Viridis Demo Plant Exceeds Study Assumptions with 78.7% Rare Earth Recovery
Viridis Demonstration Plant delivers rare earth recoveries above PFS assumptions
Viridis Mining and Minerals has reported steady-state continuous production of Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC) from its Demonstration Plant, with MREO recovery averaging 78.7% during a stabilised operating period from 6 to 10 July 2026 — materially above the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) assumption of 76%. The plant operated continuously on a 24/5 basis, processing feed sourced from the Northern Concessions, which underpin the early years of the Colossus mine plan. Every percentage point of recovery improvement translates directly into higher rare earth output from the same ore feed, feeding into the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) and project economics. These results form part of an updated release that now includes JORC Table 1 and Competent Person statements.
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The recovery numbers that matter
During the stabilised five-day period, the Demonstration Plant achieved MREO recoveries with a median of 80.3% and a maximum of 80.9%, while TREO recovery averaged 64.0%. Importantly, these results were delivered while optimisation work remains ongoing — several process enhancements and operating initiatives have yet to be implemented that are expected to further improve metallurgical recoveries.
The plant operates on fully automated Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) control systems, integrated water and reagent recycle circuits, and an on-site laboratory to optimise feed blends, ore types, pH operating windows and other key process parameters influencing rare earth recoveries.
| Statistic | TREO Recovery % | MREO Recovery % |
|---|---|---|
| Mean | 64.0 | 78.7 |
| Median | 65.1 | 80.3 |
| Minimum | 55.2 | 74.3 |
| Maximum | 68.8 | 80.8 |
| Std. Deviation | 4.6 | 2.4 |
| CV (%) | 7.27 | 3.12 |
Note: n = 5 operating days (6–10 July 2026). PFS assumption: 76% MREO recovery for the Northern Concessions.
The low coefficient of variation (CV) of 3.12% for MREO recovery signals consistent, repeatable performance — a critical metric for lender and offtake confidence as the project advances towards Final Investment Decision.
What is MREC and why recovery rates matter
Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC) is the saleable concentrate product produced from rare earth processing. Rare earths — particularly the magnetic rare earths — are critical for electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, electronics and defence applications.
Rare earth recovery refers to the percentage of rare earths extracted from the ore into the final product. Higher recovery means more product from the same tonnes mined, which translates directly into improved project economics.
The Colossus Project is classified as an Ionic Adsorption Clay deposit. These deposits are attractive because they allow simpler, lower-cost processing compared to hard-rock rare earth deposits. Proving recoveries at continuous commercial-style scale de-risks the transition from feasibility study to production.
The four magnetic rare earth oxides targeted in the Colossus flowsheet are:
- Dy₂O₃ (Dysprosium Oxide) — permanent magnets for EVs and wind turbines
- Nd₂O₃ (Neodymium Oxide) — high-strength permanent magnets
- Pr₆O₁₁ (Praseodymium Oxide) — magnet alloys and aviation components
- Tb₄O₇ (Terbium Oxide) — advanced magnets and lighting phosphors
A commercial-scale de-risking platform
The Demonstration Plant replicates the process flowsheet of the proposed commercial facility and is designed to process 100kg/hr of clay feed. Operating at this scale, the plant is believed to be among the largest of its kind outside China.
Validation of the flowsheet under continuous commercial-style operation has confirmed the robustness and repeatability of MREC production, enabling Viridis to finalise key process design criteria and several capital and operating cost decisions for the DFS.
Leveraging the design and scale of the Demonstration Plant, Viridis has also undertaken several technical scopes for the commercial plant with the following validated outcomes:
- Counter Current Decantation (CCD) — target underflow solids content and overflow clarity proven, supporting efficient solid-liquid separation.
- Residue and MREC precipitation filters — competent filter cakes produced at target moisture content, de-risking residue backfill design and product bagging.
- Water treatment — successful operation of the water treatment package skid to prove zero liquid discharge operation, water recycling and Ammonium Sulphate (Amsul) reagent recovery.
- Coupon testing — confirmation of materials of construction for the commercial plant, supporting equipment specification and longevity.
These validations allow Viridis to lock in process design criteria and finalise CAPEX and OPEX assumptions for the DFS.
Rafael Moreno, Managing Director
“Every percentage point improvement in recovery translates directly into higher rare earth production from the same ore feed, creating the potential for meaningful improvements in project economics as we progress towards the DFS.”
Offtake, financing and government momentum
Product qualification work is progressing with strategic potential offtake partner Solvay. High-grade MREC samples have been produced to specification and shipped to Solvay’s La Rochelle facility in France for assessment.
In parallel, the Rare Earth Research and Processing Centre (CPTR) facility has hosted independent lenders’ engineers supporting Project Financing technical due diligence, as well as high-level government and institutional delegations, including EU Commissioner Jozef Síkela.
The convergence of offtake engagement, financing progress and government support strengthens the pathway to Final Investment Decision.
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What comes next
Recovery data from the stabilised operating period now feeds directly into the DFS and the project financial model. Managing Director Rafael Moreno has stated that the Company is advancing towards Final Investment Decision “in the coming months.”
Further work ahead includes:
- Additional process and equipment optimisation, including reagent consumption reduction, recovery refinement and sensitivity testing of key operating variables
- Vendor and EPCM team access to the Demonstration Plant following Long Lead Notices to Proceed (LNTP) for equipment design optimisation and performance guarantee testing
- Generation of further MREC samples for ongoing product qualification with Solvay
- Continued training of operations and maintenance teams
The demonstration of continuous, automated operation at recoveries above PFS assumptions positions Viridis to lock in project assumptions with confidence as it finalises the DFS and moves towards Final Investment Decision.
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