Axel REE Leach Test Work Confirms ISR Performance of Caladão Rare Earths Material

Why It Matters

The results de‑risk Axel’s ISR development, accelerating a modular, low‑capital path to commercial rare‑earth and gallium production and diversifying the global critical‑minerals supply chain.

Key Takeaways

• Column leach tests confirm ISR viability for Woolrich deposit
• Soluble REO concentrations reached 443‑546 ppm in test columns
• Magnesium sulfate leach shows low sensitivity to reagent concentration
• Gallium leach program targets 439 Mt resource amid Chinese export limits
• Results guide wellfield design and modular ISR rollout

Pulse Analysis

In‑situ recovery (ISR) has emerged as a cost‑effective alternative to traditional mining for low‑grade, disseminated deposits. Axel REE’s recent column leach trials at the 128‑million‑tonne Woolrich deposit demonstrate that the mineralised weathering profile can be efficiently leached using a low‑acidity magnesium‑sulphate solution. The soluble rare‑earth oxide (REO) yields of 443‑546 ppm exceed many benchmark ISR projects, indicating a robust resource that can be extracted with minimal reagent consumption and reduced environmental impact.

The choice of magnesium sulphate as the lixiviant is strategic: it is inexpensive, readily available, and poses low toxicity compared with strong acids. Early kinetic data show that extraction efficiency is relatively insensitive to reagent concentration, simplifying scale‑up and allowing flexible operating windows. Simultaneously, Axel has launched a dedicated gallium leach program, targeting a 439‑million‑tonne gallium resource—one of the world’s largest discrete inventories. With Chinese export restrictions tightening, a reliable, non‑Chinese gallium supply could command premium pricing and attract semiconductor and defense customers seeking supply‑chain resilience.

These technical milestones pave the way for field‑scale ISR trials, a pilot plant, and eventual modular expansion across the Caladão project. By delivering detailed leach kinetics, reagent consumption rates, and impurity profiles, Axel can refine wellfield layouts and downstream processing designs, reducing capital risk for investors. As OEMs and governments intensify efforts to secure domestic critical‑minerals sources, Axel’s ISR pathway positions the company to capture a growing market share in both rare‑earths and gallium, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape of the global clean‑technology supply chain.