Pilot Plant Success Raises Stakes for Meteoric’s Rare Earth Project
Meteoric Resources has successfully produced its inaugural batch of Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate at its Caldeira Pilot Plant in Brazil, marking a significant milestone in its rare earths project development.
- First Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate produced from Caldeira Pilot Plant
- Pilot Plant commissioned all unit processes including water recycling
- Clay ore from Capão Do Mel successfully processed
- Data to feed into ongoing Definitive Feasibility Study by Ausenco
- Pilot Plant enables operator training and downstream processing trials
A Milestone in Rare Earths Processing
Meteoric Resources NL has announced the successful production of its first batch of Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC) from its newly commissioned Pilot Plant at the Caldeira Rare Earth Project in Minas Gerais, Brazil. This achievement places Meteoric among a select group of companies globally capable of independently producing MREC, a critical intermediate in the rare earth supply chain.
The Pilot Plant, located in Poços de Caldas, has been processing clay ore sourced from the Capão Do Mel deposit. Over recent weeks, the plant has undergone comprehensive commissioning, validating each unit process from ore preparation and leaching to filtration and water treatment. Notably, the plant’s water treatment circuit has achieved 100% recycling of process water, underscoring the project’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
Technical Validation and Operational Readiness
The commissioning phase involved sequential introduction of reagents and low-grade ore, focusing on key stages such as scrubbing, leaching with ammonium sulfate, and spent clay filtration. The successful operation of these processes confirms the robustness of the flowsheet developed through extensive test work at ANSTO, including multiple continuous pilot runs.
Managing Director Stuart Gale highlighted the team’s efforts in equipment acquisition, recruitment, and commissioning, emphasizing that the Pilot Plant not only produces MREC but also serves as a training ground for operators and a platform for ongoing process optimization. This operational readiness is critical as the plant transitions to processing typical ore grades with higher rare earth concentrations.
Implications for Project Development and Market Positioning
The data generated from the Pilot Plant campaigns will directly inform the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) currently underway with Ausenco, refining project parameters and enhancing confidence in long-term value creation. Additionally, the Pilot Plant offers opportunities to trial downstream separation technologies such as solvent extraction and innovative methods like Flash Joule Heating, potentially unlocking further efficiencies and product quality improvements.
With global demand for rare earth elements intensifying due to their critical role in clean energy and advanced technologies, Meteoric’s progress at Caldeira positions it well to contribute to supply diversification. The ability to produce and optimize MREC independently is a strategic advantage as the company engages with existing and prospective offtake partners.
Looking ahead, the company’s focus will be on refining reagent dosing, improving product purity, and maximizing rare earth recoveries, all while maintaining sustainable operational practices. The Pilot Plant’s success thus far bodes well for the next phases of development and commercialisation.
Bottom Line?
Meteoric’s Pilot Plant success sets the stage for critical feasibility milestones and rare earth market engagement.
Questions in the middle?
- What are the expected production volumes and purity levels as the Pilot Plant scales up?
- How will the DFS incorporate pilot plant data to influence project economics and timelines?
- What downstream processing technologies will Meteoric prioritise for rare earth separation?
