ABx Achieves Over 70% Dysprosium and Terbium Extraction in ANSTO Leach Tests

ANSTO Confirms ABx’s Rare Earth Extraction Strength

ABx Group Limited has announced compelling results from diagnostic leach tests conducted by ANSTO on a 100 kg bulk sample from its Deep Leads rare earth project in Tasmania. The tests demonstrated extraction rates exceeding 70% for dysprosium and terbium, two of the most strategically valuable heavy rare earth elements. These findings closely align with ABx’s own in-house test results, providing independent validation from one of the world’s leading rare earth laboratories.

Benign Processing Conditions Signal Lower Costs and Environmental Impact

Notably, the extraction was effective at a pH above 4, which is relatively mild acidity comparable to that of apple juice. This higher pH leaching reduces contamination from impurities such as aluminium and iron, which typically complicate processing. The implication is a cleaner, more cost-efficient extraction process with a reduced environmental footprint, an increasingly important consideration in rare earth mining.

Deep Leads Resource – A Rare Heavy Rare Earth Concentration

The Deep Leads deposit boasts an estimated 89 million tonnes of ionic adsorption clay with a total rare earth oxide grade of 844 ppm. Crucially, it contains 36 ppm of dysprosium and terbium combined, representing 4.4% of total rare earth oxides, the highest such concentration in Australia and among the highest globally. This positions ABx to potentially become the first Australian producer of mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) from ionic adsorption clays, a product highly sought after by rare earth refineries worldwide.

Commercial Milestones and Strategic Partnerships

ABx is on schedule to deliver its first MREC sample in the fourth quarter of 2025, a critical step toward commercialisation. The company has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ucore Rare Metals, a North American rare earth processing firm, and is actively engaging with other potential offtake partners. These relationships underscore growing market interest in ABx’s high-purity rare earth concentrates, particularly given the global supply risks associated with dysprosium and terbium.

Looking Ahead – Scaling Up and Market Reception

The next phase involves slurry tests to assess leaching performance at higher solids loading, which will be pivotal in confirming the scalability of the process. Prospective customers are eagerly awaiting the MREC samples, which will provide tangible evidence of product quality and cost-effectiveness. Success here could solidify ABx’s role in diversifying global rare earth supply chains beyond dominant Chinese sources.