Everest Metals Gains Government Backing to Examine WA Rubidium Potential

Everest Metals (ASX: EMC) has received $150,000 in government support to further investigate extraction of high-value rubidium from the Mt Edon critical minerals project in Western Australia.

The company believes the funding from the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) is a significant step towards the development of a commercial pilot plant and pioneering an Australian rubidium industry.

Rubidium is a critical raw material for use in various high-tech applications, including the development of new energy conversion technologies and new communication technologies.

Sizeable Rubidium Potential

Previous exploration at Mt Edon has delivered high-grade rubidium-lithium results up to 0.54% rubidium oxide and 1% lithium oxide (Li2O).

An inferred JORC compliant resource of 3.6 million tonnes (Mt) at 0.22% rubidium oxide and 0.07% lithium oxide had been estimated with a high-grade zone of 1.3 Mt at 0.33% rubidium oxide and 0.07% lithium oxide.

The MRIWA funding aims to help bridge the gap between laboratory-scale experimentation and full-scale commercial pilot plant operations.

The primary objective is to demonstrate the feasibility of consistently producing one kilogram of rubidium chloride per week at a target purity of 95% or higher.

ECU Research Partnership

In collaboration with research partner Edith Cowan University (ECU), Everest will continue to develop technological and commercial advancements, relating to efficient extraction and refining techniques targeting a saleable rubidium product.

As part of this partnership, ECU will delivering research services aligned with the agreed scope and timeline.

The university will also provide in-kind support of $30,000, primarily through the time commitment of its lead investigators, who will conduct most of the test work at ECU’s Mineral Recovery Research Centre.

Government Endorsement

Everest chief executive officer Mark Caruso said the government support endorsed the development of what will be an Australian first for the rubidium industry.

“Achieving this benchmark will serve as a significant milestone, strongly indicating the process’s potential for commercial scalability and profitability, particularly given Rubidium’s high commodity value and strategic importance in advanced technologies such as specialty glasses, electronics, and biomedical applications,” Mr Caruso said.

Earlier this month, Everest secured firm commitments from new and sophisticated investors for a share placement to raise just over $4 million.

The company will invest a portion of the funds raised in resource upgrade drilling and pilot plant studies at Mt Edon.