Mont Royal Resources (ASX: MRZ) has confirmed contained fluorspar at its Ashram rare earth and fluorspar project in Canada could potentially be upgraded to a saleable concentrate product.
The fluorspar is located within an anticipated open pit and could underpin the company’s ongoing metallurgical test work program, which has previously delivered a 98% calcium fluoride (acid-spar) concentrate.
As a non-recyclable raw material requiring continuous primary mine supply to satisfy global demand growth, acid-spar currently accounts for 66% of global fluorspar consumption and is the highest-value product category.
Mont Royal expects the near-term focus on additional fluorspar test work will support the addition of a fluorspar circuit in the project’s upcoming pre-feasibility study.
Large Fluorspar Resource
As one of the world’s largest rare earth and fluorspar deposits, Ashram hosts a consolidated mineral resource estimate of 73.2 million tonnes at 1.89% total rare earth oxide (TREO) and 6.6% fluorspar (indicated) and 131.1Mt at 1.91% TREO and 4% fluorspar (inferred).
Fluorspar grades are relatively consistent throughout the deposit within the same rare earth-endowed and monazite-mineralised geological domains.
Earlier metallurgical testing by Canadian company Commerce Resources—which merged with Mont Royal in 2025—focused on upgrading Ashram’s fluorspar component to a purity of 97.8%, which exceeds the typical 97% base criteria.
Acid-spar fluorspar cost, insurance and freight (CIF) pricing is currently in the range of US$540 to US$680 per tonne, reflecting sustained demand for hydrofluoric acid and downstream fluorochemicals used in pharmaceuticals, aluminum production, semi-conductors, and lithium-ion battery materials.
Met-spar fluorspar (>60% grade)—mainly used as a flux in steelmaking and cement production— is typically priced between US$420 and US$520 per tonne, supported by steel and aluminium output and limited substitution in metallurgical and cement applications.
Major Global Consumers
Quebec’s aluminium industry consumes up to 200,000t of fluorspar equivalent each year, while Japan imports up to 500,000t for end uses such as semi-conductors, batteries, refrigerants, and fluoropolymers.
China was historically a dominant fluorspar exporter but domestic mine closures, tighter environmental regulations, and rising downstream demand has upended that.
This change has tightened the global supply/demand balance and increased consumer interest in securing long-term supply from geopolitically stable Atlantic Basin jurisdictions such as Canada.
Managing director Nicholas Holthouse said fluorspar provided a “compelling opportunity” to develop a valuable second revenue stream for the project to complement rare earth production, particularly given the recent strengthening of market dynamics.
“Ashram has the potential to become a major fluorspar supplier to North America and European industries, as well as China which has recently become a net importer, particularly for high-purity hydrofluoric acid used in semi-conductors.”
