Samso News: OD6 Metals Limited — Advanced ANSTO Metallurgical Testwork Underway - Rare Earths De-Risking and Offtake Readiness.
- Noel Ong
- 3 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Announcement
Advanced ANSTO Metallurgical Testwork Underway – 20 January 2026 (view the announcement)
The OD6 Metals Limited story is a frequent feature on Samso, and I feel that if the Company can show clearly that it can produce a REE product, this will be an incredible investment for existing shareholders. The recent takeover of Australian Strategic Materials Limited (ASX: ASM) is a clear sign that the REE sector is alive and well.
This update by OD6 regarding further testwork with ANSTO is a long list of boxes that are required to be ticked, but it is good to see that management is being persistent and enduring the long journey.
OD6 Metals Metals Limited – Advancing Processing Confidence at the Splinter Rock Rare Earth Project
Samso continues to follow OD6 Metals Ltd (ASX: OD6) as it advances Splinter Rock from resource definition into processing optimisation and commercial readiness. This update is relevant as it focuses on metallurgical de-risking, product qualification, and offtake preparation rather than exploration upside alone, which is a key transition phase for clay-hosted rare earth projects.
Highlights – Metallurgy, Product Samples, and Commercial De-Risking
Advanced ANSTO metallurgical testwork is now underway, building on previously reported processing successes at Splinter Rock.
More than A$1 million has been committed to ANSTO-led metallurgical programs and large-scale metallurgical diamond core drilling.
Bulk Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC) and Mixed Rare Earth Hydroxide (MREH) samples will be produced for use in offtake discussions and assessment of commercial payability options.
Testwork is focused on heap leach optimisation, impurity removal refinement, and bulk product production, supporting downstream development decisions.
The program will also monitor other elements of interest to determine whether technically viable recovery pathways exist.
The work is designed to further de-risk the processing flowsheet and improve confidence in operating parameters.
Activities are anticipated to be eligible for future R&D tax offsets.
Strategic partnerships with ANSTO and CPC Engineering continue to support the optimal development pathway (Figure 1).
OD6 notes its active engagement with the framework supporting Australia’s A$1.2 billion Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve.
Figure 1: Preferred Process Flowsheet from ANSTO Testwork and CPC Optioneering Study (source: OD6).
Leadership Commentary
Managing Director Brett Hazelden commented:
“This advanced ANSTO program marks another important step in de-risking the Splinter Rock processing flowsheet.
Our commitment of more than A$1 million reflects the Company’s confidence in the project and the importance of generating robust, commercially relevant metallurgical and product data.
The testwork now underway is specifically aimed at optimising recoveries, refining impurity control, and producing high-quality rare earth products that can be utilised in offtake discussions and future development studies.“
Near-term Milestones to Watch
Completion of current ANSTO optimisation campaigns.
Production of bulk MREC and MREH samples for customer qualification.
Distribution of product samples to potential offtake partners.
Integration of metallurgical results into ongoing engineering and development studies.
Continued engagement with government and financing stakeholders.
Samso Concluding Comments
Splinter Rock already hosts a large clay-hosted rare earth resource, and this program is about turning that scale into something more tangible. Metallurgical performance and product quality are critical factors for rare earth projects seeking market acceptance.
By producing MREC and MREH samples at scale, OD6 is moving beyond laboratory results toward real-world commercial testing. This helps clarify how the project may fit into global rare earth supply chains.
The continued partnership with ANSTO and CPC Engineering suggests a structured and technically driven development process. Each stage builds on previous work rather than resetting assumptions.
For investors following OD6, this announcement is a reminder that value creation in rare earths often comes from steady technical progress. De-risking the flowsheet and engaging early with offtake markets are steps that can shape future outcomes.
Market Implication - The Investor Lens
Simplistically, from a share price chart perspective (Figure 2), the market seems to be liking things. The volume being traded is healthy, and hopefully, that is showing market acceptance, and on this occasion, the introduction of traders is a good thing.
Figure 2: OD6 Metals share price chart as of 23rd January 2026. (source: CommSec).
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