Meteoric Achieves 70% Magnet Rare Earth Recovery in 480-Hour ANSTO Pilot Test
Meteoric Resources has confirmed exceptional rare earth recoveries from continuous piloting at ANSTO, producing high-quality Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate and demonstrating effective waste handling. This milestone advances the Caldeira Project towards commercial development and offtake agreements.
- 70% magnet rare earth recoveries consistently achieved
- High-quality Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate with less than 2% impurities produced
- 480 hours of continuous piloting at ANSTO validates integrated process flowsheet
- Brazilian pilot plant construction underway, leveraging ANSTO test results
- Spent clay handling proven, supporting sustainable backfilling and scale-up
Exceptional Pilot Test Results
Meteoric Resources NL (ASX – MEI) has announced a significant technical milestone for its Caldeira Rare Earth Ionic Clay Project in Brazil. After four continuous piloting campaigns totaling 480 hours at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), the company confirmed robust metallurgical recoveries and high-quality product output. The pilot work validated a flowsheet designed to replicate commercial-scale operations, achieving consistent 70% recoveries of magnet rare earth oxides such as neodymium and praseodymium.
The pilot used a 2.5 tonne master composite derived from 154 drill holes at the Capão Do Mel deposit, reflecting the ore feed for the initial six years of mining. The resulting Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC) contained less than 2% impurities, underscoring the product’s suitability for downstream processing and market acceptance.
De-risking Through Integrated Process Validation
This continuous piloting effort marks the culmination of a year-long test program at ANSTO, integrating all previously tested process stages into a seamless operation. Beyond metallurgical performance, the pilot demonstrated effective materials handling and water management, including successful dewatering and competent handling of spent clays. This is a critical environmental and operational factor, as it enables sustainable backfilling of mining pits and supports scale-up of commercial equipment.
Importantly, the process employs a low-cost, environmentally friendly ammonium sulfate wash, which further de-risks the flowsheet by reducing reagent costs and environmental impact. The pilot results have been incorporated into the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) engineering design, providing greater clarity on capital and operating expenditures.
Advancing Commercial Development and Partnerships
Construction of a pilot plant in Brazil is underway, with commissioning expected in October. This facility will produce approximately 2 kilograms of MREC daily to support ongoing product qualification and optimization. Meteoric has already begun supplying bulk MREC samples to potential offtake partners, a key step towards securing binding agreements.
The announcement also highlights a technology collaboration agreement between Metallium Limited and Ucore Rare Metals, which will leverage the pilot plant’s outputs for rare earth oxide separation. This partnership signals growing strategic interest and technological integration within the Caldeira Project’s development pathway.
Managing Director Stuart Gale emphasized the significance of these results, noting that the successful integration of the flowsheet and waste handling provides strong confidence in the project’s design and sustainability credentials. The availability of high-quality MREC for partner qualification is expected to accelerate commercial discussions.
Looking Ahead
With environmental approvals secured and pilot plant construction progressing, Meteoric is poised to translate these technical achievements into tangible project advancement. The DFS will benefit from refined data on equipment sizing, reagent consumption, and operating costs, while ongoing separation testwork will explore innovative technologies such as Flash Joule Heating.
Overall, the ANSTO pilot results materially de-risk the Caldeira Project and position Meteoric Resources as a credible emerging player in the rare earths sector, a market of increasing strategic importance globally.
Bottom Line?
Meteoric’s pilot success sets the stage for commercial scale-up and critical offtake negotiations in a tightening rare earth market.
Questions in the middle?
- How will pilot plant commissioning outcomes influence final DFS parameters and timelines?
- What progress is being made towards securing binding offtake agreements with strategic partners?
- How might the Metallium-Ucore technology collaboration impact rare earth separation efficiency and project economics?