Temas Resources Advances RCL Stage 2 for Titanium, Vanadium and Iron
Key Takeaways
- Stage 2 of the Temas RCL advancement program is now underway, building on Stage 1 recoveries of up to 90.8% titanium, 97.4% vanadium and 91.5% iron from SAGA's Radar Project mineralization.
- The eight-week program targets first high-purity titanium dioxide, vanadium and iron product samples — the critical bridge between lab validation and commercial product evaluation.
- Successful Phase 1 completion could trigger a 10-week mini-pilot program worth C$650,000–C$750,000 in revenue for Temas, subject to SAGA approval.
- RCL has been independently assessed at over 65% lower processing costs than conventional approaches, with a pilot test at Temas' La Blache property already producing 88 kg of 99.8% pure TiO₂ from approximately one tonne of material.
- SAGA's Radar Project sits less than 20 kilometres from a deep-water port, strengthening the case for on-site downstream product development.
Stage 2 RCL program underway as Temas and SAGA target first titanium, vanadium and iron products
Building directly on Stage 1 validation, Temas Resources (ASX: TIO) and SAGA Metals Corp. (TSXV: SAGA) have commenced Stage 2 of their collaborative Regenerative Chloride Leach (“RCL”) metallurgical program. Stage 1 established that RCL can extract titanium, vanadium and iron from SAGA’s mineralization at recoveries of up to 90.8% titanium, 97.4% vanadium and 91.5% iron, providing the basis for advancement.
The eight-week Stage 2 program focuses on optimising the RCL flowsheet, generating first high-purity product samples and establishing the engineering criteria needed for pilot-scale testing. SAGA’s Radar Project is located in Labrador, less than 20 kilometres from a deep-water port.
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What Stage 2 sets out to deliver
Optimising the leach circuit
Stage 2 begins by comparing two Run-of-Mine (“ROM”) Massive Oxide samples side by side before the best-performing feed material is carried into detailed optimisation. The key RCL operating variables being optimised are:
- Hydrochloric acid and magnesium chloride concentrations
- Temperature
- Oxidation-reduction potential
- Retention time
- Solids concentration
- Particle size
Downstream solvent extraction and first product samples
The optimised leaching program will generate sufficient pregnant leach solution (“PLS”) to run the solvent extraction (“SX”) circuit. The objective is to recover first samples of high-purity titanium dioxide, vanadium and iron, described in the announcement as the bridge between metallurgical testing and commercial product evaluation.
Developing McCabe-Thiele isotherms forms part of establishing preliminary SX operating parameters, with the program also testing extraction, scrubbing and stripping conditions across the downstream circuit.
Stage-gated deliverables — what Phase 1 produces
Phase 1 of Stage 2 is expected to deliver five defined outputs:
- Comparative characterisation and leaching results
- Optimised RCL leaching and downstream SX conditions
- McCabe-Thiele isotherms
- Selection of the preferred feed material
- A recommendation regarding readiness for mini-pilot testing
These deliverables provide the basis for the Gate 2 decision on whether to advance to a mini-pilot program.
What is RCL and why does it matter for critical minerals?
Regenerative Chloride Leach (“RCL”) is a hydrometallurgical process that extracts critical metals using a regenerative mixed chloride leaching approach, operating at near-ambient temperatures and pressures. Rather than the high-heat, high-acid conditions used in conventional processing routes, RCL regenerates its reagents within the process, which reduces ongoing costs and waste streams.
The cost advantage is independently validated: RCL has been assessed at over 65% lower in processing costs than conventional approaches, based on independent evaluation by the Natural Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota and subsequent pilot-scale validation. In practical terms, a pilot test at Temas’ La Blache property produced 88 kg of 99.8% pure TiO₂ from approximately one tonne of material.
For investors, the commercial significance is straightforward. Temas is developing RCL not just for its own projects but as a technology platform available through licensing, strategic partnerships and joint ventures. The SAGA program represents a real-world third-party application of RCL on mineralization controlled by a separate company, and each completed stage strengthens the commercial case for broader deployment.
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Clear line of sight to a mini-pilot and beyond
Successful completion of Phase 1 could trigger Phase 2 of the SAGA program: a mini-pilot expected to run over 10 weeks, subject to Phase 1 completion and approval by SAGA. Phase 2 is expected to generate approximately C$650,000–C$750,000 in revenue for Temas, with the final scope and budget to be confirmed on completion of the Phase 1 optimisation work.
Stage 2 has also been designed with future engineering and economic evaluation in mind, targeting the metallurgical data required to support 500–1,000 kg pilot-scale testing and SAGA’s progression toward PEA/PFS-level evaluation.
The table below shows where the SAGA program sits within Temas’ broader RCL commercialisation roadmap:
| Development Stage | Status |
|---|---|
| Laboratory Process Development | ✔ Completed |
| Internal Validation (Temas Projects) | ✔ Completed |
| Third-Party Validation (SAGA Metals – Stage 1) | ✔ Completed |
| Detailed Bench Optimisation (SAGA Metals – Stage 2) | Underway |
| Mini-Pilot Demonstration | Planned |
| Pilot Plant Demonstration | Planned |
| Commercial Deployment / Licensing | Long-Term Commercial Objective |
Tim Fernback, President and CEO of Temas Resources, described the program’s direction:
Tim Fernback, President and CEO, Temas Resources
“Stage 1 showed RCL works on SAGA’s titanium-vanadium-iron mineralization. Stage 2 is where we move from extraction to an optimized process and the first titanium, vanadium and iron products…”
Mike Stier, CEO of SAGA Metals, pointed to the strategic context of SAGA’s location:
Mike Stier, CEO, SAGA Metals
“…With Radar located less than 20 kilometres from a deep-water port, the opportunity to pursue downstream products on site is a compelling part of the story.”
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