Nimy Resources (ASX:NIM) reports metallurgical tests have achieved up to 84% gallium and 95% rare earths (REE) extractions from its Block 3 deposit at the Mons Project, located 370km northeast of Perth, Western Australia.
Method six testing delivered the strongest extraction rates across both oxide and transition material, with gallium extraction reaching 84.10% in transition samples and 79.60% in oxide material.
REE extraction ranged from 80% to 100% across different elements, with neodymium achieving 93.10% extraction in transition material and gadolinium reaching 100% extraction.
Managing Director Luke Hampson says the results provide another key milestone toward establishing Block 3 as a major gallium source for western markets.
“We already know that Block 3 has a substantial resource with scope for significant growth and it is one of the highest-grade gallium deposits in the world,” Hampson says.
“Now our focus is on establishing the optimum processing route to maximise recoveries and economics through the Nimy, Strategic Metallurgy, and Curtin University collaboration, tailored specifically to the unique mineralogy at Block 3.”
Nimy has commenced a research program supported by the Mineral Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) to further develop and optimise the processing route. The company says the baseline extraction route represents valuable intellectual property developed specifically for the Block 3 mineralisation.
Block 3 hosts an inferred resource of 7.23 million tonnes (Mt) @ 102 grams per tonne gallium trioxide (Ga2O3) for 740 tonnes contained Ga2O3 at a 70g/t cut-off grade. At a 20g/t cut-off, the resource expands to 64.3Mt at 42g/t for 2,700 tonnes contained Ga2O3.
The current resource is constrained to oxide and transition zones to approximately 100m depth across 0.4km² of a broader 30km² target area.
China controls up to 98% of global primary gallium output, with Beijing imposing export restrictions to the US in December 2024. The gallium nitride power semiconductor market is forecast to grow from US$3.06 billion ($4.26 billion) in 2024 to US$12.47 billion by 2030.
Nimy says the metallurgical results will feed into the Block 3 Scoping Study currently underway. In the meantime, the company is continuing to progress beneficiation studies and flowsheet optimisation work while engaging with potential offtake partners.
Nimy Resources is an explorer focused on the development of its Mons Project in WA.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Images: Nimy Resources
