Latest news with #gallium
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Resources Top 5: RareX moves to set up Australian gallium supply chain
RareX and Gega will evaluate and aim to commercialise a fully integrated gallium supply chain West Coast Silver has the diamond drill spinning at Elizabeth Hill in WA's Pilbara Among the biggest movers in ASX small caps this week was Locksley Resources Your standout resources stocks for Friday, May 30, 2025. RareX (ASX:REE) The US and EU are not the only ones developing domestic supply chains to negate the influence of China and overcome its export restrictions with Australia joining in and primarily in critical minerals. There has been some action in Australia in recent times to develop integrated supply chains in future facing minerals such as lithium, rare earths and cobalt, and now there are moves for gallium to join the bunch. Gallium is seeing growing demand due to Chinese export restrictions and its vital use in semiconductors, robotics, LEDs and a range of defence applications. At the forefront of the vertically integrated gallium supply chain move is RareX, which has signed a strategic collaboration agreement with Australian technology company Gega Elements. Gega, a materials science innovator focused on developing next-generation gallium refining solutions based on its proprietary research, will use its advanced methods to test gallium-bearing samples from RareX's (ASX:REE) Cummins Range and Khaleesi projects in Western Australia. The aim is to evaluate and ultimately commercialise a fully integrated gallium supply chain that will contribute to Australia's critical mineral resilience and investors have warmed to the value-add proposition with REE shares as much as 16.67% higher to 2.1c before closing at 1.9c. Gega's approach focuses on creating a cost-effective, environmentally responsible and sovereign-controlled processing pathway. 'This partnership with Gega Elements begins to position RareX as one of a select few large-scale potential gallium developments outside China,' managing director James Durrant said. 'Gallium is critical for semiconductors, 5G and defence – yet almost entirely controlled by a single jurisdiction. '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.' The three-year collaboration seeks to provide technical validation of REE's gallium samples using Gega's bench-scale refining platform. Results will be integrated into techno-economic modelling for REE's broader project assessments while both companies jointly develop bespoke refining flowsheets for their resource characteristics. Both parties will also coordinate government grant applications and engagement with strategic end-users. The agreement is also aimed at building a pathway toward a binding commercial agreement upon successful demonstration of the technology. West Coast Silver (ASX:WCE) West Coast Silver has the diamond drill spinning at the Elizabeth Hill project in Western Australia's Pilbara as it tests extensions of known high-grade mineralisation. The company's highly anticipated inaugural diamond drill campaign will total around 1500m and will also investigate structural controls identified through geological modelling and fieldwork. All drill core will be transported from site and logged at the company's offices and core yard in Karratha, where preliminary pXRF analysis will be undertaken. The geological team will also carry out detailed structural interpretation, which will fast-track updates to the drill program to ensure optimal targeting and program efficiency as drilling progresses. Following this work in Karratha, samples will be sent to the laboratory in Perth for full chemical assaying. Portable XRF analysis of surface sampling in mid-May returned several elevated readings of up to 920g/t silver to the north and south of the historical Elizabeth Hill mine. 'We're extremely excited to have drilling now underway at Elizabeth Hill,' executive director Bruce Garlick said. 'It's a significant milestone for West Coast Silver as we test the additional potential of this historical, high-grade silver project with modern techniques for the first time. 'We'll soon be assessing fresh drill core – and that's when the real geological work begins. 'Our team is ready to interpret and adapt in real-time, and we're looking forward to sharing updates with shareholders as results come to hand.' Investors share the enthusiasm with WCE shares up 10.54% to 6.3c. While Elizabeth Hill does not have a defined resource, it has proven historical production of about 1.2Moz of silver at an impressive head grade of 2194g/t in a single year. The high grades enabled low processing tonnes with the 1.2Moz produced from just 16,830t of ore before the mining operation ceased in 2000 due to low silver prices. Native silver was recovered via low-cost gravity separation techniques. There is also untapped potential with the deposit open at depth while recent consolidation of the land package offers potential to discover more Elizabeth Hill style deposits. In a Tier-1 mining jurisdiction, Elizabeth Hill is on a mining lease with potential processing option at the nearby Radio Hill site. Silver has come into its own in recent years due to growing industrial demand primarily for making photovoltaic solar panels more efficient. Locksley Resources (ASX:LKY) Among the biggest weekly movers amid ASX small caps was Locksley Resources, which reached 8.5c, a rise of almost 42%, to a new high of more than two years. On Friday alone the company increased 28.8% on volume of more than 60m. The primary catalyst for this week's gain was a strongly supported placement with 36.67 million shares issued at 4c each to sophisticated and institutional investors resulting in $1.47m. Funds will be used to fund upcoming exploration, including drilling, at the Mojave rare earths and antimony project in California. The company's exploration team is mobilising to site to confirm priority targets and prepare for drilling to start. It will confirm and peg drill collar locations and access routes while the company waits for Bureau of Land Management approvals to be granted. Priority activities also include access routes and the engagement of earthworks and drill contractors to complete the drilling program. In addition, the team will conduct follow-up mapping and rock chip sampling across high-priority antimony, REE, polymetallic and copper targets. Further activities will include refining geophysical targets, additional surface sampling for geochemistry and structural mapping, and starting petrological studies to inform future metallurgical testing. Drilling is expected to begin in the September quarter and will focus on the El Campo prospect where six holes will be drilled to test TREO of up to 12.1% and the Desert Antimony Mine with three holes testing high-grade antimony mineralisation of up to 46%. This comprehensive campaign is designed to progress priority targets and unlock the project's critical minerals potential. Lord Resources (ASX:LRD) Increasing on the promise of additional funds from a pro-rata 1-for-1 non-renounceable entitlement offer was Lord Resources, which climbed 23.81% to a daily high of 2.6c. The company hopes to reel in almost $1.4m before costs at 1.8c per share, which represents an 18.18% discount to the 5-day VWAP price of 2.2c. The offer will be open for all shareholders of the company with a registered address in Australia and New Zealand who hold shares as at 5pm (WST) on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Funds raised will be used for a maiden drilling program at the Ilgarari Copper Project in Western Australia's Collier Basin. In late April the company was awarded co-funded grants of up to $306,500 under the WA Government's Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) for the Ilgarari project. This comprises $216,000 in support for a deep diamond drilling program targeting a regionally significant magnetic anomaly beneath copper mineralisation at the Alac and Main zones and another $90,500 for a Moving Loop Electromagnetic survey designed to refine drill targeting by detecting subsurface conductivity. 'We are delighted to receive support from the WA Government's Exploration Incentive Scheme for both drilling and geophysics at Ilgarari,' Lord Resources CEO Andrew Taylor said. 'The Collier Basin remains vastly underexplored, and these grants are a validation of our exploration model and provide substantial leverage for advancing exploration both at Ilgarari and potentially across the broader region.' Funding under both EIS grants is available from June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026. Lord Resources is an exploration company with a highly prospective portfolio of future facing metals within Western Australia including projects providing exposure to copper, gold and lithium. Tasman Resources (ASX:TAS) Tasman Resources was 38.89% higher to 2.5c after clean technology company Eden Innovations Ltd, in which it has a 33.9% stake, recorded encouraging growth in sales of its EdenCrete® range of carbon nanotube enriched concrete admixtures. This was primarily as a result of rapid sales growth of EdenCrete®Pz7 for commercial applications in USA, Ecuador, Mexico and Canada. In the three months from mid-February 2025, the total sales of all EdenCrete products exceeded US$567,000 (~A$877,000). From the start of March 2025 to May 23 total US domestic sales of all EdenCrete products reached US$222,470 (~A$341,196) comprising: EdenCrete Pz7 – sales of US$151,890 (~A$232,900) to six ready mix plants in the Denver area that have dispensing systems installed, and EdenCrete - U$70,580 (~A$108,224). Year-on-year sales for April and May 2025 alone were 86% higher than the total sales for the whole of Q4 of FY2024 (April-June 2024). In addition, the following international orders for EdenCrete Pz7 have been received, since mid-February 2025: Holcim Ecuador placed three further orders totalling $US$275,220 for use at multiple Holcim concrete plants in Ecuador, following its first commercial orders in May 2024 for US$79,600 of EdenCrete Pz7; Holcim Mexico placed two orders for US$15,760; and Holcim Eastern Canada one order for US$6,400.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
RTX Corporation (RTX) Expands UAE Footprint with Gallium Production Project
On May 16, RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tawazun Council and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) to develop gallium extraction and refining capabilities at EGA's alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi. The initiative is set to make the UAE the second-largest producer of gallium, a critical element used across global supply chains. It is used in the production of electric vehicles, semiconductors, telecom infrastructure, and medical devices. From a defense perspective, gallium is a vital component used in various defense products, including advanced radars. A factory line of robotic arms assembling gallium nitride Field Effect Transistors (FETs). This agreement is likely to secure access to gallium for several corporations, including RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX). Paolo Dal Cin, Senior VP for Operations and Supply Chain at RTX, stated the following at the signing of the MoU: "The aerospace and defense industry relies on stable access to rare earth elements. Today's agreement puts us on a path towards a reliable supply of gallium, needed for the production of critical aerospace and defense solutions." The move has further expanded RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX)'s footprint in the UAE, following a recent strategic agreement with the Tawazun Council to produce the Coyote counter-drone system locally in the country. RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX)'s shares have surged by 17% year-to-date, on the back of positive recent developments such as these and several high-value defense contract awards. While we acknowledge the potential of RTX, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than RTX and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Best Drone Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires and 11 Best American Defense Stocks to Buy Now. Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Zawya
16-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Tawazun Council, RTX and EGA sign MOU to explore Gallium Production in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Today, Tawazun Council, the aerospace and defence company RTX (NYSE: RTX) and Emirates Global Aluminium, the world's largest producer of 'premium aluminium', signed an MOU to establish EGA as a new producer of gallium, a critical mineral used across global supply chains. This initiative will create gallium extraction and refining capabilities at EGA's alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi and make the UAE the world's second largest producer of gallium. Gallium has applications across many different sectors, including in the production of semiconductors, electric vehicles, medical devices and telecom infrastructure. For the defence industry, the supply of gallium is critical as it is a key component of defence products including advanced radars. This new agreement would secure access to this critical mineral for companies including RTX. Tawazun Council is spearheading efforts through its Tawazun Economic Programme, a strategic initiative focused on attracting cutting-edge technologies, accelerating knowledge transfer, and building robust national industrial capabilities. This approach is vital to reinforcing the UAE's industrial security posture, ensuring the country's defence sector remains resilient and competitive amid global challenges. H.E Dr. Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary-General of Tawazun Council, highlighted that the project aligns seamlessly with the Council's new strategy 2025–2028, which prioritises building a competitive national industrial base and advancing cutting-edge infrastructure to ensure industrial and technological security. Central to this strategy is attracting high-quality investments, expanding strategic partnerships locally and internationally, and empowering Emirati talent. He described the project as a pivotal milestone in developing the UAE's vital industries, positioning the country as a global leader in gallium production — a rare metal essential for sectors including semiconductors, military radar, electric vehicles, medical technology, and telecommunications. Dr. Al Nuaimi emphasised its strategic role in strengthening production and export capacities while establishing an independent national supply base and cementing the UAE's status as a forward-looking industrial hub globally. 'The aerospace and defence industry relies on stable access to rare earth elements,' said Paolo Dal Cin, senior vice president for operations and supply chain at RTX. 'Today's agreement puts us on a path towards a reliable supply of gallium, needed for production of critical aerospace and defence solutions.' EGA and RTX anticipate entering into an agreement to conduct a feasibility study for a high purity gallium plant at EGA's Al Taweelah alumina refinery, which processes bauxite ore into alumina, the feedstock for aluminium smelters. Gallium is found in trace amounts in bauxite. As gallium is an impurity in aluminium, gallium levels must be carefully managed in metal for the most demanding applications. Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said, 'Gallium is an important metal for the most advanced electronics systems but remains commercially challenging to produce. This agreement between Tawazun Council, EGA, and RTX makes the development of a new source of gallium in the UAE feasible, creating an additional revenue stream for EGA and a new industrial capability for the UAE in line with our nation's industrial growth strategy Operation 300bn. We look forward to making progress on this project with our partners.'
Associated Press
16-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Tawazun Council, RTX and EGA Sign MOU to Explore Gallium Production in Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI, May 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Tawazun Council; aerospace and defense company RTX (NYSE: RTX); and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the world's largest producer of 'premium aluminium,' signed a memorandum of understanding to establish EGA as a new producer of gallium, a critical mineral used across global supply chains. This initiative would create gallium extraction and refining capabilities at EGA's alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi and make the UAE the world's second largest producer of gallium. Gallium has applications across many different sectors, including in the production of semiconductors, electric vehicles, medical devices and telecom infrastructure. For the defense industry, the supply of gallium is critical as it is a key component of defense products including advanced radars. This new agreement would secure access to this critical mineral for companies including RTX. 'The aerospace and defense industry relies on stable access to rare earth elements,' said Paolo Dal Cin, senior vice president for operations and supply chain at RTX. 'Today's agreement puts us on a path towards a reliable supply of gallium, needed for production of critical aerospace and defense solutions.' EGA and RTX anticipate entering into an agreement to conduct a feasibility study for a high purity gallium plant at EGA's Al Taweelah alumina refinery, which processes bauxite ore into alumina, the feedstock for aluminium smelters. Gallium is found in trace amounts in bauxite. As gallium is an impurity in aluminium, gallium levels must be carefully managed in metal for the most demanding applications. His Excellency Dr. Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of Tawazun Council, emphasized the project is a pivotal milestone in developing the UAE's vital industries, positioning the country as a global leader in gallium production — a rare metal essential for sectors including semiconductors, military radar, electric vehicles, medical technology and telecommunications. 'Gallium is an important metal for the most advanced electronics systems but remains commercially challenging to produce,' said Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, chief executive officer of EGA. 'This agreement between Tawazun Council, EGA and RTX makes the development of a new source of gallium in the UAE feasible, creating an additional revenue stream for EGA and a new industrial capability for the UAE in line with our nation's industrial growth strategy Operation 300bn. We look forward to making progress on this project with our partners.' About Tawazun Council Tawazun Council is an independent government entity that works closely with the Ministry of Defence and security agencies in the UAE. It aims to enhance the capabilities of the defence and security sector through developing innovative solutions that support the sustainability of the military and security industries. The Council works to balance the needs of the local sector with defence requirements, focusing on improving operational quality and efficiency. The Council also seeks to develop a regulatory environment that ensures the sustainability of technological innovation, enhancing national security and attracting various investments in this field. Through this, the Council contributes to empowering national capabilities, promoting local content, and accelerating growth in the sector by supporting acquisition and development strategies. About EGA Since 1975, when it was founded as Dubai Aluminium by His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Global Aluminium has been innovating aluminium to make modern life possible. Today EGA is the world's biggest 'premium aluminium' producer and the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside the oil and gas industry. EGA is equally-owned by Mubadala Investment Company of Abu Dhabi and the Investment Corporation of Dubai. It is the largest company jointly owned by the two Emirates. EGA is an integrated aluminium producer, with operations on four continents from bauxite mining to the production of cast primary aluminium and recycling. EGA operates aluminium smelters in Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah in the United Arab Emirates, an alumina refinery in Al Taweelah, a bauxite mine and associated export facilities in the Republic of Guinea, a speciality foundry in high strength recycled aluminium in Germany, and a recycling plant in the United States. About RTX RTX is the world's largest aerospace and defense company. With more than 185,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. Through industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney and Raytheon – we are advancing aviation, engineering integrated defense systems for operational success, and developing next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2024 sales of more than $80 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Media contacts: RTX Chris Johnson [email protected] Emirates Global Aluminium Theodora Gabrah [email protected] Tawazun Council Simon Buerk [email protected] View original content: SOURCE RTX
News.com.au
15-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Western gallium revival begins as miners race to beat China at its own game
Gallium exports have been restricted for over 18 months by China, which controls 98% of the supply chain for the semiconductor ingredient Rio Tinto has announced plans to produce as much as 40tpa, showing Western companies are serious about building an alternative supply line of the critical mineral A host of ASX juniors offer purer exposure to the gallium market After two years of chest-thumping from the West about competing with China in the supply of niche critical minerals, Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) has taken the most consequential step yet in restoring its competitiveness in gallium. Gallium's low melting point makes it a key ingredient in semi-conductor wafers, with the soft, silver blue metal used in semiconductors, transistors, LEDs, computer chips and defence applications. The global market is projected to grow from US$2.45 billion in 2024 to US$5.38 billion in 2028 and US$21.53 billion in 2034, representing a compound annual growth rate of 24.3%, the sort of growth rate that would stagger any copper bull. But some 98% of the supply chain is dominated by China, where gallium is extracted as a by-product of the Bayer Process in alumina refining, as well as from zinc processing. That status as a by-product has served as a barrier to entry. But Rio, which runs a global alumina and aluminium business, has taken the first step to plant the West's flag back in the key market, shook by export controls issued by China in 2023 and 2024 that has seen prices rise from around US$200/kg to ~900/kg. Rio has successfully produced gallium metal in R&D testing at lab scale with New York-based specialty metals supplier Indium Corporation. It's plan is to establish a 3.5tpa demo plant at the Vaudreuil alumina refinery in Quebec which, if successful, could be upgraded to 40tpa, equivalent to between 5-10% of global demand. While the $165 billion giant is taking a conventional route to gallium production, it has junior upstarts watching closely. "Rio Tinto's move into gallium confirms what we've long believed for critical metals; that non-Chinese supply has a real future," RareX (ASX:REE) managing director James Durrant said. His firm has identified some of the highest grade gallium intercepts in Australian exploration history after re-assaying drill core from the Cummins Range rare earths and phosphate project in WA's Kimberley. "Their approach follows a well-established aluminium-based pathway, but it's the scale and signal that matter. For explorers like RareX, it reinforces the value of projects like Cummins Range, where gallium is part of a broader critical metals system with real development potential.' Integration Rio's investment shows Western companies are positioning to compete with China at its own game, integrating operations so they can supply a suite of critical minerals. "What's most significant is the message it sends: that one of the world's largest resource companies sees a future for non-Chinese sourced gallium and is positioning to meet that demand. That confidence reflects well on the broader gallium space," Durrant told Stockhead. A standalone gallium mine? One of those is Nimy Resources (ASX:NIM), which is seeking to establish what it believes will be a "world class" gallium resource at its Mons project in WA. A greenstone belt only discovered when the company went looking for new nickel and copper discoveries north of Forrestania, located some 370km northeast of Perth, the 90km by 30km wide belt has at its centre the Block 3 discovery. Covering an area of 3km by 1.5km, Nimy has posted an exploration target there of 9.6-14.3Mt at 39ppm to 78ppm gallium. Mineralogical assessments by the CSIRO show the mineralisation is likely contained within chlorotised schist, a style of deposit from which gallium has been extracted from one mine in China, according to MD and founder Luke Hampson. "The fact that Rio Tinto have jumped in I think validates a lot of what people have been thinking about where the gallium market might go," Hampson told Stockhead. With drilling resuming this week, Nimy's not-so-secret weapon is that drilling so far at Block 3 deposit has shown grades run far higher than they do in bauxite deposits. The chloritised schist at Block 3 could run between 400-800ppm Ga, according to the CSIRO, presenting the opportunity to upgrade feed from Block 3 in a future production scenario with ore sorting. Metallurgical testing with Curtin University has kicked off. "If you're producing at 10 or 20ppm, then that's not going to meet a market that's gone from US$2.5 billion to US$20-something billion in terms of value," Hampson said. "Standalone, we can't see any (in the West). We've had e a look at a couple that were in China. "They're aluminium-zinc sort of by-product, but we found one that was similar in terms of finding it in the chloride schist, which is a bit of a breakthrough for us because you would have seen that CSIRO was saying the chlorite's holding something estimated between 400 and 800 ppm. " They're separating it out, getting the chloride separated and then getting the gallium out of that, and the grade obviously goes up significantly." Nimy is targeting a maiden resource in the next few months at Block 3 and has a collaboration agreement with US-based M2i Global aimed at assuring a supply of gallium to the US Department of Defense. More juniors target gallium market They're not the only junior ASX companies engaging in the gallium market. Over in the United States MTM Critical Metals (ASX:MTM) has its own MoU with Rio's partner Indium Corporation, though it is chasing a different pathway to production. MTM is planning to use its proprietary Flash Joule Heating technology to process gallium, germanium and indium from scrap running at grades of 15%, 18% and 20% supplied by indium, based on a strategic partnership announced last year. The firm this week announced a lease on an industrial site in Chambers County, Texas, where it plans to commission a 1tpd demonstration plant later this year. FJH uses the flash heating of a metal or ore via an electrical current that temporarily heats up the conductor to temperature beyond 3000 degrees Kelvin, vaporising the target metals as chlorides in seconds, then collecting the vapours for refining. MTM's plan is to process gallium within the United States from Indium's domestic waste stream, supported by a pro-development environment where the Trump Administration is trying to boost domestic minerals production. Back in WA, Western Yilgarn (ASX:WYX) has also identified high grade gallium results in drilling at its recently acquired Norcia gallium-bauxite project in WA, located around 25km north of its massive Julimar West bauxite resource. Results have ranged as high as 2m at 134.3g/t Ga2O3 from surface. Victory Metals (ASX:VTM), meanwhile, has produced gallium successfully in the final mixed rare earth carbonate product from testing at its North Stanmore project in WA. VTM recently added some 4788t of gallium oxide to North Stanmore, which now has a resource of 247.5Mt at 520ppm total rare earth oxides and scandium plus 26ppm Ga2O3. "The addition of Gallium to the MRE is an incredible bonus, not a dependency. Our focus remains on developing a world class heavy rare earth project, but the ability to recover Gallium concurrently through our recovery process without additional complexity significantly enhances the value proposition," CEO and executive director Brendan Clark said at the time. "Gallium is a strategic technology metal with growing global demand, and its inclusion as a by-product positions Victory as an even more attractive partner for downstream and offtake discussions.' Other companies with gallium prospects include G50 Corp (ASX:G50) at its Golconda project in the US and Axel REE (ASX:AXL), which has engaged SRK Consulting to compile a rare earths and gallium resource for its flagship Caladão project in Brazil. Its most recent results have included hits of 15m at 60g/t Ga2O3, 6m at 75g/t Ga2O3 and 15m at 58g/t Ga2O3 from surface, alongside REE assays of 17m at 6792ppm TREO, 13m at 5432ppm TREO, 10m at 4500ppm TREO and 4m at 3943ppm TREO. A maiden resource is due in July.
