Latest news with #Critica
West Australian
28-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Critica kicks off bulk test work at giant WA rare earths play
ASX-listed rare earths up-and-comer Critica Limited has shipped a hefty 400 kilogram bulk sample from its massive Jupiter deposit in Western Australia to Vietnam, as it zeroes in on optimising its mineral extraction process. The sample is now in the hands of the Centre of Science and Technology of Minerals and Environment (CSTME) in Hanoi, which is looking to optimise Critica's beneficiation flowsheet and produce material for first-stage leach testing. Back home, the WA School of Mines at Curtin University will also run a metallurgical program, meaning Critica has two world-class labs simultaneously tackling the project. Critica's decision to push on with further testing came after an encouraging first-pass test delivered an eye-popping 830 per cent upgrade in rare earths concentration using a simple, room-temperature flotation process. The test was run on a 51kg sample from seven different drill holes considered representative of Jupiter's mineralisation. An initial grade of 1430 parts per million (ppm) total rare earth oxides (TREO) was converted into a remarkable high-grade concentrate of 13,310ppm TREO. Notably, after stripping out 94.5 per cent of the bulk material, the remaining concentrate still held more than half of its rare earths content - delivering more than 50 per cent REE recovery without any further optimisation. The stakes are high as Critica shifts to optimise its flowsheet, just three months after the company unveiled a massive maiden resource estimate at Jupiter of 1.78 billion tonnes grading 1651ppm TREO. The resource includes a high-grade sweet spot of 520 million tonnes at 2169ppm TREO. The discovery cemented Critica's claim to Australia's biggest clay-hosted rare earths deposit and revealed a treasure trove of more than 280,000 tonnes of prized heavy rare earths, such as dysprosium, terbium and yttrium. These elements are in hot demand worldwide after China imposed sweeping export controls on key REEs. Although Jupiter doesn't tick the box as a classic ionic clay deposit - famed for its easy processing - it's still very much clay-hosted. And it's coupled with size, impressive grades and an enviable proximity to key infrastructure. Critica reckons there is every chance its metallurgists will crack the last piece of the code to deliver a low-cost processing solution. Adding to its rare earths inventory, the company is also now looking at a potential second income stream from Jupiter. Initial beneficiation work using wet low-intensity magnetic separation recovered 64 per cent iron concentrate, hinting at a valuable by-product opportunity that could improve the project's economics. Jupiter's lease is well placed, just 50km southwest of Mt Magnet and 300km from the Port of Geraldton. The grounds are crisscrossed by a main highway linking the two hubs and run alongside the Mid West gas pipeline, which all gives the project a logistical leg-up. Adding to the appeal, Critica's ground sits within striking distance of Lynas' Mt Weld processing plant and Iluka's upcoming Eneabba refinery - two rare earth powerhouses that could offer a highly attractive toll treatment solution down the line. Meanwhile, the hunt for rare earths is far from over. Jupiter is just one piece of the puzzle within Critica's broader Brothers REE project - a province-scale play with multiple satellite targets already returning promising early results. Earlier this month, Critica fired up the rigs on a string of juicy satellite targets stretching across more than 8km, including the Juno and Aurora prospects, which are both a stone's throw from the main Jupiter deposit. Previous drilling at Juno already dished up a tasty teaser, with standout hits such as 8 metres going 4256ppm TREO and an impressive 34 per cent magnet rare earths. With a globally significant deposit, surging demand for non-Chinese supply chains and metallurgical testing in full swing, the market will no doubt be watching closely as test work ramps up and Critica moves to unlock the full potential of one of Australia's most significant critical minerals finds. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact:
The Age
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Critica kicks off bulk test work at giant WA rare earths play
Critica reckons there is every chance its metallurgists will crack the last piece of the code to deliver a low-cost processing solution. Adding to its rare earths inventory, the company is also now looking at a potential second income stream from Jupiter. Initial beneficiation work using wet low-intensity magnetic separation recovered 64 per cent iron concentrate, hinting at a valuable by-product opportunity that could improve the project's economics. Jupiter's lease is well placed, just 50km southwest of Mt Magnet and 300km from the Port of Geraldton. The grounds are crisscrossed by a main highway linking the two hubs and run alongside the Mid West gas pipeline, which all gives the project a logistical leg-up. Adding to the appeal, Critica's ground sits within striking distance of Lynas' Mt Weld processing plant and Iluka's upcoming Eneabba refinery - two rare earth powerhouses that could offer a highly attractive toll treatment solution down the line. Meanwhile, the hunt for rare earths is far from over. Jupiter is just one piece of the puzzle within Critica's broader Brothers REE project - a province-scale play with multiple satellite targets already returning promising early results. Earlier this month, Critica fired up the rigs on a string of juicy satellite targets stretching across more than 8km, including the Juno and Aurora prospects, which are both a stone's throw from the main Jupiter deposit. Previous drilling at Juno already dished up a tasty teaser, with standout hits such as 8 metres going 4256ppm TREO and an impressive 34 per cent magnet rare earths. With a globally significant deposit, surging demand for non-Chinese supply chains and metallurgical testing in full swing, the market will no doubt be watching closely as test work ramps up and Critica moves to unlock the full potential of one of Australia's most significant critical minerals finds. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@
Sydney Morning Herald
28-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Critica kicks off bulk test work at giant WA rare earths play
ASX-listed rare earths up-and-comer Critica Limited has shipped a hefty 400 kilogram bulk sample from its massive Jupiter deposit in Western Australia to Vietnam, as it zeroes in on optimising its mineral extraction process. The sample is now in the hands of the Centre of Science and Technology of Minerals and Environment (CSTME) in Hanoi, which is looking to optimise Critica's beneficiation flowsheet and produce material for first-stage leach testing. Back home, the WA School of Mines at Curtin University will also run a metallurgical program, meaning Critica has two world-class labs simultaneously tackling the project. Critica's decision to push on with further testing came after an encouraging first-pass test delivered an eye-popping 830 per cent upgrade in rare earths concentration using a simple, room-temperature flotation process. The test was run on a 51kg sample from seven different drill holes considered representative of Jupiter's mineralisation. An initial grade of 1430 parts per million (ppm) total rare earth oxides (TREO) was converted into a remarkable high-grade concentrate of 13,310ppm TREO. Notably, after stripping out 94.5 per cent of the bulk material, the remaining concentrate still held more than half of its rare earths content - delivering more than 50 per cent REE recovery without any further optimisation. The stakes are high as Critica shifts to optimise its flowsheet, just three months after the company unveiled a massive maiden resource estimate at Jupiter of 1.78 billion tonnes grading 1651ppm TREO. The resource includes a high-grade sweet spot of 520 million tonnes at 2169ppm TREO. The discovery cemented Critica's claim to Australia's biggest clay-hosted rare earths deposit and revealed a treasure trove of more than 280,000 tonnes of prized heavy rare earths, such as dysprosium, terbium and yttrium. These elements are in hot demand worldwide after China imposed sweeping export controls on key REEs. Although Jupiter doesn't tick the box as a classic ionic clay deposit - famed for its easy processing - it's still very much clay-hosted. And it's coupled with size, impressive grades and an enviable proximity to key infrastructure.
West Australian
05-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Critica to test big new REE targets at high-grade WA project
Rare earths project developer Critica Limited is about to unleash the drill bit on a batch of exciting 8-plus-kilometre-long satellite targets, which have the potential to supercharge its already massive global resource at the company's Brothers rare earths project in Western Australia's Yalgoo mining hub. After receiving the government exploration green light last week, the company is preparing the ground at two of its biggest clay-hosted heavy rare earth prospects, dubbed Aurora and Juno, ahead of an air core drilling campaign. The promising new targets are a stone's throw from Critica's flagship Jupiter deposit, which is home to the largest and highest-grade clay rare earths resource in Australia. Jupiter has an inferred resource of 1.78 billion tonnes grading 1651 parts per million (ppm) total rare earth elements (TREO). Previous drilling served up a tantalising amuse-bouche, with holes at Juno in particular lighting up with hits of up to 8 metres at 4256ppm TREO and 34 per cent magnet rare earths. The hits included highly prized heavy rare earths such as dysprosium, terbium and yttrium, which are all under tight Chinese export controls and key to electric vehicle motors, wind turbines and military technology. Critica's main Jupiter deposit currently hosts 25,000t dysprosium, more than 5000t terbium and 131,000t yttrium as part of its heavy metal inventory. Any new drilling results that back up earlier findings at Juno and Aurora - with richer MREO and heavy rare earth element ratios than already discovered at Jupiter - could strongly boost Critica's position at the negotiating table for processing routes and offtake deals. At a time when geopolitical tensions are fuelling Western hunger for secure rare earth supplies, Critica says it isn't wasting any time getting the drill bit into the ground and will shortly mobilise rigs to site. The program has also received a funding leg up after Critica successfully applied for a WA Government's minerals Exploration Incentive Scheme grant, which the company expects will cover up to half of its planned air core drill costs. Critica says beneficiation tests are ongoing at its Jupiter deposit, meanwhile, with the company also working on producing an initial mixed rare earth carbonate ahead of results expected throughout the year. The company recently revealed that by using a simple flotation process it had managed to convert a representative sample of Jupiter's mineralisation with an initial grade of 1430ppm TREO into a remarkable high-grade concentrate of 13,310ppm TREO. When 94.5 per cent of the material was removed, the remaining concentrated product still ran at an impressive REE recovery rate of more than 50 per cent without being further optimised. Critica says it remains well funded to make progress on all fronts with nearly $5 million in its coffers at the end of March, together with a recently banked $1M R&D refund cheque. With China's grip on rare earth exports tightening and the West scrambling for alternatives, Critica's run appears well timed. If its heavy rare earth hits hold up, Critica could find itself sitting on the largest – and one of the most strategically important - clay REE resources in the country. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact:
Sydney Morning Herald
05-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Critica to test big new REE targets at high-grade WA project
Rare earths project developer Critica Limited is about to unleash the drill bit on a batch of exciting 8-plus-kilometre-long satellite targets, which have the potential to supercharge its already massive global resource at the company's Brothers rare earths project in Western Australia's Yalgoo mining hub. After receiving the government exploration green light last week, the company is preparing the ground at two of its biggest clay-hosted heavy rare earth prospects, dubbed Aurora and Juno, ahead of an air core drilling campaign. The promising new targets are a stone's throw from Critica's flagship Jupiter deposit, which is home to the largest and highest-grade clay rare earths resource in Australia. Jupiter has an inferred resource of 1.78 billion tonnes grading 1651 parts per million (ppm) total rare earth elements (TREO). 'We've planned a low-cost air core drilling campaign to establish the potential of the Aurora and Juno prospects.' Critica Limited managing director Philippa Leggat Previous drilling served up a tantalising amuse-bouche, with holes at Juno in particular lighting up with hits of up to 8 metres at 4256ppm TREO and 34 per cent magnet rare earths. The hits included highly prized heavy rare earths such as dysprosium, terbium and yttrium, which are all under tight Chinese export controls and key to electric vehicle motors, wind turbines and military technology. Critica's main Jupiter deposit currently hosts 25,000t dysprosium, more than 5000t terbium and 131,000t yttrium as part of its heavy metal inventory. Any new drilling results that back up earlier findings at Juno and Aurora - with richer MREO and heavy rare earth element ratios than already discovered at Jupiter - could strongly boost Critica's position at the negotiating table for processing routes and offtake deals. At a time when geopolitical tensions are fuelling Western hunger for secure rare earth supplies, Critica says it isn't wasting any time getting the drill bit into the ground and will shortly mobilise rigs to site.
