Mining researchers have made a significant breakthrough in the extraction of rubidium, a precious metal essential for high-tech applications. 

This development comes from a collaboration with ASX-listed Everest Metals Corporation, which supplied ore samples from its Mt Edon project in Western Australia, and experts at Edith Cowan University’s (ECU) Mineral Recovery Research Centre

The research agreement, signed earlier this year, focused on the potential of extracting rubidium directly from the ore. 

The initial phase of the project involved a laboratory-scale demonstration of the entire processing sequence, utilising advanced techniques such as ion exchange.

Rubidium plays a critical role in various cutting-edge technologies, with about 80 per cent of the element being used in the research and development of new energy conversion and communication technologies. 

“While we were initially approached to look at lithium extraction at Mt Edon, further evaluation revealed that the Mt Edon deposit has a high content of rubidium,” said ECU Associate Professor Amir Razmjou. 

“Our discussions then progressed to involve the extraction of rubidium, with lithium as a by-product.”

Traditional methods of rubidium extraction have relied on destructive processes and leaching, which are both environmentally taxing and costly. 

In contrast, the direct extraction process developed by ECU offers numerous benefits. 

“Traditional mineral processing is very energy and water intensive. Our aim with the direct rubidium extraction is to lower the carbon footprint of the operation. Our process also allows us to recycle water, which will reduce the water consumption rate for this project,” Razmjou explained.

The modular nature of the project’s development is another advantage, making it easier to scale up production as needed. 

Over the next few months, ECU researchers will focus on purifying the rubidium extracted so far. 

“We are working towards producing a few grams of high-grade rubidium to prove the concept of the technology and the extraction process that we have developed. Following that, we will work towards a piloting plant and ultimately a demonstration plant,” Razmjou said.

The intellectual property arising from this research agreement remains with Everest Metals, but the implications of this technology extend beyond rubidium extraction. 

“Depending on the deposit, and the economy of the project, the direct extraction method could be deployed for other types of minerals,” said Razmjou.