Critica’s Second Jupiter Product Adds Weight to Rare Earth Flowsheet

Second Laboratory Result Matches First Jupiter Carbonate

Repeatability is the important part of Critica Limited’s (ASX:CRI) latest Jupiter result. A second mixed rare earth carbonate, produced by Australian Minmet Metallurgical Laboratories, graded 57.9% total rare earth oxides, almost identical to the 57.8% product produced by ANSTO and reported in February.

That is more useful than a single headline grade. The two products were made through separate metallurgical testwork programmes, yet delivered near-identical TREO concentrations. Critica says the result demonstrates an ability to repeatedly produce a high-grade downstream carbonate from Jupiter, although the work remains laboratory-scale rather than commercial production.

Magnet and Heavy Rare Earth Content Improves

The newer product was stronger on several of the elements that matter most to rare earth magnet supply chains. Magnet rare earth oxide, or MagREO, rose to 15.0% from 14.1%, representing 25.9% of TREO compared with 24.4% in the first MREC.

Heavy rare earth oxide increased more sharply, reaching 3.66% from 2.41%. Within that mix, dysprosium oxide rose to 0.49% from 0.26%, while terbium oxide doubled to 0.14% from 0.07%. Neodymium oxide also increased to approximately 11.2% from 10.6%, while praseodymium oxide edged up to 3.19% from 3.12%.

Recovery and Flowsheet Gains Build the Technical Case

Critica reported approximately 87% total recovery in the latest testwork, including about 91% recovery through the MREC production stage. The company also points to an earlier sequence of separate improvements: pilot beneficiation recovery of approximately 81% for MagREO, a roughly 14-fold upgrade to a 3% TREO intermediate concentrate with 95% mass rejection, and a 30% reduction in sulphuric acid consumption to about one tonne per tonne of feed.

Those figures should be read as separate technical results rather than a single fully reconciled commercial flowsheet. The MREC was produced from 950 grams of concentrate derived from a 100-kilogram composite sample representing selected intervals from eight drill holes. That is enough to demonstrate process behaviour, but not to settle questions of scale-up, operating cost or project economics.

Scoping Study Remains the Next Material Test

Critica is progressing a Jupiter scoping study targeted for release in the third quarter of 2026, alongside a separate study for its Mt Lindsay project. Further pilot beneficiation work and hydrometallurgical programmes are also underway, while an updated Jupiter resource estimate is being prepared.

The next test for Jupiter will be whether these favourable laboratory results survive the transition from product quality to project design. The scoping study should begin to show whether repeatable carbonate production can translate into a credible operating route, with capital, costs, scale and recovery assumptions carrying more weight than another near-identical laboratory grade.