Core Resources
Core Resources is a Brisbane-based specialist metallurgical testing, process engineering, and flowsheet development firm serving the global mining industry across 15-20 countries through project-based professional services and proprietary or licensed process technologies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersAlbion, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Core Resources does
Core Resources is a Brisbane-headquartered specialist metallurgical testing, process engineering and flowsheet development firm serving the global mining industry. Founded in 2001 by Australian mining industry leaders, the company operates a multi-level metallurgical testwork laboratory in Albion, Queensland, tracing its heritage to Hydrometallurgical Research Laboratories (HRL), which was established in 1981 under Mt Isa Mines, later owned by Xstrata, and acquired by Core in 2006. Core is privately held, with most employees also shareholders, and counts approximately 40 professional staff supported by a broader workforce of 101-250 across metallurgical, chemical and process engineering disciplines.
Core's offering spans metallurgical testwork services (mineralogy, comminution, flotation, gravity concentration, leaching, solvent extraction, ion exchange, electrowinning, and crystallisation), analytical services, pilot plant design and operation, process engineering studies (scoping, pre-feasibility, feasibility, dynamic simulation), and project services (due diligence, implementation, commissioning, site support). The company pairs this services base with a portfolio of proprietary and partnered process technologies, including the Toowong Process for arsenic and antimony removal from concentrates (Australian Patent No. 2011318234, divested to a leading resources group in September 2022 while commercialisation continues at Core), co-inventorship of the Albion Process licensed worldwide by Glencore Technology, the Core IPEX joint venture for ion exchange plants, exclusive licence to Geopyörä rock breakage testing, NovaCell coarse flotation with Jord International, Magotteaux MagoMill grinding optimisation, and MinDet Emago AI-assisted mineralogy.
Core monetises through project-based professional services contracts (metallurgical testwork, process engineering studies, pilot plant services, project implementation) plus technology licensing support, primarily on quote-based pricing without public disclosure. The company sells through direct enterprise engagement to mining companies and resource projects, generating roughly 60% of revenue internationally across 15-20 countries. Its customer base spans global mining firms and ASX-listed juniors across precious metals (gold, silver), base metals (copper, nickel, zinc, lead, cobalt), critical minerals (vanadium, antimony, rare earths, lithium, graphite, manganese, scandium), and tailings retreatment, with named engagements including ENVIEX, Stibium Mining, GBM Resources/Round Oak Minerals JV, Red Metal Limited, Felix Gold Limited and Banksia Minerals.
Core Resources firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Core Resources
- Legal name
- Core Metallurgy Pty Limited
- Website
- https://coreresources.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Core Resources is a Brisbane-based specialist metallurgical testing, process engineering, and flowsheet development firm serving the global mining industry across 15-20 countries through project-based professional services and proprietary or licensed process technologies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Core Resources industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Metallurgical Testing and Process Engineering Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Metal Mining (213114)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mineral Processing Plant Design & EPCM (Flowsheet Development, Piloting & Scale-up) (IMAKALAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Precious Metals Assaying, Metallurgical Testing & Certification (IMAKAEAK), Commissioning, Start-up & Performance Testing (Handover, Ramp-up Support) (IMAKAOAI)
Keywords
Where Core Resources is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Albion
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Core Resources business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Metallurgical Testwork Services: Laboratory-based metallurgical testing services covering all areas of mineral processing and hydrometallurgy including comminution, flotation, leaching, solvent extraction, electrowinning, ion exchange and crystallisation. Revenue generated through project-based testwork contracts.
- Process Engineering Services: Process engineering and flowsheet development services including scoping, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies. Delivered by metallurgists, chemical and process engineers. Revenue from engineering study contracts.
- Pilot Plant Services: Design and operation of complex integrated process pilot plants for metallurgical testing. Includes pilot-scale testwork programs and demonstration plants.
- Project Services: Due diligence evaluations, project implementation, commissioning and site support services for mining companies.
- Technology Licensing Support: Support services for licensed technologies including Albion Process and Toowong Process. Core is certified to conduct testwork programs under license from Glencore Technology for Albion Process.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Core Resources product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Core Resources provides integrated metallurgical testing, process engineering and flowsheet development services for the global mining industry from its laboratory facility in Brisbane, Australia. The company operates a multi-level metallurgical testwork laboratory covering mineralogy, comminution, flotation, leaching, solvent extraction, ion exchange, electrowinning and crystallisation, and complements this with pilot plant design, process engineering studies and project/site services. Core also develops and licences proprietary process technologies including the Toowong Process for arsenic removal, the Albion Process for atmospheric leaching, Geopyörä rock breakage testing, NovaCell coarse flotation and Core IPEX ion exchange.
Product overview
Core Resources provides integrated metallurgical testing, process engineering and process technology services for the global mining industry. The company operates a multi-level metallurgical testwork laboratory in Brisbane offering comprehensive testing capabilities across mineral processing and hydrometallurgy. The portfolio includes metallurgical testwork services (mineralogy, comminution, flotation, leaching, SX, IX, EW, crystallisation), analytical services, pilot plants, process engineering (project definition, process design, engineering studies, dynamic simulation), and project services (due diligence, implementation, site services). Core has developed and commercialised several proprietary process technologies including Albion Process™ (atmospheric leaching), Toowong Process™ (arsenic removal), Ion Exchange via Core IPEX joint venture, Geopyörä rock breakage testing, NovaCell™ coarse flotation, MinDet Emago mineralogy testing, and Magotteaux MagoMill grinding optimisation. The company also partners with Glencore Technology for Albion Process™ licensing and Mineral Technologies for Toowong Process™ commercialisation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Metallurgical Testing Services Comprehensive metallurgical testwork covering all areas of mineral processing and hydrometallurgy including mineralogy, comminution testing, flotation, gravity concentration, leaching, solvent extraction, ion exchange, electrowinning and crystallisation for mining clients.
- Analytical Services
- Pilot Plants
- Process Engineering
- Project Services
- Albion Process™ Testwork and Project Services
- Toowong Process™ Testwork and Commercialisation Services
- Ion Exchange (Core IPEX) Services
- Geopyörä Rock Breakage Testing Services
- NovaCell™ Coarse Flotation Services
- MinDet Emago Mineralogy Testing Services
- Magotteaux MagoMill Grinding Optimisation Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% arsenic removal achieved in Toowong Process pilot demonstration
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Core Resources
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Core Resources technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Core Resources partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- AUSSEF (Australian Science and Engineering Fair)minorCore Resources is a sponsor of AUSSEF, Australia's premier STEM competition for high school students. Supports students attending the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix.
- Mineral Technologies (Downer)corePartnership with Mineral Technologies for development and commercialisation of the Toowong Process. Involved a two-year, $2 million design and engineering work program to develop the technology for deployment. Collaboration team included Core Resources and Mineral Technologies personnel.
- IPEX (Ion Exchange Technology Group)coreTechnology partnership providing ion exchange testwork and process engineering services. Presents opportunity for Core's clients to access world leading IX know-how and practical operations experience. IPEX's technologies are proven for treatment of metallurgical leach liquors, acid mine drainage, and solid wastes.
- Glencore TechnologycoreCore Resources partners with Glencore Technology to provide testwork and study management services for Albion Process projects. Core is certified to conduct Phase 1 amenability tests, Phase 2 variability and design tests, and pilot-scale tests. Results from Core's testwork are used by Glencore Technology for capital and operating costs and engineering design.
- X GROUPcoreJoint venture forming Core IPEX providing access to vanadium ion exchange expertise and technologies for producing high purity vanadium products including vanadyl sulphate and ammonium metavanadate. Core IPEX can design, construct and commission ion exchange plants.
- MagotteauxcorePartnership for Magotteaux MagoMill grinding optimisation testwork. The MagoMill enables controlled laboratory testing that reproduces plant grinding conditions and allows metallurgists to investigate the impact of grinding chemistry on downstream metallurgical performance.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Core Resources competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SGS: Global testing, inspection and certification company with a sizeable Minerals Services division providing metallurgical, geometallurgical and analytical laboratory services to mining clients worldwide — directly comparable to Core's metallurgical testwork and analytical offerings.
- Hatch: Global engineering and project delivery firm with a deep Mining and Metals practice offering process engineering, flowsheet development, pilot testing and commissioning — directly comparable to Core's process engineering and project services offering.
- Ausenco: Australia-based engineering and project delivery company focused on the minerals processing and infrastructure sectors — comparable to Core in providing process engineering, flowsheet development and project services to mining clients.
- GR Engineering Services: ASX-listed Australian engineering and consulting firm providing design, construction and process services to the mining sector — closely comparable to Core's process engineering, flowsheet development and project implementation work.
- ALS Limited: Australia-headquartered global testing services group with a strong Geochemistry and Minerals business, offering sample preparation, assay and metallurgical testing to mining clients — overlapping directly with Core's metallurgical laboratory and analytical services.
- Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection and certification firm with a Minerals and Metals commodity line covering laboratory testing, assaying and mineral processing support for mining companies — directly comparable on laboratory testwork services.
- Intertek: Global quality-assurance and testing company with a Minerals business serving mining and metals clients with sample preparation, assaying and metallurgical support services — comparable to Core's metallurgical testwork and project services.
Broad incumbents
- Wood: Global engineering and consulting company with a Mining and Metals practice delivering process design, flowsheet development and project execution — overlapping with Core's engineering and project services capability within a much wider multi-sector portfolio.
- Metso: Global mining and metals processing equipment and services company offering comminution, flotation and hydrometallurgical solutions — comparable to Core on process technology and mineral processing, though as part of a much broader capital-equipment portfolio.
- FLSmidth: Global supplier of equipment, systems and services to the cement and mining industries, including mineral processing and hydrometallurgical technologies — overlapping with Core's mineral processing and process technology capabilities but operating at much larger scale across a broader portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Core Resources social profiles
Digital presenceCore Resources financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Core Resources leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
Core Resources funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Core Resources M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Core Resources
What does Core Resources do?
Core Resources provides integrated metallurgical testing, process engineering and flowsheet development services for the global mining industry from its laboratory facility in Brisbane, Australia. The company operates a multi-level metallurgical testwork laboratory covering mineralogy, comminution, flotation, leaching, solvent extraction, ion exchange, electrowinning and crystallisation, and complements this with pilot plant design, process engineering studies and project/site services. Core also develops and licences proprietary process technologies including the Toowong Process for arsenic removal, the Albion Process for atmospheric leaching, Geopyörä rock breakage testing, NovaCell coarse flotation and Core IPEX ion exchange.
Is Core Resources a public or private company?
Core Resources is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Core Resources founded?
Core Resources was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Core Resources based?
Core Resources is headquartered in Albion, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Core Resources make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Metallurgical Testwork Services are the primary driver. The others are process Engineering Services, pilot Plant Services, project Services and technology Licensing Support.
Who are Core Resources's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SGS, Hatch, Ausenco, GR Engineering Services, ALS Limited, Bureau Veritas and Intertek. Broad incumbents are Wood, Metso and FLSmidth.
Does Core Resources have an API?
No public API is recorded for Core Resources.
What industry is Core Resources in?
Core Resources's product category is Metallurgical Testing and Process Engineering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKALAK, Mineral Processing Plant Design & EPCM (Flowsheet Development, Piloting & Scale-up), with a secondary code of IMAKAEAK, Precious Metals Assaying, Metallurgical Testing & Certification. Its NAICS code is 213114 and its SIC code is 8734.