The results of a new Everest Metals Corporation (EMC) backed study could advance Australia’s position as a promising player within the international rubidium market.
In partnership with the Edith Cowan University, EMC has delivered an Engineering Scoping Study (ESS) for rubidium extraction at the Mt Edon Critical Minerals project in Western Australia.
The study’s completion could mark the establishment of a nation-first rubidium industry at Mt Edon, which currently holds a maiden resource of 3.6 million tonnes at 0.22 percent rubidium oxide, and 0.07 percent lithium oxide at a 0.10 percent rubidium oxide cut-off, containing over 7900 tonnes of rubidium oxide.
A rare and valuable critical mineral, rubidium is essential for a number of high-tech industries such as defense, aerospace and communications.
With Mt Edon considered Australia’s highest-grade rubidium discovery, EMC is pushing to position itself as a potential supplier to the global market.
The study will further cement that position.
EMC’s proprietary direct rubidium extraction technology, developed with ECU’s Mineral Recovery Research Centre, has achieved up to 97 per cent rubidium recovery via optimised beneficiation and leaching.
“Our breakthrough rubidium extraction results showcase the power of our innovative direct rubidium extraction technology, paving the way for Australia’s first rubidium industry in Western Australia,” EMC executive chairman and chief executive officer Mark Caruso said.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with our partners to scale up the Mt Edon project, unlocking its potential to meet global demand for this critical mineral and drive economic growth.”
EMC will conduct additional bench scale and pilot scale testing to validate the direct rubidium extraction technology before it builds a full-scale plant.
The company will also continue to seek domestic and international funding to scale up the plant by next year.
