ABx Group’s Deep Leads Project Shows Promising Rare Earth Extraction Potential

Tasmanian rare earths developer ABx Group (ASX: ABX) has received positive news regarding the extraction potential of its large Deep Leads project, 45 kilometres west of Launceston in northern Tasmania.

Results from diagnostic leach tests nuclear science body ANTSO performed on samples of ionic adsorption clay (IAC) rare earth material from Deep Leads have shown similar or better numbers than those ABx previously observed in its own in-house studies.

ANTSO’s tests of sub-samples from Deep Leads returned extractions of more than 70% for the high-value heavy rare earth elements dysprosium and terbium.

Highly Rated IAC Deposit

ABx’s Deep Leads, Rubble Mound and Wind Break discoveries in Tasmania contain a resource estimate of 89 million tonnes averaging 844 parts per million total rare earth oxides.

The project’s 36ppm dysprosium and terbium resource is the highest of any ionic clay deposit in Australia and among the most significant globally.

Importantly, results indicate the potential for effectively leaching Deep Leads above a pH rating of 4, which reduces impurities and reagent costs, and makes processing benign.

The company is now preparing to conduct slurry tests on its material, and will measure the leaching performance with a higher solids loading.

Resource Differentiation

Managing director and chief executive officer, Mark Cooksey, says the large resource of dysprosium and terbium differentiates its Tasmanian discoveries from other Australian projects.

“Achieving such high extractions of dysprosium and terbium is particularly encouraging, as these are the most strategically valuable rare earths,” he said.

ABx is aiming to be first mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) producer from an ionic adsorption clay resource in Australia, with its program on track to deliver a MREC sample later this year as it advances rapidly towards commercial development.

ANSTO remains on target to produce a MREC sample in Q4 2025, at which time ABx will commence issuing samples to prospective customers.