Byro Project Yields 75% Rare Earth Extraction in Initial Bioleaching Tests
Octava Minerals reports impressive initial bioleaching recoveries of critical rare earth elements and lithium from its Byro Project, highlighting a promising, low-cost extraction pathway.
- Rare earth elements Nd, Pr, Dy extracted at 68-75% recovery
- Lithium and vanadium recovered at approximately 40%
- Rapid bioleaching kinetics suggest potential for efficient heap leach processing
- Byro Project positioned as a large-scale, low-cost critical minerals source
- Further optimization and pilot-scale testing planned
Breakthrough Bioleaching Results
Octava Minerals Ltd (ASX, OCT) has announced highly encouraging results from its initial bioleaching test program on samples from the Byro Project in Western Australia. Using proprietary microbial cultures developed by European biomining specialist BiotaTec, the company achieved extraction rates of 68% to 75% for key rare earth elements (REEs) such as neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), and dysprosium (Dy), which are critical for magnet production. Lithium and vanadium, essential for battery technologies, were recovered at around 40%.
This early-stage laboratory work demonstrates that bioleaching could be a viable, environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemical extraction methods, offering reduced chemical usage and lower carbon emissions. The rapid kinetics observed; where most metal extraction occurs within the first 1-2 days; point to the potential for efficient heap leach operations at scale.
Strategic Importance of the Byro Project
Located in the Gascoyne Region of Western Australia, the Byro Project covers 555 square kilometers of granted exploration licenses. The project targets polymetallic black shales known to host critical metals, including REEs, lithium, vanadium, and others. Octava’s Managing Director, Bevan Wakelam, emphasized the significance of these results, noting that the grades and material types tested are representative of the broader deposit, which extends over a strike length of approximately 30 kilometers.
With global demand for critical minerals surging amid the energy transition, Byro’s potential as a large-scale, low-cost supplier aligns well with Australia’s strategic ambitions to secure domestic sources of these essential materials.
Pathway to Industrial Scale and Environmental Benefits
BiotaTec’s proposed next step involves scaling the bioleaching process to a pilot heap leach operation, where microbial cultures would be applied to crushed ore heaps, allowing metals to be leached and collected efficiently. This method promises a lower environmental footprint compared to conventional processing, as it operates at ambient temperatures and minimizes hazardous chemical use.
Octava is concurrently conducting parallel testwork with CSIRO in Australia to refine extraction techniques and optimize microbial strains. The company plans to advance with further metallurgical testing and drilling to better define the resource and processing parameters.
Looking Ahead
While these results are promising, they represent an early stage in the development cycle. The transition from laboratory success to commercial viability will require pilot-scale validation, economic studies, and regulatory approvals. Nonetheless, Octava’s collaboration with BiotaTec and its focus on sustainable extraction technologies position the Byro Project as a noteworthy contender in the critical minerals sector.
Bottom Line?
Octava’s bioleaching breakthrough at Byro could redefine low-cost, green extraction of critical minerals, next steps will test its industrial promise.
Questions in the middle?
- How will pilot-scale bioheap-leaching trials perform compared to laboratory results?
- What are the projected capital and operating costs for scaling this biomining technology?
- How might evolving rare earth prices impact the economic feasibility of the Byro Project?
