Latest Pilot Plant News

Critica Limited (ASX:CRI) has delivered stronger technical results across its Jupiter rare earths and Mt Lindsay tin-tungsten projects, but the developer remains dependent on further funding. Two scoping studies targeted for Q3 2026 now carry the burden of translating resource potential and laboratory results into project economics.

Firebird Metals has prepared the first manganese feedstock for its Australian Demonstration Plant, marking a practical step towards testing its integrated pathway from Western Australian ore to battery materials. Equipment remains scheduled to arrive in October, with commissioning targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026.

Castile Resources has emerged from FY2026 with a larger Rover 1 resource, stronger preliminary project economics and A$9.37 million in cash. The next challenge is converting a A$1.07 billion pre-tax NPV8 study into a funded, permitted mining project.

Pursuit Minerals has started its first diamond hole at the Demasía tenement, testing whether lithium-bearing brines extend beyond the existing 1.264 million tonne LCE resource at Rio Grande Sur. Early packer tests recovered brine at shallow depths, but lithium assays are still pending.

Impact Minerals has completed its renounceable rights issue, raising $2.205 million before costs to fund work on its Lake Hope and Alluminous high-purity alumina projects. The raise also brings a substantial new pool of quoted options, while leaving room for further shortfall placements.

ABx Group has locked in approximately $4.1 million through a placement and fully underwritten share purchase plan, with strategic partner Good Importing International committing $1 million. The funding will support the Deep Leads rare earths project and construction and commissioning of the ALCORE pilot plant, but comes with substantial new equity and options.

Pursuit Minerals has secured environmental approvals to relocate its pilot plant to Rio Grande Sur and drill a new 500-metre hole at Demasía. The company has also applied to build commercial-scale evaporation ponds for its planned 5,000-tonne-per-year operation, although that approval remains outstanding.

ABx Group and its ALCORE subsidiary have received nearly $600,000 in R&D tax offsets, while ALCORE has completed repayment of $2.61 million in unused government grant funds. The company is now awaiting a decision on a separate Industry Growth Program application worth up to $5 million.

Victory Metals has secured a 2,006-hectare mining lease for its North Stanmore heavy rare earths project in Western Australia. The grant removes a key tenure hurdle, but technical studies, approvals, offtake agreements and financing still stand between the project and a development decision.

Australian Rare Earths has moved its Koppamurra pilot plant beyond heap leaching, recovering rare earths from about 5,000 litres of leach solution into a Mixed Rare Earth Hydroxide intermediate product. The result provides an early test of the downstream flowsheet, although commercial economics and final product quality remain unproven.

Brazilian Rare Earths has commissioned its Stage I beneficiation pilot plant in Bahia and produced its first rare earth mineral concentrate. Partners will contribute R$6.4 million, or about A$1.7 million, towards the next hydrometallurgical stage planned for commissioning in Q2 2027.

Impact Minerals’ 50%-owned Alluminous project reveals a strong financial case for a staged US high purity alumina plant, projecting a post-tax NPV₈ of A$518 million and a 42.3% IRR under a modular development approach.