Critical minerals company Mont Royal Resources (ASX: MRZ) has reported grades of up to 39.8% contained fluorspar within previous drill holes at its Mallard niobium prospect in Canada’s Eldor Carbonatite Complex.
The high-grade fluorspar sits within the newly-named “Flux” fluorite zone where previous drilling delivered intercepts of 32.4 metres at 26.1% calcium fluoride and 0.4% niobium pentoxide from 203.9m including 5m at 38.8% calcium fluoride and 0.3% niobium pentoxide, as well as and 29m at 21.7% calcium fluoride and 0.2% niobium pentoxide from 275m including 6.6m at 39.8% calcium fluoride and 0.3% niobium pentoxide.
The mineralisation occurs with associated modest niobium content predominantly as discrete, high-grade intervals within dolomite carbonatite.
It remains open in multiple directions, with the interpreted zone extending over an 80m strike length and 150m vertical extent.
Fluorite-Bearing System
Managing director Nicholas Holthouse said Flux confirmed a significant fluorite-bearing system within the broader Eldor Carbonatite Complex.
“The Ashram fluorspar story continues to strengthen—importantly, previous drilling campaigns at Mallard primarily targeted niobium, highlighting the significant potential for future fluorspar upside through targeted drilling,” he said.
The company believes Mallard’s proximity to Ashram—which hosts one of the world’s largest fluorspar deposits—supports potential future development synergies.
“With fluorspar rapidly emerging as a strategically important critical mineral and market dynamics continuing to tighten, we believe that Ashram and the broader Eldor Property are increasingly well positioned with the Flux Zone presenting additional fluorspar mineralisation upside and an opportunity for potential future co-development”.
Strong Market Demand
Current global fluorspar pricing is supported by strong demand from the chemical, metallurgical, and energy-transition markets, together with tightening global supply.
Quebec’s aluminium industry consumes up to 200,000 tonnes of calcium fluoride equivalent each year, while Japan imports an annual 500,000t for end-uses such as semiconductors, batteries, refrigerants, fluoropolymers, and other advanced materials.
Historically the world’s dominant fluorspar exporter, China has recently shifted to being a net importer on the back of domestic mine closures, tighter environmental regulations, and rising downstream demand.
This change has dramatically tightened the global supply-demand balance and increased consumer interest in securing long-term supply from geopolitically stable Atlantic Basin jurisdictions including Canada.
