited reports breakthrough metallurgical test results at its Jupiter Project, achieving a 95% mass reduction and upgrading rare earth grades, including heavy rare earth oxides. This positions Jupiter as a key player in Australia’s strategic rare earth supply chain.
- 95% mass reduction achieved via beneficiation
- Upgraded concentrate grades – 1.5% Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO)
- Significant heavy rare earth oxides (HREO) and magnet rare earth oxides (MREO) content
- Potential premium 67% iron ore by-product identified
- Ongoing optimisation of resource model and beneficiation processes
Jupiter Project Breakthrough
Critica Limited has unveiled promising metallurgical test work results from its flagship Jupiter Project, Australia's largest clay-hosted rare earth element (REE) deposit. The latest phase of testing, conducted by the Centre for Science and Technology of Mineral Resources and Environment (CSTMRE) in Vietnam, confirms the project's ability to produce a high-grade concentrate through conventional beneficiation techniques.
Using Wet Low Intensity Magnetic Separation (WLIMS) followed by froth flotation, Critica achieved a remarkable 95% mass reduction, upgrading the total rare earth oxides (TREO) grade to 1.5% (15,000 ppm). This includes 1,400 ppm of heavy rare earth oxides (HREO) and 3,990 ppm of magnet rare earth oxides (MREO), with a combined 5,200 ppm of neodymium, praseodymium, and HREO. Such grades represent an uplift of over 800% compared to the original resource grade.
Strategic and Economic Implications
The beneficiation success is a critical milestone for Critica, as it dramatically reduces the volume of material requiring chemical processing. CEO Jacob Deysel highlighted that this 94.5% mass reduction could translate into significantly lower capital and operating expenditures, faster permitting, and a reduced environmental footprint, key factors aligning with the company's strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments.
Moreover, the beneficiation process yielded a premium iron ore by-product grading 67% iron, which could provide additional revenue streams and improve project economics. The Jupiter deposit's clean metallurgy, with exceptionally low uranium and thorium levels, further enhances its attractiveness from both regulatory and environmental perspectives.
Location and Scale Advantages
Situated in Yalgoo, Western Australia, the Jupiter Project benefits from proximity to established infrastructure and processing hubs, including Lynas Rare Earths' Mount Weld facility and Iluka Resources' planned Eneabba plant. With a global inferred resource of 1.8 billion tonnes at 1,700 ppm TREO, including a high-grade core of 500 million tonnes at 2,200 ppm, Jupiter is comparable in scale and grade to the world's leading clay-hosted rare earth deposits.
Importantly, Jupiter is only one of six clay-hosted REE discoveries within the broader Brothers Project area, which covers a district-scale footprint. This suggests significant exploration upside beyond the current resource.
Next Steps and Outlook
Critica is now focused on optimizing its resource model to prioritize heavy rare earth oxide-rich zones, with updated results expected soon. Ongoing metallurgical work aims to refine beneficiation processes to maximize grade and recovery, and to produce material suitable for leach testing and rare earth carbonate production.
While the current beneficiation recovery is at an early, unoptimized stage of 45%, the demonstrated potential for low-cost, ESG-aligned processing marks a significant step toward commercial viability. The company’s strategic focus on rapid development and disciplined execution positions Jupiter as a potential cornerstone of Australia's rare earth supply ambitions.
Bottom Line?
Critica’s beneficiation breakthrough at Jupiter could redefine project economics and accelerate its path to becoming a strategic rare earth supplier.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Critica optimize beneficiation recovery beyond the current 45% baseline?
- What timeline is anticipated for updated resource modeling and potential reserve upgrades?
- How might the premium iron ore by-product impact overall project feasibility and financing?