Critica’s Jupiter Resource Holds 70,000 Tonnes Gallium with 63% Recovery Rate

Strategic By-Product Unlocks New Value

Critica Limited (ASX, CRI) has advanced its Jupiter Project in Western Australia by demonstrating that gallium, a critical metal for next-generation electronics and defence technologies, can be efficiently recovered as a by-product within its vast rare earth resource. The company’s latest metallurgical testwork confirms approximately 63% of gallium oxide can be extracted into the leach solution using the existing beneficiation-first flowsheet, a process already proven for rare earth extraction.

This breakthrough is significant because it requires no alteration to the current processing circuit or project scope, effectively enhancing the economic potential of the Jupiter Deposit without additional capital expenditure. The Jupiter resource itself is a colossal 1.8 billion tonnes, averaging around 39 parts per million gallium oxide, equating to roughly 70,000 tonnes of contained gallium, a scale that positions Critica as a strategic player in critical minerals supply.

Geopolitical and Market Implications

Gallium is a metal of growing strategic importance, with China controlling over 98% of global supply and having imposed export license controls since 2024. Critica’s ability to recover gallium alongside rare earth elements strengthens Western-aligned supply chains, offering resilience and diversification in a market currently dominated by a single supplier. CEO Jacob Deysel emphasized that this development is a logical progression in Critica’s systematic flowsheet de-risking program, reinforcing the company’s commitment to securing custody of critical mineral supply rather than merely accessing resources.

Technical Validation and Next Steps

The metallurgical results stem from a series of scaled testwork programs, including pilot plant operations and bulk sample processing, conducted in collaboration with international partners such as GAVAQ, ANSTO, and Minutech-AMML. The flowsheet has demonstrated a ~95% mass rejection with an 8× grade uplift into a magnet rare earth concentrate, with gallium reporting naturally to the same leach solution as the Mixed Rare Earth Product (MREP).

Looking ahead, Critica plans to refine hydrometallurgical parameters, optimize gallium precipitation and recovery, and evaluate other potential by-products like germanium and scandium. Pilot operations will continue through the first half of 2026, feeding data into upcoming scoping and prefeasibility studies. Concurrently, the company is advancing offtake and downstream engagement with Western partners to secure market pathways.

Jupiter Project’s Unique Profile

Located in a well-established mining district with excellent infrastructure access near Mount Magnet and Geraldton, the Jupiter Deposit is notable for its exceptionally low uranium and thorium impurities, enhancing its development profile. The deposit’s clay-hosted rare earth mineralisation is dominated by magnet rare earth oxides critical for electric vehicles, renewables, and defence sectors.

Critica’s resource model and extensive drilling campaigns underpin a robust geological and metallurgical foundation, with independent consultants SRK validating the resource estimate. The company’s transparent reporting and comprehensive QAQC procedures further bolster confidence in the resource’s scale and continuity.