Critica Limited (ASX:CRI) has disclosed metallurgical testwork results from its 100%-owned Jupiter Rare Earth Elements Project in Western Australia achieving gallium extraction of up to 91.9% and scandium extraction of up to 84.7%, advancing the potential recovery pathway for both metals from the project's hydrometallurgical process.

Key Points

  • Metallurgical testwork achieved up to 91.9% gallium and 84.7% scandium extraction into the pregnant leach solution at the Jupiter project
  • Jupiter's 160 Mt Indicated Resource contains approximately 6,400t Ga₂O₃ at 40 ppm and approximately 7,200t Sc₂O₃ at 45 ppm
  • The 1.5 Bt Inferred Resource contains approximately 60,000t Ga₂O₃ at 40 ppm and approximately 54,000t Sc₂O₃ at 36 ppm
  • The Jupiter Scoping Study delivered an after-tax NPV₈ of approximately A$2.0 billion with no value attributed to gallium or scandium in the Base Case
  • Preliminary resin adsorption testwork has commenced, with initial results showing co-loading of gallium, scandium and rare earth elements onto resin

Gallium and Scandium Extraction Testwork Results

Seven tests were conducted using a beneficiated concentrate derived from the Jupiter QTC metallurgical composite, subjected to acid baking and subsequent water leaching at AMML under varying operating conditions. Five of the seven tests achieved gallium extraction above 84%, while scandium extraction exceeded 80% in four tests. The highest individual results recorded were 91.93% gallium extraction and 84.68% scandium extraction across separate test runs. The company stated that these extraction results represent the proportion of gallium and scandium transferred into solution during the leach process and do not represent final product recoveries, with downstream recovery from the pregnant leach solution the focus of the next stages of testwork.

Gallium and Scandium Mineral Resource Endowment at Jupiter

Gallium and scandium occur within Jupiter's existing Mineral Resource and are not reported as separate standalone Mineral Resources. The Indicated Resource of 160 Mt carries a Ga₂O₃ grade of 40 ppm, equating to approximately 6,400 tonnes of contained Ga₂O₃, and a Sc₂O₃ grade of 45 ppm, equating to approximately 7,200 tonnes of contained Sc₂O₃. The Inferred Resource of 1.5 Bt carries a Ga₂O₃ grade of 40 ppm for approximately 60,000 tonnes of contained Ga₂O₃, and a Sc₂O₃ grade of 36 ppm for approximately 54,000 tonnes of contained Sc₂O₃. Both contained quantities are calculated from reported rounded Mineral Resource tonnages and grades at the 1,000 ppm TREO cut-off.

Next Stages of Testwork and Project Scoping Study Context

Preliminary resin adsorption testwork has commenced on the pregnant leach solution, with further work to assess selectivity, elution and downstream separation. The Jupiter Scoping Study Base Case attributes no value to gallium or scandium, with both identified as potential future upside subject to further mineralogical, metallurgical and commercial evaluation and assessment of other JORC Code modifying factors. The company stated it will continue to progress evaluation work with the aim of generating sufficient data to support potential inclusion of gallium and scandium in future economic studies. The assessment of potential gallium and scandium by-products at Jupiter is described as aspirational and does not imply economic viability.