Rapid Critical Metals (ASX:RCM) has received its BC Mines Act permit for the Prophet River Gallium-Germanium Project in northeast British Columbia, Canada, opening a path for the company’s maiden drill program.
The permit provides approvals for five years and up to 50 drill sites, 25 helicopter landing pads, fuel storage, and camp infrastructure.
Rapid Critical has planned for between 2,000 and 3,000m of drilling in its inaugural program, with five priority drill-ready targets already defined.
Induced polarisation and audio-frequency magnetotellurics geophysical surveys conducted in September 2025 have delineated five anomalies across the project area, with anomalies one, three, and four currently prioritised. The surveys also highlight a north-trending conductive zone open to depth, which indicates the potential for mineralisation beyond the defined targets.
Alongside the testing of these anomalies, the maiden drill program will look to validate and extend the 1987 Wolverine drill program, which returned up to 380 grams per tonne germanium and 40g/t gallium, and will define the mineralised areas in three dimensions. The drill program will also test the depth extension of the north-trending conductive zone.
Rock chip sampling at Prophet River in January 2026 confirmed ‘exceptional’ surface grades, returning up to 763g/t germanium and 65.5g/t gallium, and 250g/t germanium and 121g/t gallium, which the company says confirms of ‘high-grade’ mineralisation across the project area.
Managing Director Byron Miles says that the receipt of this approval is a “significant milestone” for Rapid Critical Metals and the Prophet River project.
“It removed the last major de-risking hurdle in the approvals process and allows us to begin systematic, modern drilling across a project that has never been properly tested with today’s tools and today’s understanding of what these metals are worth,” Miles says.
“The world has a gallium and germanium problem, with China controlling supply and demonstrating a willingness to restrict it. Western governments and industries are scrambling for security of supply.
“Prophet River is positioned to be part of that solution in one of the most mining-friendly jurisdictions on earth.”
Rapid Critical is now reviewing its operational logistics plan, with a view towards potentially utilising the existing Prophet River First Nation hunt camp instead of building its own camp. The company plans to establish a dedicated core processing and logging facility as part of this program.
Drill targeting, contractor appointment, and infrastructure are all being finalised, with mobilisation planned for late July 2026.
Rapid Critical Metals is an exploration company driving the discovery and development of ‘high-grade’ silver and critical mineral assets.
Write to Amy Rotman at Mining.com.au
Images: Rapid Critical Metals
