Business · Companies · 12 hrs ago
Critica tests show strong gallium and scandium extraction at WA project
Critica recorded high extraction rates for gallium and scandium in tests on its Jupiter rare earths project in Western Australia’s Mid West.
The tests transferred up to 91.9% of gallium and 84.7% of scandium into a solution alongside rare earths.
These figures measure leaching, not final recovery, so they do not show how much usable metal the company could ultimately produce.
The project’s latest scoping study estimated an after-tax net present value of $2 billion, but assigned no value to gallium or scandium.
Adding the metals could bring extra value because they are considered critical minerals and are used in advanced technologies, energy and defence.
China produces almost all primary low-purity gallium, and export restrictions have raised concerns about supply.
Critica will test how to separate and purify the metals, including how they behave on resin, before updating its project processing plans.
Critica Limited reported gallium extraction of up to 91.9 per cent and scandium extraction of up to 84.7 per cent in tests on its Jupiter project.
Jupiter is a rare earths project in Western Australia’s Mid West region.
The tests showed both metals could be leached into solution alongside rare earths.
The results measure extraction into solution, not final product recovery.
Critica said further work will examine resin loading, selectivity, separation and purification.
- Who
- Critica Limited, which owns the Jupiter project.
- What
- Metallurgical tests achieved up to 91.9 per cent gallium extraction and 84.7 per cent scandium extraction into solution.
- When
- The results were reported on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- The Jupiter rare earths project in Western Australia’s Mid West region.
- Why
- The tests assess the potential for additional value from gallium and scandium as by-products.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Critica had reported a gallium extraction figure of 63 per cent.
Critica reported new test results of up to 91.9 per cent gallium extraction and 84.7 per cent scandium extraction.
Critica said further work would assess resin selectivity, elution, separation and purification.
- Gallium extraction
- Up to 91.9 per cent
- Scandium extraction
- Up to 84.7 per cent
- Project
- Jupiter, Western Australia’s Mid West region
- Ownership
- Critica Limited owns 100 per cent of Jupiter
- Indicated resource
- 160 million tonnes
- Inferred resource
- 1.5 billion tonnes
2 sources
What people are saying
These results represent an important step in assessing the potential for additional value from Jupiter. Importantly, gallium and scandium are being extracted into solution alongside the rare earth elements, providing a basis for further investigation of two strategically important critical minerals used across advanced technologies, energy and defence.
Our focus now is on downstream testwork to better understand resin loading, selectivity and separation.