{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Coffee with Samso: OD6 Metals Limited \u2014 An Aspiring Australian Clay REE Story - Better Position Second Time Around","description":" Introduction In this episode of Coffee with Samso, we reconnect with Brett Hazelden, Managing Director of OD6 Metals, to explore how the company is navigating two of the most intriguing thematic opportunities in the market today \u2014 rare earth elements (REEs) and copper. OD6 was first introduced to the Samso audience in a very different market \u2014 rare earth sentiment was hot, clay-hosted projects were flooding the ASX, and recovery pathways were still largely unproven. Fast-forward to 2025, and the game has changed. The company\u2019s flagship Splinter Rock project in Western Australia is now underpinned by validated heap leach metallurgy, enhanced nano-filtration, and a robust understanding of orebody consistency \u2014 ticking the key boxes that separate projects with longevity from the fleeting momentum plays. At the same time, OD6 is quietly advancing a highly prospective copper VMS project at Gulf Creek in New South Wales, where historical high grades and recent drilling suggest potential for a standalone, company-making discovery. This conversation explores both sides of the OD6 story \u2014 a smarter REE flow sheet, and the search for a modern VMS discovery in an overlooked district. Rare Earths at Splinter Rock \u2013 Smarter Processing, Lower Capex, Better Product \u2714 Heap Leach Breakthrough What started as a \u201cjust in case\u201d test alongside traditional tank leach flowsheets has emerged as a breakthrough: heap leaching not only works \u2014 it offers higher recoveries, lower reagent use, and slashes capex. 75\u201380% recoveries from column testwork Removes the need for tanks, filters, tailings dams Simplifies the flowsheet and reduces environmental impact "Everyone expected heap leach to fail with clays. Instead, we found it performs better \u2014 less equipment, cheaper, and scalable." \u2013 Brett Hazelden \u2714 Nanofiltration: A Technical Edge In August 2025, OD6 announced it had successfully trialled nanofiltration on its leach solutions \u2014 a key value unlock: Cuts acid use by 80\u201385% through recycling Reduces downstream plant size by 70% Enhances product purity and ESG credentials Nanofiltration acts like a REE-specific desalination process \u2014 separating heavier rare earths from light elements and allowing a high-quality EM-rich product to be recovered with minimal waste. \u2714 Orebody Confidence \u2013 Consistency at Depth OD6\u2019s testwork has focused on the Inside Centre area of Splinter Rock: 120Mt @ ~1600ppm TREO (from a broader 680Mt JORC) Broad, flat geometry with 70\u201380m of mineralised clays Simple stratigraphy with consistent metallurgy Upcoming bulk column testing with ANSTO is validating how the ore performs across depth zones \u2014 the top 40m vs. the bottom 40m \u2014 to ensure no surprises in full-scale operations. OD6\u2019s Advantage in the Rare Earth Game OD6\u2019s rare earth mineralogy is distinct from hard rock monazite or apatite systems, allowing for ambient temperature leaching. Other projects require aggressive cracking at high temperatures \u2014 expensive and carbon-intensive. OD6\u2019s approach works at room temperature, using simpler, cheaper reagents. "You can\u2019t just apply heap leach to any rare earth project. Ours works because of our unique mineralogy \u2014 that gives us a genuine technical edge." Strategic Thinking: Beyond China, Beyond Hype OD6 is focused on developing a high-purity, globally marketable rare earth carbonate, and potentially refining it further into selective oxides (e.g., NdPr oxide). While the REE market has been volatile, OD6\u2019s strategy is focused on real offtake, real product, and long-term survivability: No reliance on inflated spot prices or unsustainable government support No hype-driven LOIs with no substance Clear cost pathway: ~USD $300M capex vs $1.2B for many peers "There\u2019s a lot of noise in rare earths, but not many with a product that works. We\u2019re now one of the few still standing, with a technically sound, economic pathway." Gulf Creek VMS Copper Project \u2013 A Sleeping Giant? While rare earths remain the flagship, the Gulf Creek Copper Project in NSW could be the catalyst that delivers near-term excitement. Historic production (1896\u20131912) reported grades of 2\u201312% Cu Drilling confirms mineralisation continues below the old mine 4.6% Cu intercepts in recent programs VMS-style system with multiple repeat structures mapped Strong magnetic signatures tied to known mineralisation OD6 is currently drilling new targets \u2014 Big Bend, West Limmon, Northwest \u2014 that exhibit geophysical and geological similarities to the main Gulf Creek lode. \u201cVMS is a small company\u2019s holy grail. High grade, modest tonnage, fast capex. Just look at what DeGrussa did for Sandfire.\u201d With solid land access, supportive local communities, and compelling historic grades, Gulf Creek could evolve into a separate copper value centre \u2014 and even warrant a spin-out if the results continue to deliver. Samso Concluding Comments OD6 Metals today is not the company it was in 2022. This is now a business with: A technically proven REE flow sheet A heap leach process that defies conventional wisdom Clear understanding of mineralogy, product quality, and economic constraints And now, a copper discovery story brewing quietly in NSW. In many ways, OD6 is a case study in how to advance a resource project the right way \u2014 quietly, methodically, and with the long game in mind. It\u2019s also one of the few juniors with genuine dual-commodity upside \u2014 a defensive REE platform and a high-grade VMS copper wild card. For investors tired of rock chip hype and non-binding fluff, OD6 is a rare earths company with a product that works \u2014 and a copper discovery that could change the narrative altogether. Chapters 00:00 Start 02:31 Introduction 03:43 Recent Announcement 06:04 How did the Heap Leach concept start? 07:42 Are there any environmental issues with the Heap Leach concept? 08:31 Nanofiltration Concept? 09:46 Orebody consistency. 10:59 What are the Concerns for the Heap Leach Process? 12:08 How is current REE market influencing OD6 thinking? 15:17 OD6 Resource works with Hep Leach 16:16 The REE market 17:04 The Gulf Creek Copper Project 20:11 VMS projects are made for small companies. 21:09 High-Grade nature of VMS Projects 21:46 Prospectivity of the Gulf Creek project 22:42 Land Access for Gulf Creek 23:32 Gulf Creek - Historical Mining Area 23:50 2025 is now a more evolved REE market 25:16 REE Benchmark pricing 26:32 International Market Sentiment 27:31 A Discussion on the REE market and What it means post 2025 28:26 OD6 - A Better company for Investors in 2025. 29:50 Capital market- Thoughts on OD6. 30:57 The complexities of the REE market and investing opportunities. 31:58 Caution for looking at the REE market. 33:37 OD6 Last words. 33:26 Conclusion ","author_name":"Coffee with Samso","author_url":"http:\/\/samso.libsyn.com\/www.samso.com.au","html":"