Latest Downstream Processing News

Critica Limited has produced its first commercial-quality Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate at 58% TREO, confirming a refinery-aligned product pathway, while launching a major resource upgrade drilling program at its Jupiter Rare Earths Project in Western Australia.

Lynas Rare Earths reported a record A$265 million quarterly revenue in Q3 FY26, driven by higher NdPr prices and production milestones including early Samarium oxide output. The company secured a 10-year Malaysian operating licence and extended a key supply deal with Japanese partner JARE through 2038.

Axel REE Limited has achieved a key operational milestone in its in situ recovery (ISR) development at the Woolrich deposit within the Caladão Project, confirming strong rare earth element leach performance under low-impact magnesium sulphate conditions.

Lithium Plus Minerals has secured A$2.15 million through a discounted placement, backed by cornerstone investor Suzhou CATH and institutional buyers, to fund development and exploration at its Bynoe lithium project.

Axel REE is accelerating its in situ recovery (ISR) mining trials at the Caladão Project in Brazil, targeting rare earth elements and gallium extraction through a low-cost, environmentally friendly method. The company is fully funded for pilot wellfield trials at the Woolrich deposit, with expansion potential at Paraíso and Tiger Creek.

Iondrive Limited has confirmed over 90% extraction of key rare earth elements neodymium and praseodymium from US commercial samples, exceeding prior economic assumptions and advancing its modular recycling technology toward commercial deployment.

Marquee Resources (ASX:MQR) has secured a non-exclusive R&D patent licence with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, granting access to NEAREST technology tailored for clay-rich rare earth deposits like Redlings in WA. This partnership could reshape processing efficiency and environmental impact for Marquee’s significant inferred resource.

Critica Limited has achieved a significant breakthrough at its Jupiter Rare Earth Project, lifting magnet rare earth recovery to approximately 81% and total rare earth oxide recovery to around 71% through pilot plant optimisation. This advance strengthens the foundation for its ongoing scoping study and downstream processing plans.

Cadence Opportunities Fund weathered a sharp March selloff to deliver a robust 35.9% gain for the 2026 financial year so far, while announcing a fully franked interim dividend of 7.5 cents per share.

Axel REE has selected its Woolrich ISR Deposit in Brazil for its first in situ recovery (ISR) rare earth elements field trial, aiming to validate low-cost extraction and downstream processing of mixed rare earth carbonate products.

Eclipse Metals’ 2025 drilling at Grønnedal reveals broad rare earth mineralisation from surface, with multiple zones exceeding 1% TREO and a strong Nd-Pr magnet rare earth profile, reinforcing the project’s strategic importance.

Prairie Lithium is poised to begin commercial lithium production in Q4 2026 as its Direct Lithium Extraction facility nears completion, backed by a binding offtake agreement covering 100% of Phase 1 output and a strategic AU$10 million equipment contribution from Hydro Lithium.