Mount Ridley Mines Reports 91.8% Scandium Recovery on Half the Reagent
News related to:Mount Ridley Mines Limited · 2 min read
SYDNEY, Sept. 16, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Mount Ridley Mines Limited, an Australian company listed on the ASX (ASX: MRD), has reported a significant breakthrough in its scandium extraction process. The company's latest test, known as Selectro™ Test 3, achieved a scandium recovery rate of 91.8%, marking a substantial improvement over previous tests. This result is noteworthy as it was achieved with only half the reagent dose used in earlier tests.
The test, conducted at the Grass Patch project in Western Australia, utilized unbeneficiated ore at low temperature and atmospheric pressure. Maximum scandium recovery was reached in under four hours, showcasing the efficiency of the Selectro™ process. The test also yielded heavy rare earths at an average recovery rate of 84% and light rare earths at 77%.
This result stands out in comparison to other listed companies in the scandium space. Sunrise Energy Metals (ASX: SRL) assumes a 88% recovery rate at its Syerston site, while Scandium International (TSX: SCY) has disclosed a range of 70 to 80% recovery at its Nyngan site. Cashu Research, the division of Cashu Group that conducted the analysis, could not identify a higher published scandium leach recovery rate from a listed company.
The Grass Patch project holds significant potential, with 47,357 tonnes of contained scandium within 946 million tonnes of ore at a grade of 50.1 parts per million (ppm). The project also contains gallium and heavy rare earths, all of which are classified as critical minerals with China-dominated supply chains. The proximity of the project to the port of Esperance adds to its strategic value.
Mount Ridley Mines Limited plans to validate the Selectro™ process on third-party feed as the next step. The company's Selectro™ is wholly owned and patent-pending, and the validation process could have implications for the processing of lower-grade ores that are currently not economically viable with traditional autoclave methods.
Cashu Research notes that the Selectro™ process could offer a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to high-pressure acid leaching, which is the current industry standard. The company's next steps will be closely watched by investors and industry experts, as this breakthrough could significantly impact the future of scandium extraction and the broader rare earths market.