Critica kicks off bulk test work at giant WA rare earths playBrought to you by BULLS N’ BEARSByJames PearsonMay 28, 2025 — 1.41pmSaveShareNormal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeASX-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.Critica Limited has sent a 400kg bulk sample from its Jupiter rare earth deposit in WA for metallurgical testing at Centre of Science and Technology of Minerals and Environment at Hanoi University.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.AdvertisementThe 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.AdvertisementCritica 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:
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