Mount Ridley Mines (ASX: MRD) has released a maiden gallium mineral resource estimate (MRE) for its namesake Mt Ridley project in Western Australia’s far south.
The JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate (MRE) currently stands at 838.7 million tonnes at 29.3 parts per million for 24,584t, ranking it among the world’s largest known gallium resources.
In anticipation of progressing the project’s development, the company has entered into discussions about the potential support of a US–Australia critical minerals supply chain.
Three Separate Zones
The MRE, which follows detailed and extensive desktop reviews, covers three separate zones at Mt Ridley.
The central gallium “Block 1” zone – which has a strong correlation between high gallium and heavy rare earth elements (HREE) – contains an estimated inferred resource of 164.1Mt at 29.8ppm for 4,888t of contained gallium.
Block 2 in the northern extension of the project hosts elevated HREE and gallium grades with an estimated inferred resource of 372.2Mt at 30.3ppm for 11,288t of contained gallium, and has also been identified as one of the most prospective zones for combined REE–gallium-scandium resource expansion and definition.
The Mia prospect in Block 3 has an inferred REE resource of 168Mt at 1,201ppm total rare earth oxides.
The three areas cover a combined area of approximately 69.9 square kilometres within a 575 sq km tenure package northeast of Esperance, with about 70% untested for gallium and rare earth mineralisation.
Favourable Environment
Non-executive director Pedro Kastellorizos noted the fortuitous timing of the MRE release.
“With Australia and the US now formally aligning on critical minerals supply chains, the Mt Ridley project represents one of the few new gallium discoveries outside of China, and […] this resource establishes it as a serious participant in Australia’s emerging critical minerals sector.”
“Our immediate focus will be on high-value zones rich in gallium and heavy rare earths as we advance metallurgical test work and partnership discussions to define a viable development pathway,” he added.
The project’s location, close to established port, road, and power infrastructure, provides important logistical advantages for future development.
