Latest news with #gallium
The Australian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Australian
NIM looks to maiden gallium resource
NIM receives more high-grade gallium assays from final holes at Block 3 in WA Maiden resource, updated exploration target and metallurgical work planned Company will also assess the project's rare earths and base metals potential Special Report: Nimy Resources has hit further high-grade gallium in the final drill holes of a 5944m campaign at Block 3 in WA, which is emerging as a potential standalone gallium development. The drilling was aimed at infilling and extending an exploration target of 9.6-14.3Mt at 39ppm to 78ppm gallium and positions the company to potentially become WA's first primary producer of the critical mineral. Gallium, a specialty metal essential for computer chip production and widely used in electronics, AI and defence, has seen rising global interest following China's 2023 export controls. Nimy Resources (ASX:NIM) plans to release a maiden resource for the project in the coming quarter, after repeatedly hitting high grades. The last round of drilling results was no exception, returning intercepts including: 44m @ 101g/t Ga₂O₃ from surface 32m @ 107g/t Ga₂O₃ from surface 28m @ 102g/t Ga₂O₃ from surface 12m at 104g/t Ga₂O₃ from 16m; Maiden resource, metallurgical work and more drilling Overall, the drilling campaign intersected high-grade intervals of plus 100g/t Ga2O3 with all holes encountering mineralisation and 18 holes returning high-grade gallium. 'The recently-completed drilling program at Block 3 has consistently returned high-grade gallium assays which show we have a substantial discovery,' managing director Luke Hampson said. 'And furthermore, there is clear potential to keep growing it, with the mineralisation remaining open at depth and along strike. 'With the receipt of the final assays, we are on track to complete the maiden JORC resource in the September quarter. 'At the same time, we are progressing metallurgical testwork in conjunction with the CSIRO and Curtin University while discussions are also advancing with potential offtake customers and funding partners. 'The high level of inquiry we are receiving from around the world confirms that we have a huge opportunity at Block 3 to capitalise on demand for this critical metal.' The next steps beyond a maiden resource include metallurgical testwork and offtake discussions - plus a follow-up drill program to expand the resource and explore the rare earths and base metals potential of the project. 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.
The Australian
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Australian
AXL targets sizable Brazilian gallium resource
AXL reports consistent high-grade gallium at Brazilian project Gallium critical component in semiconductor chips Maiden gallium and REE resource is expected in July Special Report: Axel REE says assays from auger drilling at its Caladão project in Brazil have delivered strong gallium and rare earths results. The latest results from Area B highlight the emergence of Axel REE's (ASX:AXL) Caladão as a key non-Chinese gallium project, with Area B presenting a stand-out target to define a potentially large high-grade gallium resource. They also demonstrate the effectiveness of auger drilling in delineating critical mineral resources at shallow depths. Notable intercepts include: 9m at 86g/t Ga2O3 from surface including 4m at 95g/t Ga2O3 from surface 15m at 83g/t Ga2O3 from surface including 2m at 106g/t Ga2O3 from 1m 5m at 79/t Ga2O3 from surface including 3m at 85g/t Ga2O3 from surface 19m at 74g/t Ga2O3 from surface including 5m at 85g/t Ga2O3 from surface; and 10m at 74g/t Ga2O3 from surface including 3m at 81g/t Ga2O3 from surface. Rare earths results included: 5m at 4801ppm TREO (20% MREO) from 15m including 1m at 7523ppm TREO (20% MREO); and 5m at 3087ppm TREO (19% MREO) from 9m including 1m at 4771ppm TREO (22% MREO). Axel says the correlation between elevated gallium values overlying the rare earth zones with enhanced TREO grades adds strategic value to the Caladão project's economics. The project sits in the prolific Minas Gerais region of Brazil, home to a swathe of ionic clay rare earths deposits. In retaliation to Trump tariffs and a trade war stretching back years before them, China has made a hobby of placing export restrictions on medium and heavy rare earth elements and critical minerals like gallium, a key component in semiconductor chips. Sizable maiden resource pending More assays are expected in the near term, with the company confident the results will form the foundation of a maiden rare earths and gallium resource estimate from Area B. That resource will be combined with a near term Area A resource estimate – which AXL believes will demonstrate the scale and strategic potential of the broader Caladão system. 'With auger drilling ongoing at Area B, it's encouraging to see confirmation of broad, shallow zones of gallium and rare earth, consistent with results from Area A,' non-executive chairman Paul Dickson said. 'These assay results are significant for Axel as we progress to defining a sizeable, near-surface critical mineral resource. 'The Caladão project continues to exceed expectations, with strong evidence that weathered profile in Area B is enriched with gallium and rare earths, in line with our exploration model. 'The team's technical work is setting a strong foundation for resource delineation and future development opportunities. 'These results strengthen our confidence in the broader Caladão system and we look forward to sharing further updates as the program progresses.' This article was developed in collaboration with Axel REE, 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.
News.com.au
15-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Resources Top 5: Leliyn's glorious gallium sends crowds flocking to Kingsland
Rutile and gallium are potential value-adds for KNG at Leliyn graphite project ASN has shipped two tonnes of lithium-rich Green River brine to POSCO PLN has expanded its uranium footprint on being granted the Botsalano project in Botswana Your standout small cap resources stocks for Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Kingsland Minerals (ASX:KNG) Rutile and gallium represent potential value-adds for Kingsland Minerals (ASX:KNG) at its Leliyn graphite project in the Northern Territory and investors are applauding the company's initiative with shares climbing 52.63% to 14.5c. The company is undertaking testwork to assess the viability of concentrating and extracting rutile and gallium from the graphitic schist with samples provided to the CSIRO to determine the mineralogical host to the gallium within the schist. Perth-based Independent Metallurgical Operations has kicked off work with a comprehensive database from the company's previous drilling campaigns enabling the estimation of conceptual exploration targets for rutile and gallium. The gallium exploration target is 190-195Mt at 20-25ppm Ga2O3 for 3800-4875t of gallium and the rutile target is 190-195Mt at 0.3-0.5% TiO2 for 570,000-975,000t TiO2. KNG managing director Richard Maddocks said elevated levels of gallium and titanium were noted during previous drilling of the Leliyn graphite deposit. 'Subsequent metallurgical testwork focusing on graphite concentration revealed the presence of titanium in the form of rutile and gallium in the graphite flotation tails stream,' he said. 'Work has commenced to assess the viability of concentrating and ultimately extracting gallium and rutile. 'The high prices and very strong demand for gallium and rutile highlights the potentially substantial additional revenue which could flow from by-products of these critical metals at Leliyn.' The company believes it is well placed to capitalise on the growing push in the US, Europe and Asia to reduce reliance on China for specialty metals. Prices for gallium have been on a tear, currently sitting around $1600/kg, largely due to increased demand in semiconductors, solar panels and EVs. The primary driver for increased rutile demand is its use in the production of titanium dioxide, a key pigment in paints, plastics and paper, as well as in the manufacturing of titanium metal for aerospace, medical implants and industrial equipment. Anson Resources (ASX:ASN) Making positive moves to value-add to the lithium-rich brines at the Green River project in southeastern Utah, USA, is Anson Resources (ASX:ASN), which has increased 33.34% to a daily high of 9.6c. Two tonnes of lithium-rich Green River brine has been shipped by ASN to POSCO in South Korea as part of due diligence for a planned demonstration plant. The brine, which is iron-free and processed using a non-chemical method, will be tested for lithium extraction efficiency to help shape initial engineering and cost estimates. Results will be used by POSCO to prepare initial engineering design and cost estimates for the planned demonstration plant to be built at the Green River project. This test work is a part of the due diligence process POSCO is undertaking to determine an investment into a demonstration plant at Green River which is expected to be completed by December 2025 as outlined in the non-binding MoU signed between the companies. This bulk sample includes iron-free brine produced by Anson's unique chemical-free process. The pretreatment process to reduce iron prior to being fed into the DLE processing was developed at Anson's Lithium Innovation Center in the USA. The planned demonstration plant is a scaled-up version of a pilot plant to validate a new industrial process at a larger, commercially relevant scale before full-scale construction. This demonstration plant will operate on a continuous process basis to closely resemble that of the anticipated future commercial plant as well as generating significant quantities of lithium carbonate product. Pioneer Lithium (ASX:PLN) Expanding its uranium footprint on being granted the Botsalano project in southern Botswana along the South African border, Pioneer Lithium (ASX:PLN) closed at 12.5c, a lift of 19.05%. The project is within the Botsalano Ring Complex, an ideal setting for uranium mineralisation, and is in Botswana, Africa's most politically stable jurisdiction. There is access to established infrastructure including rail, roads, power and water supply, and the project has a proven pedigree as it was previously held by UraMin Inc. PNL said the project's uranium potential was also underscored by its geological similarities to world-class assets. Botsalano Prospecting Licence covers 815km2 and the acquisition adds a third uranium jurisdiction to PNL's growing pipeline alongside Namibia and the US. Pioneer's initial focus will be to compile all available historical exploration and geophysical data relevant to the project area and surrounds, and then move to fieldwork. Pure Resources (ASX:PR1) After neighbour Green Critical Minerals (ASX:GCM) released a robust feasibility study for the 80%-owned McIntosh graphite project north of Halls Creek in WA, Pure Resources (ASX:PR1) is increasing its focus on the graphite potential of its Reedy Creek project. Reedy Creek, which is the subject of extensive garnet exploration and testing, surrounds the McIntosh project and PR1 is now reviewing graphite potential. This review is focusing on confirmation of graphite mineralisation, untested VTEM conductors and high-quality garnet skarn. It will focus on any historical drilling that has intersected graphite schist units, which may confirm the presence of a prospective graphite horizon. PR1 is also investigating US focused technology to assist in extracting rare earth elements from industrial garnet. In a bid to create a mine to market downstream opportunity with the intention of entering the US market, the company is in discussions with suppliers of the thermal management sector, including those focused on heat sinks and weapons cooling. Strategic US collaboration has been initiated across several institutions and Department of Energy funded academic institutions. Canadian Phosphate (ASX:CP8) Not only is phosphate a key fertiliser requirement in agriculture and animal nutrition, it is increasingly used in the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery market as the world looks to a decarbonised future. One ASX-listed company looking to feed demand is Canadian Phosphate with its Fernie project in British Columbia, for which a 10,000t bulk sample permit was received in June for the Barnes rock phosphate deposit. Phosphate is listed as a critical mineral in Canada with the country being 100% reliant on imported phosphate, 80% of which originates from the USA. Securing domestic supply is paramount for the future of food security and a decarbonised energy grid, especially as tariff fears rise. Bulk sampling at Barnes is expected to begin this quarter while CP8 has submitted another 10,000t bulk sample permit for Pump Station deposit with a 150,000t industrial minerals permit being prepared for Marten deposit for submission to BC's Ministry of Mines and Critical Minerals. CP8 shares reached a 12-month high of 7.5c, a 25% lift on the previous close.
News.com.au
01-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
China's dominance of the gallium market is near total – but there's opportunity for Western disruptors
RFC Ambrian report shows scale of China's control over gallium production Metal is key to Western semiconductor industry, defence, AI and tech China still driving the car, but Western companies are seeking to break its hold How can the West break China's hold on the gallium market? A new report from Perth-based corporate advisory firm RFC Ambrian on the commodity, critical for its use in semiconductor wafers, has shone a light on the challenges ahead for Western consumers hoping to break their reliance on the Chinese supply chain. While the market, globally, is in a state of oversupply, this is almost entirely contained within the Chinese market. Prices peaked at US$580/kg in June 2022 before tumbling as Chinese refiners pumped out material and local LED and rare earth magnet markets were crunched by Covid lockdowns. Gallium consumption has accelerated from just 4t in 2005 to 335t in 2024, according to RFC. But in the same time, China's output of low purity gallium has risen from 22t to 750tpa, thanks to demands from its government that aluminium smelters produce the high-tech material as a by-product. Now China holds around 98.4% of the market despite being a major importer of bauxite, the material from which most gallium is extracted, reliant on ores from Guinea, Indonesia and Australia. Russia produces a further 0.8% of primary gallium, while South Korea and Japan, the two Western-aligned countries in the list, share output of just 0.8% between them as a by-product of zinc refining. And while China produces ~98% of the world's gallium it consumes just 62%, giving it great leverage. That's why export restrictions in 2023 and a subsequent ban in December 2024 on shipping product to the US – which puts around 83% of its gallium consumption into semi-conductor wafers needed for applications like lasers, security sensors and AI data centres – sent prices surging to US$455/kg by November 2024. It's currently trading above US$400/kg, with Western consumers almost entirely dependent on Chinese suppliers of low purity gallium. And the market is forecast to remain tight while this situation remains, though Chinese companies could be sitting on large (but unverified) stockpiles. "With only limited new production in the West likely in the foreseeable future, China holds nearly all the cards in this commodity," RFC's analysts said. "This is a significant problem for Western markets, and material availability has become more challenging following China's export restrictions announced in 2023." Market growth While opaque, RFC estimates around 55% of gallium-based semiconductor production actually occurs in the West, heightening concerns around its exposure to a market dominated by China, which could be leveraged if a tech trade war escalates. As demand for gallium has increased in the West, weak economics has ironically prompted the idling of capacity from non-Chinese players in placed like the UK, Hungary, Germany and Kazakhstan. While around 280t of scrap recycling capacity does exist, mostly in China but also in places like Canada, the US, Japan and Slovakia, primary supply has been harder to establish. So far two serious contenders to supply gallium in the near term have emerged. One, a 50tpa plant proposed in Greece by Metlen Energy and Metals to complement its alumina operations in Agios Nikolaos, could supply 7% of the global market. Another is a 3.5tpa demonstration plant planned by Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) at its aluminium ops in Quebec, Canada, which could be parlayed into a 40tpa commercial-scale facility should those studies prove successful. On top of that Trafigura-owned zinc refiner Nyrstar is studying a potential tailings operation that would produce both gallium and another critical metal, germanium, from waste at its Clarksville mine in the US, with a similar project also being studied at Lubumbashi in the DRC. "There may be other opportunities to establish new gallium capacity in the West at new or existing alumina refineries or zinc smelters; however, the technological and economic practicalities remain uncertain, especially considering that the amounts of gallium recovered are minimal and hold limited economic significance for alumina and zinc producers," RFC's report authors said. "Any construction of new capacity would need to be economically justified. Metlen's proposed new gallium plant in Greece and Rio Tinto's planned demonstration plant in Canada are both positive indicators that producing gallium in the West could once again be viable." But there could be significant benefits for any emerging players who can crack the code, with gallium production and consumption having risen sharply over the past two decades. Junior contenders Outside of those major players, a host of junior contenders have been identified by RFC in its roundup of the industry. MTM Critical Metals (ASX:MTM), where shareholders approved a name change to Metallium Ltd at a meeting on June 30, has demonstrated early success using a novel metal processing technology called Flash Joule Heating to improve gallium and germanium recover from scrap. RFC says the processing of gallium-bearing post-consumer scrap (used or old scrap) is not currently feasible due to the dissipative (small or scattered) nature of the metal in consumer products. But MTM has shown its ability to generated 90% gallium and 80% germanium recovery rates from semi-conductor industry waste. It has access to high-grade material grading up to 20% indium, 15% gallium and 18% germanium from US metals recovery experts Indium Corporation. Also looking to produce gold from e-waste, green cement from red mud (alumina waste) and potentially other critical metals like lithium, antimony and rare earths, a recent $50m raising recently placed MTM on track to become a commercial critical metals producer in the US domestic market within 12 months. In WA, RareX (ASX:REE) has identified high-grade gallium in historic drilling at its Cummins Range project in the state's Kimberley region, a deposit which already hosts a large resource of rare earths and phosphate. RFC noted those results were followed in May by a strategic collaboration agreement with Gega Elements, an Aussie company looking to develop a new gallium extraction technology. "This partnership with Gega Elements begins to position RareX as one of a select few large-scale potential gallium developments outside China. Gallium is critical for semiconductors, 5G, and defence – yet almost entirely controlled by a single jurisdiction," REE MD James Durrant said at the time. "Through this collaboration, we're working to change that, leveraging RareX's resource scale and Gega's science-driven approach to build a truly sovereign supply solution.' Nimy Resources (ASX:NIM) also cops a mention. Its Mons project includes the Block 3 discovery, a 3km by 1.5km wide target where chlorotised schist believed to hold gallium grades far exceeding those found in bauxite deposits has been identified by the junior. Nimy recently wrapped up resource drilling at Mons, having previously stated an exploration target of 9.6-14.3Mt at 39-78ppm gallium. Grades are estimated to be far higher in the schist portion of the exploration target (1-1.3Mt at 103-153ppm Ga), suggesting the project could be amenable to selective mining or ore sorting techniques.
Reuters
23-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
ERG plans to produce critical mineral gallium in Kazakhstan next year
LONDON, June 23 (Reuters) - Eurasian Resources Group plans to invest $20 million in facilities to produce critical mineral gallium in Kazakhstan from next year, from the bauxite ore it processes to produce alumina, the company said in a release on Monday. Gallium is on the U.S. and European Union's lists of critical minerals. It is needed for the manufacture of semiconductors for electronics and radar systems and missile guidance electronics in aerospace and defence. ERG's plans would make Kazakhstan, which until now has produced no gallium, the world's second largest producer after China. "ERG plans to become a significant player in the global market for gallium, starting production in 2026 to supply OECD countries, with a view to expanding annual volumes up to 15 metric tons per annum," ERG CEO Shukhrat Ibragimov said. Global gallium production totalled 760 tons last year according the U.S. Geological Survey. Most was from China and very small amounts from Japan, Korea and Russia. China banned the export of gallium, germanium and antimony to the United States last December in response to a crackdown on China's chip sector by Washington. Although the outright ban only applies to the United States, in the 18-months prior to the suspension, China had steadily introduced export licensing regimes for the three metals. Alumina is used to smelt aluminium.
