ASX-listed Everest Metals Corporation (EMC) is aiming to lead Australia’s entry into the rubidium sector by leveraging its new membership in the US Defence Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC).

Rubidium, listed as a critical mineral by the US, is used in defence, aerospace, high-tech electronics, and medical applications.

Despite the breadth of applications and demand for rubidium, caesium, and their hybrids, global production remains significantly lower than that of other alkali metals. The cost per kilogramme is substantially higher than that of lithium, sodium or potassium, with rubidium carbonate currently priced at about $1 170/kg.

Mark Caruso-led EMC says that increasing demand for rubidium, coupled with the mineral’s limited global production, underpins the high price of rubidium products.

EMC’s membership in the DIBC – a US Department of Defense initiative – enables collaboration on defence-related projects and opens the door to potential funding and strategic partnerships. This could accelerate the development of EMC’s patented direct rubidium extraction process, which has demonstrated a 97% recovery rate.

“We are thrilled to join the DIBC, a testament to the strategic importance of our Mt Edon rubidium project. This approval opens doors to collaborate with the US Department of Defence, access non-dilutive funding, and advance our goal of establishing a commercial rubidium pilot plant,” said Caruso, who is EMC's executive chairperson and CEO.

“With rubidium’s critical applications in defence and high-tech industries and forecast growing demand, Everest is well-positioned to address global supply constraints and meet growing demand for this extremely scarce mineral,” he added.

The Mt Edon project,  located about 5 km outside Paynes Find, Western Australia, could be the launchpad for the country’s first rubidium supply chain. The company is targeting the development of a commercial pilot plant by 2026, with funding applications under way.

With a high-grade maiden resource of 3.6 million tonnes at 0.22% rubidium oxide (Rb₂O) and 0.07% lithium oxide, containing more than 7 900 t of Rb₂O , the Mt Edon project represents a significant critical mineral opportunity. 

North America holds a significant share of the rubidium market in both volume and revenue. However, like many critical minerals, China currently dominates supply. The US is mandated to secure alternative, reliable sources. Commodity analysts believe that if more rubidium were produced, the market could grow rapidly; its currently small market size is attributed more to supply constraints than to a lack of demand.

Rubidium’s applications span night vision technology, atomic clocks, fibre optics, sedatives, specialty glass, and even experimental hydrogen battery systems – making it a potentially strategic mineral for both energy and defence transitions.