Andromeda Metals—HPA pilot program moves into continuous production and customer sampling.
- Noel Ong
- 13 hours ago
- 5 min read
Announcement
Andromeda Metals Limited (ASX: ADN) has advanced its High-Purity Alumina (HPA) strategy, initiating pilot-scale testwork to move its proprietary flowsheet from batch trials into continuous production— using refined kaolin feedstock from the Great White Project (Figure 1)—a key step flagged in the recent HPA Scoping Study.
The program’s objective is to generate commercial samples of 4N HPA for potential customers and to provide data inputs for the next feasibility phase.
Figure 1: The Great White Project (source: ADN)
Highlights - The HPA Story
Pilot-scale testwork initiated to optimise Andromeda’s innovative HPA flowsheet for continuous production (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Andromeda’s Innovative Technology (source: ADN)
Commercial 4N HPA (99.99%) samples to be produced in multiple forms (amorphous → crystalline; gamma → alpha) for customer evaluation.
Feedstock: refined kaolin from the Great White Project.
Pilot outcomes to inform future feasibility studies and generate an amorphous silicate by-product for further value assessment.
Update follows the HPA Scoping Study (18 Sep 2025) and 4N HPA breakthrough (1 May 2025) noted by the Company.
Sarah Clarke, Andromeda’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, commented:
“We are excited to progress the HPA Project to the next stage of commercialisation, with the production of commercial samples of 4N HPA designed not only to demonstrate the technology in continuous process but also generate commercial samples for engagement with potential customers.”
“The production of HPA represents a high-value, strategic growth opportunity that complements our premium kaolin product offering from the Great White Project. It also positions Andromeda to expand into the critical minerals sector, enhancing our product portfolio and exposure to emerging markets.”
What’s new on the ground
Andromeda has kicked off pilot-scale testwork to shift its HPA process from prior batch runs—which achieved up to 99.9985% purity—into a continuous operation, validating the flowsheet at an intermediate scale and producing commercial-grade 4N samples for market evaluation.
The pilot will use refined kaolin from the Great White Project as feedstock and is designed to deliver product-form flexibility (amorphous → crystalline gamma → alpha) to meet different end-use specifications. In parallel, the program will inform future feasibility studies and produce an amorphous silicate by-product for further assessment.
Project snapshot & process
(Figure 3)
Input: refined kaolin from Great White.
Process goal: optimise an innovative flowsheet under continuous conditions.
Output: 4N HPA in varied forms for market sampling.
By-product stream: amorphous silicate to be analysed for potential value.
Commercialisation lane: pilot → feasibility inputs + customer engagement via samples.
Figure 3: Great White → De-risked and construction-ready (source: ADN).
Why this matters
Management positions HPA as a strategic, high-value growth avenue that complements premium kaolin and extends ADN’s exposure to critical minerals markets, with the pilot aimed at both technical de-risking and customer-led validation through delivered samples (Figure 4).
Figure 4: HPA End Use Markets (source: CRU via ADN)
Next steps
(Figure 5)
Pilot execution & optimisation: evidence of stable continuous runs and reproducible quality.
Sample logistics: timing, number of counterparties, and feedback from potential customers on product specs.
Feasibility inputs: how pilot data feeds into the next study phase (design, capex/opex refinement, QA/QC envelopes).
By-product work: analysis of amorphous silicate for market applications (if any).
Figure 5: Andromeda’s Next steps: pilot testwork → customer engagement → market definition → PFS → development & funding (subject to funding/approvals). (source: ADN)
Samso Concluding Comments
This reads as a pivot from proof-of-concept to pilot-ready execution: taking a lab-validated flowsheet into continuous mode and putting real samples in front of customers. The product-form flexibility (amorphous → gamma/alpha crystalline) matters because end-use specs drive value in HPA markets.
From here, technically and with our very low level of understanding the HPA sector, the quality and consistency of 4N output—and customer feedback—will tell us whether ADN’s process can translate efficiently into feasibility inputs. The mention of an amorphous silicate by-product is worth tracking; any credit or offtake around by-products can sharpen project economics.
Investors should look out for pilot run metrics (uptime, impurity control, yield), sample acceptance cycles, and how quickly pilot learnings filter into a sharper feasibility case. That cadence will frame the commercialisation timeline and the credibility of any future offtake dialogue.
Figure 6: Andromeda’s share price chart as of 17th October 2025. (source commsec)
The market (Figure 6) is definitely responding to the news, but I am not sure if there is much meat to the announcement. I am trying very hard to get ADN onto a Coffee with Samso and allow us to get a better understanding of the narrative.
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