Mineral exploration business Nimy Resources (ASX:NIM) has taken a key step to defining a maiden JORC-compliant gallium resource at its Block 3 prospect in the Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia after reporting a “highly favourable” mineralogy assessment conducted by CSIRO.
High grade gallium
Late last year, the company unveiled its high-grade gallium discovery at Block 3 across an area covering 250m by 150m. The gallium mineralisation remains open in all directions and at depth, with the target host rock interpreted to stretch for several kilometres in length.
CSIRO’s preliminary assessment on the Block 3 high-grade zone now points to gallium mineralisation being hosted within chloritised schists.
Here, compositional examinations indicate that chlorite is the primary host for gallium, with early estimates suggesting that gallium grades within chlorite range between 400 parts per million (ppm) and 800 ppm.
Road to JORC compliant resource
This positive classification of the fresh rock sample paves the way for a maiden metallurgical evaluation for Block 3, which is now set to commence at Curtin University’s Kalgoorlie Campus.
In conjunction, Nimy is also launching a new drilling campaign to test for high-grade and near-surface mineralisation along strike to existing intercepts.
Results from the metallurgical testing and upcoming drilling at Block 3 will underpin a maiden JORC resource, projected for later this year.
Metallurgical testing
More specifically, Curtin University will conduct the metallurgical test work as part of a recently executed gallium-related research memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nimy.
The metallurgical program covers ore characterisation, preliminary gallium recovery analysis, technical studies on gallium extraction methods, and development of flowsheet options for viable gallium mining at Block 3.
Nimy’s MoU with Curtin University is supported by the ‘Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer’ initiative, which is funded by the Department of Education in Western Australia.
Management noted that this agreement shines a light on the company’s commitment to unlocking the economic potential of Block 3 via rigorous scientific and technical collaboration.
New drilling program
Separately, the follow-up drilling campaign at the prospect is set to commence in early May.
Here, the drilling is designed to grow the extent of the known mineralisation over a further 400m of strike length, whilst also infilling the already defined mineralised area.
Drill samples will also be used for metallurgical test work including technical studies to assess gallium extraction methods.
Nimy Resources technical director, Christian Price, commented:
“Metallurgical tests will play a key role in calculating a maiden JORC 2012-compliant Resource for Block 3. This work will all be done in parallel with the next round of drilling, which is set to start in early May. We are pushing hard to expedite progress at Block 3 on several fronts at the same time, enabling us to capitalise on the huge worldwide demand for gallium stemming from China’s recent export controls on critical minerals.”
Critical metal for the new age world
Gallium is a highly versatile metal with unique properties which make it essential in modern-day technology. It is widely used in semiconductors to enhance the performance of high-speed electronics, LEDs, and power devices.
Gallium-based compounds also play a key role in solar panels by enabling higher efficiency than traditional silicon-based options. In addition, the metal is utilised in medical applications such as radiopharmaceutical imaging for cancer detection.
In turn, gallium is registered on the critical metals list in Australia, the US, the European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the UK.
Late last year, the price of gallium jumped to its highest level since 2011 after China imposed export restrictions on this strategic metal. The Asian nation accounted for 98 per cent of the world’s gallium production in 2023, according to the US Geological Survey.