Latest Pilot Plant News

Castile Resources has kicked off pilot plant bench scale testing for its Rover 1 project, integrating a 41% resource upgrade and higher metal prices into its Bankable Feasibility Study. The company also secured $8.4 million in funding and is preparing for exploration drilling amid regional consolidation.

Brazilian Rare Earths (ASX: BRE) has reported substantial expansion of its Monte Alto rare earth project with ultra high-grade drilling results and validated low-temperature processing delivering 97% recovery. The company also secured a Trial Mining Licence enabling early production and bulk shipments.

American Rare Earths is fast-tracking its Wyoming Halleck Creek rare earths project, defining a pilot plant pathway, advancing oxide to metal studies, and targeting a NASDAQ listing by year-end 2026.

Australian Rare Earths Limited (ASX: AR3) reported robust progress at its Koppamurra Rare Earths Project, delivering a high-purity Mixed Rare Earth Oxide pathway with near-complete rare earth recovery and improved heap leach performance. Concurrently, the company defined new uranium targets at Overland with drilling imminent, supported by a strengthened balance sheet following a $6 million placement and government grants.

Alligator Energy has moved into uranium extraction at its Samphire project, reporting initial Field Recovery Trial results that meet or exceed expectations and launching a Bankable Feasibility Study to underpin development.

Locksley Resources has kicked off maiden diamond drilling at its Desert Antimony Mine and El Campo Rare Earth Element Prospect, alongside producing 99.5% purity antimony trioxide, reinforcing its push for a US domestic critical minerals supply chain.

Meteoric Resources has locked in $40 million through a fully subscribed placement at market price, bolstering its cash reserves as it pushes the Caldeira Rare Earths Project towards a 2026 Final Investment Decision.

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.

Zinc Mines Ireland (ASX: ZMI) has acquired Dutch metals tech firm Meclex, integrating its proprietary low-temperature hydrometallurgical processes into ZMI’s Kildare zinc project. The move aims to unlock critical mineral value and reduce environmental impact in European zinc and battery recycling markets.

Neometals has secured A$7.9 million through a placement and launched a concurrent A$5.1 million entitlement offer to fund gold production at Barrambie and advance lithium exploration in Utah. The capital raise supports a near-term production joint venture and aggressive resource expansion.

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.

Andromeda Metals has wrapped up the Early Works phase at its Great White Project, setting the stage for construction and trimming the equity funding needed for the next development stage to about $40 million.