How OD6 Metals’ New Processing Tech Boosts Rare Earth Recovery to 75%
OD6 Metals has reported significant progress in its rare earth and copper projects, unveiling a high-recovery processing flowsheet and identifying promising new copper conductors near historic workings.
- Innovative rare earth processing flowsheet achieves ~75% Nd & Pr recovery
- High-quality rare earth products with low impurities and minimal radioactive elements
- Metallurgical diamond drilling completed at Splinter Rock for advanced testing
- Downhole EM surveys at Gulf Creek reveal strong off-hole copper conductors
- Cash position remains stable at A$2.045 million with no borrowings
Innovative Processing Breakthrough at Splinter Rock
OD6 Metals has taken a major step forward in its rare earth element (REE) ambitions with the selection of an innovative processing flowsheet at its Splinter Rock project in Western Australia. The new multi-stage process, developed in collaboration with ANSTO and CPC Engineering, combines heap leaching, nanofiltration, ion exchange, and impurity removal techniques to achieve an impressive overall recovery of approximately 75% for neodymium and praseodymium, two of the most valuable magnetic rare earths.
The resulting products, Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC) and Mixed Rare Earth Hydroxide (MREH), boast high total rare earth oxide (TREO) grades of around 56% and 59% respectively. Importantly, these products contain very low levels of impurities such as aluminium, iron, phosphorus, and silicon, and extremely low uranium and thorium content, less than 0.001% combined, addressing environmental and regulatory concerns often associated with rare earth processing.
Metallurgical Drilling and Advanced Testwork
During the quarter, OD6 completed a metallurgical diamond core drilling program at the Inside Centre deposit, securing approximately 2.5 tonnes of high-quality core samples. These samples are currently undergoing advanced testwork at ANSTO, focusing on optimising heap leach parameters, refining impurity removal, and producing bulk MREC and MREH samples for offtake discussions. This phase is critical for de-risking the processing flowsheet and providing commercially relevant product samples to potential customers and financiers.
New Copper Targets Identified at Gulf Creek
In New South Wales, OD6’s Gulf Creek Copper Project exploration has yielded promising results. Downhole electromagnetic (DHEM) surveys conducted on recently drilled holes have identified strong off-hole conductors near historic high-grade copper workings. These conductors suggest potential fault offsets or stacked mineralised lodes, opening new avenues for targeted drilling. Geological reinterpretation supports the possibility of fault displacement of known mineralisation, which could extend the resource beyond previously mined areas.
While assay results from the Phase 2 drilling program are still pending, the geophysical data enhances confidence in the project’s potential and will guide future exploration efforts.
Financial Position and Strategic Alignment
OD6 Metals ended the December quarter with a solid cash balance of A$2.045 million and no borrowings, reflecting prudent financial management amid active exploration and development activities. Exploration expenditure for the quarter was A$694,000, primarily directed towards drilling, metallurgical testing, and geological studies.
The company also confirmed its participation in the Australian Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve framework, aligning its operations with national policies aimed at securing supply chains for critical minerals. This strategic positioning underscores OD6’s commitment to becoming a reliable supplier of rare earths and copper in a geopolitically sensitive market.
Looking Ahead
OD6 Metals is targeting a production scale exceeding 6,000 tonnes per annum of rare earth oxides within five years, leveraging its innovative processing technology and substantial resource base. The ongoing metallurgical testwork and forthcoming assay results from Gulf Creek will be pivotal in validating these ambitions and attracting investment and offtake partners.
Bottom Line?
OD6’s technological advances and new copper targets position it well in the critical minerals race, but upcoming assay results and funding strategies will be key to sustaining momentum.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the final metallurgical test results impact the commercial viability of Splinter Rock’s processing flowsheet?
- What do the pending assay results from Gulf Creek reveal about the scale and grade of new copper mineralisation?
- What funding avenues will OD6 pursue to support its ambitious production and exploration plans?
