Australian Rare Earths Limited has advanced its pilot-scale processing operations at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation facility in Sydney, successfully producing Mixed Rare Earth Hydroxide from the Koppamurra rare earth project.

The first heap leach column cycle processed approximately 8 tonnes of ore to generate roughly 5,000 litres of Pregnant Leach Solution at target rare earth leaching rates. This marks a scale-up from earlier testwork that processed about 3 tonnes of ore to yield 1,800 litres of pregnant leach solution. The current liquor has now passed through a continuous three-stage precipitation reactor circuit to produce an intermediate rare earth product.

The pilot campaign aims to validate precipitation, thickening, filtration and washing circuits through to December 2026. Operating data gathered during this phase will feed directly into Definitive Feasibility Study design criteria, while the intermediate product will be refined into representative oxide samples for prospective offtake partners.

“The pilot program is off to an excellent start. We have successfully established rare earth recovery through heap leaching and are now validating the first downstream processing stage required to convert those rare earth-bearing liquors into a saleable product. The commencement of MREOH precipitation marks another significant step in demonstrating Koppamurra's complete processing flowsheet at pilot scale.”

“This phase of the program is particularly important because it continues to generate the engineering and operating data necessary for DFS design and will produce material for further refining into representative MREO samples for customer engagement and qualification. The ability to continuously recover rare earths from Koppamurra leach solutions and produce a concentrated rare earth intermediate is another important de-risking milestone as we advance the pilot operation to producing our final MREO product.”

— Travis Beinke, Managing Director and CEO, Australian Rare Earths Limited

Development of the project is supported by a $5 million Australian Government grant from the International Partnerships in Critical Minerals Program, under which AR3 had received a cumulative $4.85 million by August 2026. Alongside ongoing pilot operations through December, the company targets the submission of a Mining Lease application for Koppamurra later in 2026.

Read the full announcement: Pilot Plant moves to Mixed Rare Earth Hydroxide Production