Mineral comminution is one of the most energy-intensive stages in beneficiation, and early rejection of barren material offers a direct route to reducing downstream processing demand. This study presents an opto-magnetic sorting approach for coarse rare earth element (REE)-bearing ore pre concentration prior to grinding. The process combines image-based optical detection, selective inkjet wetting, magnetite adhesion, and magnetic lifting to achieve particle separation at the millimetre scale. In contrast to conventional compressed-air actuation, which can suffer from limited selectivity for small particles, the proposed method enables localised and controllable particle actuation through surface functionalisation and subsequent magnetic response. Rauhaugite particles in the 2–4 mm size fraction were used as a model REE-bearing material. Optical classification was performed using ore-specific RGB thresholding under controlled imaging conditions, after which target particles were selectively wetted and coated with reusable magnetite powder for magnetic lifting. The system was operated in a reject-oriented mode to maximise early removal of low-grade material before comminution. Experimental results showed that 30.4 wt per cent of the feed could be rejected as a low-grade fraction. The retained high-grade fraction represented 57 wt per cent of the feed and reached a total rare earth oxide (TREO) grade of 2.32 wt per cent, compared with 1.71 wt per cent in the feed, corresponding to an enrichment factor of approximately 1.35. The sorter operated at 84 kg/h in the present lab-scale configuration, with a power draw of about 0.8 kW, low water consumption (~0.48 L/h), and magnetite recyclability above 99 per cent. These results demonstrate the feasibility of coupling selective wetting and magnetic lifting for coarse particle REE pre-concentration. The process provides a new route for reject-oriented sensor-based sorting at millimetre scale and shows potential to reduce unnecessary comminution of low-grade material in future mineral processing flow sheets.