Tivan has produced 195 kg of acidgrade fluorspar at 98.6% CaF2 from its Speewah mini-pilot, exceeding the 97% market standard and setting the stage for a full pilot and offtake negotiations.
- Mini-pilot yields 98.6% CaF2 acidgrade fluorspar
- Samples to be distributed to 14 global end users
- Supports ongoing Definitive Feasibility Study work
- Full pilot with continuous operation planned for later 2026
- Joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation and JOGMEC
Mini-Pilot Plant Exceeds Market Quality Benchmarks
Tivan Limited (ASX:TVN) has achieved a significant technical milestone by producing 195 kilograms of acidgrade fluorspar at 98.6% CaF2 from its Speewah Fluorite Project mini-pilot plant in Western Australia. This grade notably surpasses the market benchmark of 97% CaF2, confirming the project’s ability to deliver premium quality product suitable for hydrofluoric acid production.
The mini-pilot was conducted at ALS Metallurgy in Balcatta and ran in two stages, processing approximately 3 tonnes of mineralised oxide material. The program successfully met its major technical goals, producing stable, high-grade acidgrade fluorspar from both low-grade and high-grade rougher concentrates. This achievement marks an Australian first for acidgrade fluorspar production from fluorite ore.
Strategic Marketing and Offtake Preparations Underway
Following the mini-pilot success, Tivan and its joint venture partner Sumitomo Corporation are preparing to ship samples to up to 14 end users worldwide, with a focus on Japanese customers. This distribution aims to facilitate further product assessment and advance marketing efforts ahead of finalising binding offtake agreements targeted for the third quarter of 2026.
Sumitomo and Tivan previously agreed on a term sheet granting Japan Fluorite Corporation the right to acquire up to 100% of Speewah’s product, with a firm commitment to purchase 80% on a take-or-pay basis. The mini-pilot samples will be crucial in securing these commercial arrangements and underpinning the project’s financing and development.
Supporting Definitive Feasibility Study and Full Pilot Plans
The mini-pilot outcomes also feed directly into the ongoing Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), providing critical data for process engineering and materials handling testwork. Tivan is planning a larger full pilot plant later this year, designed to operate continuously over 24 hours and process significantly more material. This next phase will focus on validating flowsheet design and de-risking project delivery.
With the DFS progressing, the pilot results validate earlier bench-scale testwork and offer a stronger technical foundation for the project’s development pathway. The Speewah Project is a joint venture between Tivan, Sumitomo Corporation, and the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) through Japan Fluorite Corporation, aiming to establish a sovereign Australian capability in critical mineral production.
Project Background and Geological Insights
Speewah’s mineralisation is hosted in north-northeast trending fault structures within the Kimberley Block, with fluorite veins up to 15 metres thick and 800 metres long. The project’s oxide material was sampled via costeaning, producing representative bulk samples used in the pilot. The head grade for piloting was blended to 13.3% CaF2, reflecting expected feed grades over the mine life.
The pilot plant’s flotation circuit included milling, rougher flotation, and cleaner flotation stages, achieving a progressive upgrade of fluorite grade. The weighted average acidgrade fluorspar product contained low impurities, meeting all target specifications. Further assays, including arsenic and particle size distribution, are pending on homogenised samples dispatched to end users.
Executive Commentary Highlights Project Milestone
Tivan Executive Chairman Grant Wilson described the mini-pilot success as a landmark technical achievement and a commercial driver empowering Sumitomo to confidently advance marketing. He credited the company’s multidisciplinary team for advancing Australia’s first sovereign acidgrade fluorspar capability, highlighting the project’s historical significance since fluorite was first discovered at Speewah in 1905.
Wilson singled out key personnel, including Technical Director Brendon Nicol and Process Manager Alex Botterill, for their roles in this breakthrough. The achievement sets a precedent for critical mineral development in northern Australia, aligning with broader strategic goals.
Bottom Line?
The mini-pilot’s premium acidgrade fluorspar output sets a strong technical foundation, but the project’s commercial and operational success hinges on full pilot validation and finalising binding offtake agreements.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the full pilot’s continuous operation results compare to the mini-pilot’s batch performance?
- What are the timelines and potential hurdles for executing the binding offtake agreements with Japan Fluorite Corporation?
- How might fluctuations in global fluorspar demand and pricing impact Speewah’s commercial viability?