Latest news with #LukeHampson
Mercury
29-05-2025
- Business
- Mercury
NIM hot on the heels of gallium host rock
Don't miss out on the headlines from Stockhead. Followed categories will be added to My News. NIM hits gallium host rock at Block 3 discovery in WA Gallium is a critical mineral that has surged since China imposed export restrictions The company has immediately moved to the third phase of drilling. Special Report: Nimy Resources has intersected gallium host rock during phase 2 drilling at its Block 3 project in WA. The project is in the Mons greenstone belt, northwest of the Forrestania nickel and lithium district, where recent exploration uncovered the gallium opportunity. This could lead to the junior becoming the first primary producer of the critical mineral in WA. Interest in the specialty metal – a key component in computer chips critical to electronics, AI and defence – has surged since market leader China initiated export controls in 2023. Production is almost entirely sourced as a by-product of alumina and zinc refining but Nimy Resources (ASX:NIM)is hoping to change that with its Block 3 project, where it has uncovered gallium grades far higher than those typically associated with bauxite deposits. Nine holes out of a total of 11 in the latest drilling program hit chlorite/mafic schist – which has been identified by CSIRO as the host rock for high-grade gallium mineralisation at the project. While assays are pending, the company is confident of the potential to expand the extent of the discovery, and identify additional chlorite schist material along trend. Unlocking full extent of gallium discovery Notably, this style of deposit is the same from which gallium has been extracted from a mine in China and CSIRO thinks it could run between 400-800ppm gallium. That could present an opportunity to significantly upgrade the economic prospects of a future resource through ore sorting. Due to the success of second phase drilling, the company has immediately moved to phase 3, looking for gallium mineralisation beyond the original exploration target as well as the recently discovered outcropping schist. In the background, Nimy is also conducting metallurgical testwork and progressing early-stage downstream discussions, an integrated approach that the company says reflects its commitment to unlocking the full potential of this emerging critical minerals opportunity. 'The consistent intersections of schistose material across completed drill holes at Block 3 is an exciting development that continues to reinforce the scale and potential of this high-grade gallium prospect,' managing director Luke Hampson said. 'Assays are pending and phase 3 drilling has commenced, we are well positioned to rapidly advance what is a significant critical minerals discovery in Western Australia.' This article was developed in collaboration with Nimy Resources, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions. Originally published as Nimy Resources intersects gallium host rock at Block 3 discovery
The Australian
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Australian
Nimy seeks gallium bounty at Block 3
Nimy Resources has kickstarted a three-week drill drive as it looks to deliver a maiden resource for its Block 3 gallium project Potential to outline world class deposit of the semiconductor super metal Gallium supply is dominated by China, with Nimy already seeing external interest in future product Special Report: Hot on the heels of what could be a game-changing discovery of semi-conductor super metal gallium, resource drilling has begun at Nimy Resources' Mons project. The junior explorer's discovery of high-grade gallium in a virtually unexplored greenstone belt north of WA's Wheatbelt could lead to the extraction of a new and strategically valuable source of the critical mineral. An exploration target reported over the 3km by 1.5km Block 3 prospect by Nimy Resources (ASX:NIM) on January 28 clocked in at 9.6-14.3Mt at 39-78ppm gallium. The Phase 2 drill campaign is set to take three weeks, with assays due as soon as feasible. The aim of the program is to extend known high-grade mineralisation along strike and down dip, with the exploration target only encompassing the eastern segment of the Block 3 prospect. Nimy will drill test the new Block 3 Central target during the program, which will support the development of a maiden JORC resource. 'The commencement of this round of drilling at the Block 3 Gallium discovery is significant as we move forward in defining a world class JORC compliant high grade gallium deposit,' Nimy managing director Luke Hampson said. 'Concurrently, Curtin University are working on metallurgical testing following CSIRO identification of high grade 400-800 g/t gallium in chlorite. 'These exploration milestones move Nimy closer to meeting the need of gallium customers who have made initial enquiries as to our progress.' Drilling has begun at Nimy's Block 3 gallium prospect. Pic: Nimy Strategic gallium project Most gallium is produced by China as a byproduct of alumina and zinc refining, with as much as 98% of the supply chain controlled by the Middle Kingdom, a danger hammered home when it restricted direct exports to the US last year. Nimy's Block 3 has been shown by initial mineralogical assessments by the CSIRO to contain high grades of 400-800g/t in samples of gallium in chlorite. Met testwork with Curtin University and its WA School of Mines lab is another critical step, with Nimy already working with M2i Global, a US-based defence and tech solutions company to support a US Department of Defense procurement contract for its gallium. Gallium is used in semiconductors, EV and wind magnets, solar panels, LEDs, LCDs, blu-rays, with its rise in the world of computer chip wafers resulting from its status as a superior replacement for silicon. The metal is listed as a critical mineral across Australia, the EU, the UK, the US, India, Japan, and South Korea. A Phase 3 drill program is expected to follow the Phase 2 program based on the assay results. Drilling will encompass testing of the new Block 3 Central target. Pic: Nimy This article was developed in collaboration with Nimy Resources, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
