Mount Ridley Mines (ASX:MRD) reports a ‘significant’ scandium mineral resource estimate upgrade to 946 million tonnes (Mt) at 50.1 parts per million (ppm) scandium (Sc) at its Grass Patch Project in Western Australia.
The upgraded inferred resource now contains 47,357 tonnes of scandium metal and represents what the company considers “the world’s largest publicly reported JORC-compliant scandium resource”.
The resource comprises two blocks, with block one hosting 367.45Mt @ 50.3 ppm Sc for 18,475 tonnes of contained metal; and block two with 578.63Mt @ 49.9 ppm Sc for 28,882 tonnes of contained metal.
Managing Director Allister Caird says the upgrade establishes Mount Ridley’s position in the emerging scandium supply chain.
“This significant scandium resource upgrade is a clear signal that we continue to advance the project across multiple fronts in a systematic and accelerated manner,” Caird says.
“We’ve now established the world’s largest publicly reported JORC-compliant scandium resource, at a time when the commodity is under intense focus from governments and industry seeking to secure supply outside China.”
The upgrade follows a phase one re-assay program across 3,271 historical aircore and diamond drill pulp samples. Mount Ridley says mineralisation extends more than 25km in strike with an average width exceeding 3.5km, occurring from surface to 70m depth.
According to the company, the scandium mineralisation is co-located with previously reported gallium and heavy rare earth (HREE) resources. Initial testwork using the company’s Selectro™ Process achieved 80% Sc recovery, around 77–83% Sc recovery across principal HREEs, and approximately 70–77% Sc recovery across light rare earth elements.
Scandium’s strategic importance was highlighted in August when the US Department of War committed a US$400 million ($559 million) conditional loan to Sunrise Energy Metals (ASX:SRL) for its Syerston Project.
With an estimated 80% of Mount Ridley’s tenure remaining untested, the company is now progressing density testwork, phase two re-assay programs, and Scoping Study discussions for a planned Selectro demonstration plant.
Mount Ridley Mines is a critical minerals explorer focused on the discovery and development of HREEs, gallium, and scandium across its projects in Western Australia.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Images: Mount Ridley Mines
