Pilot Plant moves to Mixed Rare Earth Hydroxide Production
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
ASX: AR3 | MARKET ANNOUNCEMENT ASX Release: 10 September 2026
Koppamurra Pilot Plant Advances to Mixed Rare
Earth Hydroxide Production
Highlights
• Continuous rare earth recovery demonstrated: The first heap leach column cycle, using approximately ~8 tonnes
of ore, has generated continuous recovery of rare earths into a Pregnant Leach Solution (PLS).
• Next phase of demonstration plant in progress: First batch of PLS successfully processed through the Mixed
Rare Earth Hydroxide (MREOH) precipitation circuit, advancing the program beyond heap leaching into
downstream product recovery.
• Generation of customer qualification material: The MREOH (an intermediate product) will be further refined into
first pilot samples of Mixed Rare Earth Oxide (MREO) and shared with prospective offtake partners.
• Validation of downstream flowsheet: The campaign, planned to continue to December 2026, will validate
precipitation, thickening, filtration and washing circuits, generating operating and engineering data required to
support Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) design.
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AR3 Managing Director and CEO, Travis Beinke said:
"The pilot program is off to an excellent start. We have successfully established rare earth recovery through heap leaching
and are now validating the first downstream processing stage required to convert those rare earth-bearing liquors into a
saleable product. The commencement of MREOH precipitation marks another significant step in demonstrating
Koppamurra's complete processing flowsheet at pilot scale.
This phase of the program is particularly important because it continues to generate the engineering and operating data
necessary for DFS design and will produce material for further refining into representative MREO samples for customer
engagement and qualification. The ability to continuously recover rare earths from Koppamurra leach solutions and produce
a concentrated rare earth intermediate is another important de-risking milestone as we advance the pilot operation to
producing our final MREO product."
Australian Rare Earths Limited (ASX: AR3) is pleased toprovide an update on the progression of pilot-scale processing
activities at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) critical minerals facility in Sydney.
Following the successful commissioning of the agglomeration and heap leach circuits announced on 11 August 2026, the
Koppamurra Pilot Plant has now processed the first of four cycles of columns (~8 tonnes) and has generated ~5,000L of PLS
at target rare earth leaching recovery rates. The PLS has been successfully processed through the Mixed Rare Earth
Hydroxide (MREOH) precipitation circuit with full recoveries of rare earths from the PLS to the MREOH, in line with
expectations.
This is a significant milestone for the Koppamurra Rare Earths Project, marking AR3’s transition from demonstrating rare
earth extraction to producing a concentrated intermediate rare earth product.
Figure 1: Continuous three-stage precipitation reactor with MREOH accumulating in transparent thickener vessel (RHS)
Figure 2: MREOH Filter cake
MREOH Demonstration Program
Approximately 5,000L of Pregnant Leach Solution generated from the heap leach columns has been transferred to the
precipitation circuit for processing. The circuit utilises a continuous three-stage precipitation reactor where neutralising
agents are added to recover rare earths as a Mixed Rare Earth Hydroxide product.
The MREOH precipitation circuit is designed to:
• Validate continuous MREOH production from Koppamurra Pregnant Leach Solution.
• Optimise precipitation operating conditions and reagent consumption.
• Evaluate thickening, filtration and washing performance under continuous operating conditions.
• Generate engineering design criteria for commercial-scale equipment selection and sizing.
The precipitation circuit incorporates continuous reactors, thickening and solid-liquid separation equipment to recover the
rare earth-bearing solids. Barrens generated from the process will be evaluated for recycle opportunities as part of the
broader demonstration of Koppamurra's commercial flowsheet.
Engineering Data for Commercial Development
Operation of the MREOH circuit is expected to generate a substantial body of engineering information, including:
• Reagent consumptions.
• Residence time requirements.
• Solid Liquid separation performance.
• Water balance data.
• Product quality and impurity deportment.
The information obtained from this phase of the demonstration program will be incorporated into Definitive Feasibility Study
activities and will further de-risk the commercial design of the Koppamurra processing facility.
Program Progress
The demonstration plant remains on schedule, with heap leach operations continuing to generate Pregnant Leach Solution
for downstream processing and subsequent campaigns planned through the remainder of 2026. AR3 plans multiple further
MREOH precipitation campaigns, targeting approximately 28 kL of Pregnant Leach Solution from the pilot heap leach
columns.
The Company will provide further updates as MREOH production campaigns progress and as Mixed Rare Earth Oxide
product samples become available for customer qualification.
The announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Australian Rare Earths Limited.
For further information please contact:
Australian Rare Earths Limited Media Enquiries
Travis Beinke Jessica Fertig
Managing Director and CEO Tau Media
T: 1 300 646 100 E: info@taumedia.com.au
About Australian Rare Earths Limited
Australian Rare Earths (AR3) is a diversified critical minerals company, strategically positioned to meet the growing global demand for
uranium and rare earth elements:
• AR3's Koppamurra Rare Earths Project in South Australia and Victoria is a significant deposit of light and heavy rare earths, now
underpinned by a Pre-Feasibility Study and maiden Ore Reserve, and supported by the Australian Government through a $5
million grant to accelerate development. AR3 is progressing toward a Definitive Feasibility Study and pilot-scale demonstration
production at ANSTO's Sydney facility, solidifying its role as a potential new source of new supply to diversify global rare earth
feedstocks for the clean energy transition.
• AR3's large ~8,000 km² Overland Uranium Project in South Australia shows strong uranium discovery potential, with drilling
also identifying a new niobium–rare earth carbonatite exploration target.
With strategic projects as well as strong government support, AR3 is well placed to capitalise on significant growth in the critical minerals
market.
Competent Persons Statements
The information in this report that relates to metallurgical results is based on information compiled by Australian Rare Earths Limited and
reviewed by Mr. James Davidson who is the principal Metallurgist of Rendement and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and
Metallurgy (AusIMM). Mr. Davidson has sufficient experience that is relevant to the metallurgical testing which was undertaken to qualify
as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the “Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources
and Ore Reserves”. Mr. Davidson consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on this information in the form and context
in which it appears.
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