ABx Group (ASX: ABX) has reported outstanding results from large-scale impurity removal tests at its Deep Leads ionic adsorption clay rare earth project in northern Tasmania, achieving over 98% retention of total rare earth elements while removing nearly all impurities.
The trials, which the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) conducted, confirmed near-complete elimination of aluminium and other major contaminants under low-cost processing conditions.
The results pave the way for production of ABx’s first mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) sample later this month, marking a major milestone in the company’s development of a high-value rare earth product for the global magnet supply chain.
High-Purity Product Confirmed
ANSTO performed the test work on rare earth-enriched leach solutions from a 1.2kg sub-sample of a 100kg bulk sample from trial pit DLP002 within the Deep Leads resource area.
Under near-optimal conditions of pH 5.9 and 6.2, aluminium removal was almost complete, with more than 98% of rare earth elements remaining in solution—resulting in an aluminium-to-total rare earth ratio of less than 0.005.
ABx expects to maintain this extremely low impurity ratio in the final MREC product, increasing its appeal by meeting specifications suitable for downstream refining into separated oxides and metals used in EV motors, wind turbines, and other high-performance applications.
The company noted that the Deep Leads deposit continues to demonstrate an advantageous combination of high dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb) grades, strong recoveries under benign leach conditions, and minimal impurities.
“These latest results are extraordinarily good—because of the very high DyTb content, high extractions, low impurities, and a significant resource, ABx Group continues to receive strong interest from potential customers.”
Resource Strength and Recoveries
The bulk sample tests confirm that large-scale leaching replicates the results ABx / ANSTO achieved in earlier 300g test samples, which recorded 62–66% extraction of Dy and Tb at ambient temperature and pressure.
The new 1.2kg leach sample achieved 62% Dy and 63% Tb extraction, further validating the scalability of ABx’s low-cost processing conditions.
The Deep Leads – Rubble Mound and Wind Break deposits currently host an 89 million tonne resource grading 844 parts per million total rare earth oxides, containing 36ppm Dy+Tb — the highest proportion of these magnet rare earths of any ionic clay deposit in Australia and among the highest globally.
This high Dy and Tb content, coupled with the ability to achieve high extractions using low-acid chemistry, positions ABx to produce a premium product with a lower cost structure than many global peers.
Current market conditions remain robust, with Benchmark Minerals reporting October prices of over US$200/kg for Dy oxide and nearly US$1,000/kg for Tb oxide.
Next Steps Toward Market Samples
ANSTO has begun producing the first MREC sample using 50kg of the 100kg bulk sample, with completion due by the end of November—at which point, ABx will then distribute the product to potential customers and offtake partners for evaluation and testing.
The company is also preparing to commence column leach trials to validate that the high extractions achieved in tank tests can be replicated in field-scale column leaching systems, and anticipates results in early 2026.
Data from these tests will support process optimisation and provide essential input for project development studies and future commercial discussions.
ABx is progressing its strategic partnership with Ucore Rare Metals, which operates rare earth processing facilities in North America, and is in discussion with additional potential offtake partners.
The Deep Leads project remains the cornerstone of ABx’s rare earth strategy, supported by the its other operations in clean fluorine chemical production through its ALCORE subsidiary and near-term bauxite production opportunities in Tasmania, Queensland, and New South Wales.
