Significant advancements in metallurgical testwork at Koppamurra

Australian Rare Earths Limited (ASX: $AR3) has announced significant advancements in the metallurgical testwork conducted on its Koppamurra rare earths project in South Australia. The testwork has identified an improved development pathway through a progressive heap leach and rapid rehabilitation approach, offering lower capital and operating costs compared to previous tank leach studies. The company's Chief Executive, Travis Beinke, highlighted the promising results achieved in Magnet Rare Earth recoveries through column leach test work with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).

Executive commentary on Koppamurra project

Over the past four months, we've achieved extremely promising results in Magnet Rare Earth recoveries achieved through column leach test work with ANSTO. Much of our metallurgical testwork to-date has focused on a slurry leach development pathway, but given the infancy of ionic clay projects outside of China, our team decided to explore an alternate development pathway by investigating the leaching characteristics of the Koppamurra clays under a heap leach approach. The preliminary column leach results are extremely encouraging, demonstrating magnet rare earth recoveries comparable to or even better than results previously achieved via slurry leach testwork at Koppamurra. This is a significant step forward for the technical and economic viability of the Koppamurra project, especially at a time when western governments are increasingly committed to developing alternative, sustainable supplies of rare earths essential for the clean energy transition and national security.

Outlook for Koppamurra project

The metallurgical testwork at Koppamurra has identified a progressive heap leaching development pathway, offering lower capital and operating costs and improved environmental sustainability characteristics. The company aims to achieve economically sustainable multi-generational production of rare earths from the Koppamurra rare earths province. The testwork also indicates lower gangue/impurity profile with higher rare earth in solution characteristics, favoring this development approach. Australian Rare Earths is working closely with NEO Performance Materials Inc. to secure an offtake agreement for the initial production of a Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate. The company is committed to executing a growth strategy to become an independent and sustainable source of rare earths, playing a pivotal role in the global transition to a green economy.