Critica’s Jupiter Concentrate Upgraded 800%, Testwork Underway for MREC Production

Strategic Metallurgical Milestone

Critica Limited (ASX – CRI) has taken a significant step forward in advancing its Jupiter Rare Earths Project by dispatching a highly upgraded composite concentrate to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) for independent hydrometallurgical leach testwork. This concentrate, representing an 800% increase in rare earth oxide content following a ~95% mass rejection through simple physical beneficiation, is set to undergo processing aimed at producing a Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC) product.

In parallel, specialist consultancy Minutech has been engaged to conduct complementary hydrometallurgical assessments. Together, these two independent workstreams are designed to benchmark processing routes, refine chemistry, and optimise operating conditions. The outcomes will directly inform pilot-scale validation and the staged feasibility studies that underpin Critica’s disciplined development pathway.

Focus on High-Value Magnet Rare Earths

The Jupiter Project’s concentrate assays between 10,000 ppm and 20,000 ppm Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO), with a particular emphasis on the four critical magnet rare earth oxides (MREO) – neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), dysprosium (Dy), and terbium (Tb). These elements are essential components in high-performance magnets that drive electric vehicles, wind turbines, and other clean energy technologies.

Critica’s CEO Jacob Deysel highlighted the project’s scale and efficiency advantages, noting that the beneficiation process not only delivers a substantial upgrade but also reduces the mass that requires processing by approximately 95%. This reduction translates into a smaller, less capital-intensive leach plant, potentially lowering both capital expenditure and operating costs.

Resource Scale and Environmental Considerations

Jupiter stands as Australia’s largest and highest-grade clay-hosted magnet rare earth oxide inferred resource, boasting 640 million tonnes at 490 ppm MREO (using a 400 ppm cut-off). The project’s low uranium and thorium content is a notable advantage, easing permitting challenges and facilitating global distribution of the final product.

Critica is advancing Jupiter through two parallel streams – geology and metallurgy. The geology stream focuses on resource optimisation and infill drilling to better define ore blocks rich in the four key magnet elements. Meanwhile, the metallurgy stream is refining beneficiation and leach processes to optimise concentrate quality and processing efficiency. These streams feed into upcoming scoping, pre-feasibility, and definitive feasibility studies, progressively de-risking the project.

Positioning in the Rare Earth Supply Chain

With infrastructure advantages and additional exploration targets across its tenure, Critica is positioning Jupiter as a cornerstone of Australia’s rare earth supply chain. The company’s clear line-of-sight from resource to revenue, combined with a value-driven focus on critical magnet rare earths, aligns well with global trends toward electrification and clean energy technologies.

As the testwork results from ANSTO and Minutech emerge, investors and industry watchers will gain greater clarity on the optimal processing routes and economic potential of this strategically important project.