ANSTO has produced the first mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) sample from the Deep Leads resource in northern Tasmania. The MREC contains 4.0% dysprosium (Dy) and 0.7% terbium (Tb) as a percentage of total rare earth oxides (TREO), more than twice that of any other peer MREC. Furthermore, the ABx MREC also contains the highest amounts of other valuable heavy rare earths and very low impurities, including aluminium, uranium and thorium.

The high proportions of these high value rare earths means that the ABx MREC basket price is 17% to 51% higher than all peer MRECs.

The ABx MREC composition and samples of the MREC product will be shared with prospective customers and offtake partners for evaluation. ABx expects discussions and negotiations to deepen based on these results.