EQ Resources Ltd (ASX: EQR) - Saloro Commissions 3rd XRT Ore Sorter and Begins Tungsten Ore Reserve Update.
- Noel Ong
- Sep 17
- 5 min read
Announcement
28 August 2025 Saloro 3rd XRT Ore Sorter & Commenced Ore Reserve Update.
EQ Resources Ltd (ASX: EQR) has released an update on operations at its 100%-owned Saloro tungsten mine in Spain, underscoring its strategy to lift efficiency and build on the improving tungsten price environment. The commissioning of a third XRT Ore Sorter marks a step-change in throughput capacity and cost optimisation, while the company has also commenced a periodic Ore Reserve update expected in Q4 CY2025.
Highlights - A Tungsten Business Rushing To Finally Reap the Benefits.
Third XRT Ore Sorter commissioned and ramped up on time and within budget, expanding sorting capacity by 50% from 100tph to 150tph.
Ore sorting removes ~60% of waste rock early in the flowsheet, boosting efficiency and lowering cost at the main gravity plant.
Reserve update underway, to incorporate recent recovery improvements, sorter expansion benefits, and stronger tungsten prices.
Benchmark tungsten price sits at US$520/mtu (APT), ~15% above the $450/mtu used by other producers in recent assessments.
Expanding Ore Sorting Capacity
The Saloro team has now successfully integrated a third XRT Ore Sorter (Figure 1), bringing nominal throughput to 150 tonnes per hour. Ore sorting continues to play a key role as a debulking step, removing barren waste rock from fresh ore and low-grade stockpiles in the 8–40mm size range. This translates into more efficient plant operations, reduced unit costs, and higher-grade feedstock being pushed downstream.
Figure 1: Saloro XRT Ore Sorters in operation (source: EQR)
EQR Executive Chairman, Oliver Kleinhempel, commented:
“It is great to witness the significant positive impact ore sorting has on our operations. Under the leadership of Kevin MacNeill (EQR’ Chief Technical Officer) our teams both at Mt Carbine and Saloro are mastering this technology leading to more sustainable operations – both environmentally and commercially more sustainable, given the cost optimisation impact.”
Ore Reserve Update Underway
The company has commenced a periodic Saloro Ore Reserve update. Over the last 18 months, improvements in recovery and the latest sorter expansion have provided upside to the reserve base (Figure 2). This is further supported by a strengthening tungsten market, with prices rising over the past six months.
Figure 2: Typical XRT rock scan showing tungsten-bearing ore vs barren waste (source: EQR)
EQR expects to publish the updated Ore Reserve at the beginning of Q4 CY2025.
About EQ Resources
EQ Resources is a dual-asset tungsten producer with operations at Mt Carbine in Queensland and Barruecopardo in Spain. The company applies advanced mineral processing technologies across its projects, positioning itself as a globally significant supplier of tungsten, a critical mineral for the new economy.
Samso Concluding Comments
What stands out in this announcement is the practical execution of EQR’s growth strategy. Commissioning the third XRT Ore Sorter is not about chasing production headlines; it is about embedding efficiency into the flowsheet. Removing 60% of waste at the front end has real implications for cost, recovery, and sustainability. This operational strategy is important to build some form of resilience in a historically cyclical market.
The decision to commence a reserve update at this point is interesting. With recovery improvements in place, expanded capacity online, and tungsten prices trending higher, EQR is correctly aligning technical upgrades with favourable market dynamics. Investors will be watching closely for the Q4 CY2025 reserve statement, which should offer a more transparent view of Saloro’s long-term potential.
What we continue to see is that tungsten is not a marginal story. As I have mentioned many times, it is definitely front and centre in the critical minerals narrative, and companies that can demonstrate reliable, scalable production are positioned to attract attention from both the market and strategic partners.
Make no mistake here, as I have mentioned previously in detail, the tungsten business will be all about high tonnage and low-grade mining. EQ Resources will have to demonstrate that they are able to do this correctly and economically. Ore sorters have been around for a long time, and it is definitely not a new idea/process that will change anyone's balance sheet by the mere appearance of the item.
Investors will need to monitor the progress and see if the products are appearing, and if so, the high APT price should hold up and have a decent time in the limelight for companies to harvest their fruits of labour. All the tungsten players will be appreciative of the opportunity at hand.
Check out :
Tungsten: The Quiet Giant – Market Trends and Investment Pathways.
At Samso, we keep stressing that clarity comes from facts on the ground, not noise in the market. Saloro’s sorter expansion and reserve update are facts investors can work with. #SamsoNews is here to remind you that the real investment edge lies in recognising operational signals early, before they are fully priced into the market.
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