Critica Launches 10,000m Drilling to Upgrade Jupiter Resource Classification
Critica Limited has launched a major drilling campaign at its Jupiter Rare Earth Project to upgrade resource confidence and explore regional potential, backed by government co-funding. This marks a pivotal step in advancing the project’s development and study phases.
- Resource upgrade drilling underway at Jupiter targeting Inferred to Indicated conversion
- Regional drilling at Juno and Aurora co-funded by WA Government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme
- SRK Consulting engaged to update Jupiter Mineral Resource model
- Metallurgical optimisation progressing following commercial-quality rare earth carbonate production
- Scoping Study advancing with integrated drilling and metallurgical data
Resource Upgrade Drilling Kicks Off at Jupiter
Critica Limited (ASX: CRI) has commenced a significant Air Core drilling programme at its flagship Jupiter Rare Earth Project in Western Australia. The primary objective is to upgrade key zones of the existing Inferred Mineral Resource to Indicated status, a critical step for more robust mine planning and feasibility studies. The drilling covers approximately 7,000 to 10,000 metres across a 3km by 1km footprint, with a focus on increasing drill density in priority areas identified through recent optimisation work.
Regional Exploration Supported by Government Co-Funding
Alongside the resource upgrade, Critica has initiated regional drilling at the Juno and Aurora prospects within the broader Brothers Project. These targets are promising for clay-hosted rare earth element mineralisation, with Juno notable for its higher proportion of magnet rare earth oxides, potentially yielding higher-value products. The Western Australian Government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme is co-funding up to 50% of drilling and mobilisation costs, easing capital requirements and enabling broader exploration upside.
Expertise Engaged to Refine Resource Model
SRK Consulting, a respected name in mineral resource estimation, has been engaged to update the Jupiter Mineral Resource model as new drilling data becomes available. This update will feed directly into the ongoing Scoping Study, ensuring that resource classifications and mine plans reflect the latest geological insights. The integration of this data is expected to enhance confidence in the project’s development pathway.
Metallurgical Progress Fuels Optimisation Efforts
Following the recent milestone of producing commercial-quality Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC) with 58% total rare earth oxides, Critica is advancing metallurgical optimisation workstreams. These include refining reagent consumption, improving recovery rates, managing impurities, and exploring alternative processing routes to enhance capital and operating efficiencies. Collaborations with ANSTO, Minutech–AMML, Phenikaa University, and Sedgman underpin these efforts, bringing technical depth and rare earth processing expertise to the project.
Strategic Implications and Next Steps
The combined drilling and metallurgical programmes are integral to Critica’s Scoping Study, which aims to define a viable development strategy for the Jupiter Rare Earth Project. With rare earth elements critical to emerging technologies like electric vehicles, renewable energy, and defence, advancing this project positions Critica to meet growing demand. The government’s co-funding support also highlights the strategic importance of domestic rare earth supply chains.
Bottom Line?
Critica’s drilling and optimisation efforts set the stage for a resource upgrade that could reshape Jupiter’s development prospects.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the updated resource model impact the overall resource size and classification at Jupiter?
- What are the timelines for completing the Scoping Study and advancing towards feasibility?
- How might metallurgical optimisation influence project capital and operating costs?
