Critica Ltd (ASX:CRI, OTC:VTMLF, FRA:VQI0) has achieved a further significant improvement in the processing flowsheet for its Jupiter Rare Earth Project in Western Australia, reducing sulphuric acid consumption by around 30% under optimised conditions.
The latest results mark the next stage of Critica’s hydrometallurgical optimisation program and demonstrate that acid consumption of approximately one tonne per tonne of feed can be achieved while maintaining strong rare earth recoveries.
Lower acid consumption has the potential to materially reduce downstream processing costs, strengthening the technical and economic foundations of Jupiter as Critica finalises a scoping study scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2026.
Building on earlier processing gains
The hydrometallurgical results follow a series of improvements across the Jupiter processing flowsheet.
In April 2026, pilot optimisation work delivered magnet rare earth oxide recoveries of around 81%, while subsequent testing announced in May produced a roughly 14-times upgrade to a concentrate grading about 3% total rare earth oxide.
The beneficiation work also increased mass rejection, reducing the volume of material requiring more costly downstream hydrometallurgical treatment.
Critica has since turned its attention to optimising the acid bake circuit, where sulphuric acid represents a significant component of processing costs.
Independent work by ANSTO, GAVAQ and AMML confirmed that acid consumption of about one tonne per tonne of feed could be achieved under optimised operating conditions.
Systematic flowsheet optimisation
Critica chief executive officer Jacob Deysel said the results reflected the company’s strategy of improving each stage of the Jupiter flowsheet while preserving rare earth recovery.
“Our approach has been to systematically optimise each stage of the Jupiter processing flowsheet and these latest results represent another important step in that programme,” Deysel said.
“Following the improvements already demonstrated in magnet rare earth recovery and concentrate grade, our downstream optimisation work is now demonstrating materially lower sulphuric acid consumption.
“This is particularly important given the significance of acid consumption to the hydrometallurgical processing cost.”
Deysel said Critica was focused on optimising the complete processing pathway rather than individual stages in isolation.
“Success comes from maintaining strong rare earth recoveries while systematically improving every stage of the processing flowsheet,” he said.
“Pleasingly, ANSTO, GAVAQ and AMML have independently confirmed that acid consumption of approximately one tonne of acid per tonne of feed can be achieved under optimised conditions.”
Scoping study due in third quarter
Critica will incorporate the latest beneficiation and hydrometallurgical results into the Jupiter scoping study, which is expected to be released during the third quarter of 2026.
“With optimisation now demonstrated across beneficiation recovery, concentrate grade and downstream reagent consumption, we continue to strengthen the technical foundations of Jupiter as we finalise the Scoping Study for release in Q3 2026,” Deysel said.
Critica is an Australian critical minerals company advancing the Jupiter Rare Earth Project in Western Australia and the Mt Lindsay Tin-Tungsten Project in Tasmania.