ABx Group’s mixed rare earth carbonate from Tasmania’s Deep Leads project has earned strong validation from US-based Rare Earth Technologies Inc, confirming its high purity and compatibility with cutting-edge separation technology.
- RETi confirms ABx’s mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) is high quality and suitable for proprietary separation
- Positive customer feedback supports ABx’s low-cost extraction and high-value product claims
- ABx and RETi to advance supply discussions, aiming for commercial production ramp-up
- RETi’s environmentally friendly technology offers scalable, precise rare earth separation
- Deep Leads project positioned as a key supplier in Western rare earth supply chains
Strong Validation for ABx’s Rare Earth Product
ABx Group Limited (ASX:ABX) has received highly favourable feedback from Rare Earth Technologies Inc (RETi) on its mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) product derived from the Deep Leads Rare Earths Project in northern Tasmania. RETi, a US-based company pioneering rare earth separation technology, confirmed that ABx’s maiden MREC sample is of exceptional purity and ideally suited for its proprietary refinement process.
This endorsement is a significant milestone for ABx, reinforcing the company’s strategy to rapidly advance commercial production of MREC. The Deep Leads deposit’s ionic adsorption clay characteristics have long promised low-cost extraction and high product quality, and RETi’s assessment now provides independent validation from a leading downstream processor.
Innovative Technology Meets High-Quality Feedstock
RETi’s breakthrough technology integrates solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography to separate rare earth elements with unprecedented precision and environmental responsibility. Unlike traditional methods relying on toxic solvents, RETi’s process uses mineral acid eluents, offering safety and sustainability advantages. The company is scaling up production capacity in the US, aiming to strengthen domestic rare earth supply chains.
According to RETi’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr Dejene Kifle, the ABx MREC dissolved fully and performed excellently in cerium depletion and chromatographic separation tests. This compatibility not only confirms the feedstock’s quality but also signals a promising long-term supply relationship as RETi expands its operations.
Strategic Implications and Next Steps
ABx’s Managing Director Dr Mark Cooksey expressed confidence that the positive customer feedback will accelerate project development. The company plans to finalise a project design focused on swift, cost-effective commercial operation. Discussions with RETi will progress towards supply agreements, likely involving evaluation of larger MREC quantities at RETi’s facilities.
This collaboration positions ABx as a critical player in Western rare earth supply chains, addressing growing demand for secure, high-purity rare earth materials essential for clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.
While the announcement stops short of disclosing timelines or contract specifics, the validation from a technology leader like RETi is a strong signal of ABx’s potential to deliver commercially viable rare earth products in the near term.
Bottom Line?
ABx’s rare earth product validation by RETi sets the stage for accelerated commercialisation and supply chain impact.
Questions in the middle?
- What are the expected timelines and volumes for the supply agreement between ABx and RETi?
- How will ABx scale production to meet potential demand from RETi and other customers?
- What financial terms and pricing structures will underpin the commercial supply of MREC?