Morella’s Mt Edon Project Hits 93.6% Rubidium Recovery with Dual Processing Routes

Phase 2 Testwork Advances Mt Edon Rubidium Extraction

Morella Corporation Limited (ASX – 1MC) has reported encouraging results from Phase 2 metallurgical testwork conducted by Edith Cowan University (ECU) on samples from its Mt Edon Rubidium Project in Western Australia. Building on earlier promising outcomes, this latest program has confirmed rubidium extraction rates reaching as high as 93.6%, surpassing the 89.3% recovery achieved in Phase 1.

The testwork evaluated multiple samples sourced from various pegmatite bodies within the project area, where Morella holds a 51% interest in the pegmatite mineral rights under its joint venture with Elevra Lithium Limited. The results demonstrate consistent high recoveries across a broader sample suite, reinforcing the project’s potential as a significant source of this critical mineral.

Dual Processing Pathways Offer Flexibility

A key outcome of the Phase 2 program is the identification of two viable processing pathways tailored to the distinct mineralogical domains present at Mt Edon. This dual-path approach provides operational flexibility and aligns processing methods with the specific mineral composition of the pegmatites, which is crucial for optimising recovery and downstream processing.

Moreover, the testwork established a clear relationship between mineralogy and extraction performance, offering valuable guidance for future drill planning and flowsheet design. Both pathways successfully produced rubidium-bearing solutions compatible with further purification steps to produce rubidium carbonate, a high-value intermediate product.

Strategic Importance and Next Steps

Rubidium is a rare alkali metal with growing demand in specialty glass, advanced electronics, and emerging energy storage technologies. Global supply remains limited and concentrated in few jurisdictions, underscoring the strategic value of Mt Edon’s high-grade rubidium mineralisation.

Morella’s Managing Director, James Brown, highlighted the significance of these results, noting that they strengthen the technical and commercial foundations of the Morella–Elevra joint venture. The company plans to advance with expanded variability testing, mineralogy-integrated drilling scheduled for early 2026, locked-cycle testwork, and preliminary economic assessments to further de-risk and define the project’s development pathway.

Mt Edon’s location in Western Australia’s Mid-West region, combined with its advanced exploration status and promising metallurgical performance, positions it as a strategically important asset within Morella’s critical minerals portfolio, complementing its lithium and battery metals interests.