West Cobar Metals (ASX:WC1) is planning closer-spaced aircore drilling to define higher-grade scandium zones at its Salazar Critical Minerals Project in Western Australia.
The decision follows a detailed technical review of the existing 15 million tonne inferred resource at the Newmont deposit, which averages 153 parts per million (ppm) scandium oxide (Sc₂O₃).
The initial 500m by 100m drill spacing was primarily designed for rare earth elements and titanium dioxide. However, results including 13m @ 318 ppm Sc₂O₃ from 9m, including 3m @ 649 ppm Sc₂O₃ from 10m indicate potential for higher-grade zones.
Following these discoveries, West Cobar intends to deploy 100m by 50m aircore drilling around ‘high-grade’ intersections to define and extend mineralisation.
The Salazar asset is a multi-commodity critical minerals project, which includes rare earths, scandium, gallium, aluminium, and titanium dioxide.
Metallurgical testwork at Nagrom achieved up to 81% scandium recovery, indicating early potential for leaching at atmospheric pressure.
Recent bioleaching testwork also showed up to 39% scandium extraction under atmospheric conditions.
West Cobar notes these results, combined with Salazar’s shallow saprolite-hosted mineralisation, support the potential for lower-cost scandium production.
Managing Director Matt Szwedzicki says early testwork conducted to date is “encouraging” in terms of the possible lower cost processing pathway.
“There are only a small number of scandium proponents on ASX and the recent Sunrise Energy (ASX:SRL) feasibility study has highlighted both the commercial value of scandium and the strategic importance of establishing secure Western supply,” Szwedzicki says.
The company notes tightening Chinese export controls highlight the value of securing Western scandium supply for defence, aerospace, advanced aluminium alloys, fuel cells, and semiconductors.
Leach testwork at ANSTO and further bioleaching testwork at CSIRO are underway, with results expected over the coming months.
The company is also progressing development studies ahead of a Prefeasibility or Scoping Study while continuing US funding offtake discussions.
West Cobar Metals is a mineral explorer and developer focused on critical minerals, gold, and base metals, with projects in Western Australia and New South Wales.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Images: West Cobar Metals
