# Mt Weld mine and Kalgoorlie processing by Lynas Rare Earths Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/materials/mt-weld-kalgoorlie Frontier: [Materials](https://technooptimist.io/materials.md) · Field: Rare-earth mining & refining · Company: [Lynas Rare Earths](https://technooptimist.io/companies/lynas-rare-earths.md) Stage: Scaling (5 of 5: Research → Proto → Pilot → Deploy → Scaling) Updated: last update 2026-08-26, facts checked 2026-10-11 Goal: Mine and pre-process enough rare-earth ore in Western Australia to supply about 12,000 tonnes of NdPr a year to the largest rare-earth refiner outside China. Status: Mt Weld expansion built and ramping; ore variation hit Q2 2026 output. FY26 NdPr 7,260 t. Next milestone: New fine-grinding mill at Mt Weld for better recovery, target Q3 2026 ## Milestones | Status | Milestone | Date | Slip | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Done | A$500M Mt Weld expansion announced | Aug 2022 | | | Done | Kalgoorlie ships first mixed rare-earth carbonate to Malaysia | Q2 2024 | | | Done | Mt Weld expansion commissioned | Q4 2025 | +21 mo (originally 2024) | | Done | Mt Weld hybrid renewable power station fully running | Jan 2026 | | | Done | Continuous precipitation running at Kalgoorlie | Q2 2026 | | | Current | New fine-grinding mill at Mt Weld for better recovery | Q3 2026 | | ## Upcoming events - **Q3 2026**: New fine-grinding mill at Mt Weld for better recovery - **Oct 2026**: September 2026 quarterly report: Mt Weld ramp-up and NdPr output ## Most important updates - **26 Aug 2026**: Lynas FY26: record A$977.9M revenue and 7,260 t NdPr as Mt Weld expansion is completed. Lynas reported record annual revenue of A$977.9 million and net profit of A$222.4 million for the year to June 2026. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/lynas-fy26-record-a-977-9m-revenue-and-7-260-t-ndpr-as-mt-weld-24c951b0.md) · [original source](https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20260826/pdf/0737nx07s3tnf7.pdf)) - **22 Jul 2026**: Lynas June-quarter NdPr falls to 1,857 t as Mt Weld ore variation and water plant issues slow output. Lynas made 1,857 tonnes of NdPr in the June 2026 quarter, down from 1,996 tonnes, after problems with Mt Weld's new water recycling plant and a change in ore that lowered concentrate quality. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/lynas-june-quarter-ndpr-falls-to-1-857-t-as-mt-weld-ore-variation-and-89952fb2.md) · [original source](https://announcements.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20260722/pdf/071y3m2j4fp9px.pdf)) - **28 Aug 2024**: Kalgoorlie plant starts producing mixed rare-earth carbonate and ships first cargo to Malaysia. Lynas's Kalgoorlie Rare Earths Processing Facility began producing mixed rare-earth carbonate in the April-June 2024 quarter and sent its first shipment to Lynas Malaysia. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/kalgoorlie-plant-starts-producing-mixed-rare-earth-carbonate-and-ships-a76d41e5.md) · [original source](https://www.argusmedia.com/de/news-and-insights/latest-market-news/2602311-australia-s-lynas-produces-less-rare-earth-in-fy2023-24)) - **3 Aug 2022**: Lynas announces A$500M Mt Weld expansion to feed 12,000 t/yr of NdPr. Lynas announced an approximately A$500 million project to expand the Mt Weld mine and concentration plant, targeting feedstock capacity of 12,000 tonnes a year of NdPr equivalent in 2024. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/lynas-announces-a-500m-mt-weld-expansion-to-feed-12-000-t-yr-of-ndpr-ecd07aa4.md) · [original source](https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/pdf/LYC/02549359.pdf)) ## Current obstacles - **Ore variation upsets the whole chain**: In the June 2026 quarter a change in ore and a new fixed crusher lowered concentrate quality, slowing cracking and leaching in both Kalgoorlie and Kuantan. - **Kalgoorlie still not at design rate**: Bottlenecks, grid power disruptions in late 2025 and feed quality have slowed the ramp-up; Lynas is studying off-grid power. ## Physics limits - **You can't mine only the useful elements**: Rare earths occur together in fixed natural ratios, so producing more NdPr also means mining and processing large amounts of lanthanum and cerium. - **Small changes in ore ripple downstream**: Chemical plants are tuned to a feed recipe; impurity shifts at the mine change reagent use and recoveries in every later step. ## How it works ### Mine: High-grade Mt Weld ore Ore from an open pit is crushed, ground and floated; the expansion added flotation circuits, an apatite leach and water recycling. ### Kalgoorlie: Crack, leach, precipitate Concentrate is chemically cracked and leached, and the dissolved rare earths are precipitated as mixed rare-earth carbonate. ### Malaysia: Separation in Kuantan Carbonate and concentrate are shipped to Kuantan, where solvent extraction separates NdPr, dysprosium, terbium and samarium. ### Power: 65 MW hybrid station Wind, solar and batteries with backup supplied 93% of Mt Weld's electricity in the second half of FY26, cutting diesel use. ## Spec sheet | Spec | Mt Weld mine and Kalgoorlie processing | Provenance | | --- | --- | --- | | NdPr produced (FY26) | 7,260 t | reported | | Rare-earth oxides produced (FY26) | 13,089 t | reported | | NdPr (June 2026 quarter) | 1,857 t | reported | | Mt Weld feed capacity target | 12,000 t/yr NdPr equivalent | reported | | Mt Weld expansion cost | ~A$500 million | reported | | Kalgoorlie plant cost estimate (2023) | A$730 million | reported | | Kalgoorlie expected capacity | ~9,000 t/yr NdPr | reported | | Mt Weld renewable power (2H FY26) | 93% | reported | Provenance: reported = stated by the company; estimated = our estimate; sample = a sample figure. ## About Lynas Rare Earths Australian rare-earth miner with the only commercial heavy rare earth separator outside China. Operations include Mt Weld mine in Australia and the Kuantan Advanced Materials Plant in Malaysia, producing separated rare earth oxides for permanent magnets. - In June 2026, Lynas reported record revenue of A$288.9 million as it expanded heavy rare earth production. - Produces separated dysprosium and terbium oxides starting May 2025; unique non-China commercial heavy rare earth separator. - These oxides are essential for high-performance magnets in electric vehicles and advanced electronics. - Founded: 1983 - Headquarters: AU - Status: public - Staff: ~1,200 - Website: https://www.lynasrareearths.com Company page: https://technooptimist.io/companies/lynas-rare-earths.md ## Related programs More from Lynas Rare Earths: - [Malaysia Heavy Rare Earth Separation](https://technooptimist.io/materials/malaysia-heavy-rare-earth-separation.md) (Deploy) Everything in Materials: https://technooptimist.io/materials.md --- The Techno Optimist tracks every frontier of technology, program by program: https://technooptimist.io/ (a Markdown version of any page: add .md to its URL; site map for agents: https://technooptimist.io/llms.txt). 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