ABx Group (ASX: ABX) has received favourable feedback from US-based Rare Earth Technologies Inc (RETi) following formal assessment of its mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) product from the Deep Leads project in northern Tasmania.
Testing confirmed the material is of high purity and compatible with RETi’s proprietary separation process, supporting its potential as a feedstock for downstream rare earth refining.
The outcome marks the first formal customer validation of ABx’s product and underpins the company’s strategy to advance toward commercial production and supply agreements.
ABx is targeting early commercial production of mixed rare earth carbonate from Deep Leads, now supported by the favourable product characteristics demonstrated in testing.
The company said the deposit’s ionic adsorption clay style supports low-cost extraction and high product quality using established processing methods.
Testing Confirms Product Quality
ABx provided a sample of its maiden mixed rare earth carbonate to RETi for evaluation using the company’s proprietary processing flowsheet.
The assessment involved conversion to a soluble form, removal of cerium through a REDOX process, and separation of individual rare earth elements using chromatographic techniques.
RETi reported that the product dissolved fully, delivered effective cerium removal, and produced high-purity rare earth streams through downstream processing.
The results confirm the material is well suited to RETi’s process, and represent an ideal feedstock for ABx’s technology platform.
Pathway to Supply Discussions
Following the successful evaluation, ABx and RETi will progress discussions toward a potential supply arrangement for mixed rare earth carbonate that is expected to include further testing of larger sample volumes at RETi’s facilities as part of advancing toward commercial engagement.
The company said the positive feedback highlights growing customer interest in its product as it works toward establishing a position within Western rare earth supply chains.
“Rare earth products can have very high quality requirements that vary among different applications, so positive customer feedback is crucial,” chief executive officer Mark Cooksey said.
“This feedback from RETi is very strong supporting evidence for the high value of the Deep Leads MREC.”
“We already know that we can produce an MREC that meets customer requirements using a well-established commercial process—our focus is on finalising a project design that can be advanced to commercial operation in the shortest time and at the lowest cost.”
