Garnet Hills Project Yields Up to 98% Grade with Scalable Low-Water Processing

Exceptional Metallurgical Breakthroughs

Pure Resources Limited (ASX, PR1) has unveiled metallurgical test results from its Garnet Hills Project in Western Australia that significantly bolster its development prospects. The company’s recent testwork demonstrated garnet concentrate grades reaching an impressive 98%, with an overall product grade exceeding 92%. These results were achieved through a combination of Dense Media Separation (DMS) and Reflux Classification, confirming a robust and scalable processing pathway.

DMS proved particularly effective, delivering garnet deportment above 90% while efficiently rejecting low-density gangue minerals. This method’s low water and reagent requirements align well with Pure’s commitment to sustainable and cost-effective operations. The subsequent Reflux Classification step refined the garnet concentrate further, producing two distinct fractions, a coarse grade suitable for abrasive blasting and a fine grade tailored for premium waterjet cutting applications. Both fractions meet global industrial specifications, positioning Pure to serve key market segments.

Strategic Market Alignment and Sustainability

The processing flowsheet’s simplicity and environmental credentials stand out. By avoiding chemical reagents and minimizing water usage, Pure Resources addresses growing ESG expectations within the industrial minerals sector. The high-grade garnet product with low impurities is well aligned with market demand trends, particularly in waterjet cutting and abrasive blasting industries, which require consistent quality and performance.

Managing Director Patric Glovac highlighted the significance of these outcomes, emphasizing the balance between economic viability and environmental responsibility. The company is advancing to bulk-scale testing and further optimisation, aiming to validate these promising results on a larger scale.

Expanding Horizons, US Collaborations and Rare Earth Elements

Beyond metallurgical success, Pure Resources is actively pursuing strategic collaborations in the United States. These partnerships involve Department of Energy-funded academic institutions and technology developers focused on downstream applications and mining innovations. A notable area of interest is the extraction of Rare Earth Elements (REE) from industrial garnet, which could add significant value and diversify Pure’s product offering.

Initial discussions have also commenced with US suppliers in thermal management sectors, including heat sinks and weapons cooling, indicating potential downstream market opportunities. This US-focused strategy complements Pure’s broader vision of becoming a globally competitive, ESG-aligned supplier of critical minerals.

Next Steps and Outlook

Pure Resources plans to undertake bulk-scale Reflux and dry magnetic separation trials to further evaluate product performance for blasting and waterjet applications. Additional testing will explore ore variability and recovery optimisation, including regrind trials on middlings to capture further value. The company is also preparing for a ~5,000m drilling campaign to validate historical data and support resource estimation.

With a granted mining lease and proximity to established infrastructure, the Garnet Hills Project is well positioned for development. The combination of high-grade product potential, sustainable processing, and strategic US partnerships sets a compelling stage for Pure Resources’ next growth phase.