RareX Limited Advances Technical Development of the Cummins Range Rare‑Earth and Phosphate Project

RareX Limited, a specialist developer of critical‑materials resources, has announced significant progress in the metallurgical feasibility of its Cummins Range deposit in Queensland. The latest testing, conducted by SGS Lakefield and Gega Elements, demonstrates that the ore can be upgraded to a high‑grade rare‑earth concentrate through flotation, while simultaneously enabling the recovery of gallium and other critical by‑products via a hydrometallurgical route.

Metallurgical Results

  • Flotation: In a series of trials, SGS Lakefield employed a new reagent mix that produced a marked increase in total rare‑earth oxide (REO) content. Mineralogical analysis confirmed monazite as the dominant host mineral for both the rare‑earth elements (REEs) and gallium (Ga). The enhanced REO concentration suggests that the flotation process can be tuned to achieve the product specifications required by major REE users in electronics, renewable‑energy, and defense sectors.
  • Leaching: Gega Elements carried out batch leaching experiments on flotation residues enriched in REEs and Ga. The results indicated near‑complete extraction of gallium, with significant recoveries of REEs and scandium (Sc). The high recovery rates support the feasibility of an integrated flowsheet that captures multiple critical metals from a single ore source.

Strategic Implications

The ability to recover gallium, a key component of gallium‑nitride (GaN) power devices, alongside REEs places RareX in a unique position to serve multiple high‑growth markets. Gallium‑rich products are in demand for next‑generation semiconductors, while REEs underpin magnets, phosphors, and catalytic materials. By developing a combined flotation–hydrometallurgical process, RareX can enhance value extraction and mitigate the risk of market volatility that typically affects single‑metal projects.

Nanoparticle Phosphate Fertiliser Initiative

In parallel with metallurgical development, RareX maintains an active partnership with Biological Inputs on a nano‑phosphate fertiliser derived from the deposit’s phosphate component. Greenhouse trials have demonstrated improved phosphorus use efficiency, positioning the product as a potential high‑value commodity in the global agritech market. The dual focus on critical metals and sustainable fertiliser production exemplifies RareX’s strategy to diversify revenue streams and reinforce the deposit’s commercial viability.

Future Plans

RareX has outlined a roadmap to further optimise grinding and flotation chemistry, develop a dedicated gallium recovery step from the enriched leach cake, and conduct a comprehensive assessment of integrated hydrometallurgical processing. These steps will support a robust business case that balances capital intensity against the projected cash flows from multiple critical‑metal outputs.

Market Context

The global supply of rare‑earth and gallium metals has become increasingly geopolitically sensitive, with major consumers seeking secure, diversified sources. RareX’s progress in extracting a suite of critical elements from a single deposit aligns with broader industry trends that favor multi‑product, resource‑intensive projects. By demonstrating both technical feasibility and the potential for integrated processing, the company positions itself to attract strategic partners and investment capital necessary to advance the project toward production.

RareX’s continued progress underscores its commitment to establishing the commercial viability of the Cummins Range project, while simultaneously exploring opportunities to extract multiple critical metals from the deposit in a manner that transcends traditional sector boundaries.