West Cobar Metals (ASX:WC1) confirms extensive gallium mineralisation across Salazar Project

West Cobar Metals (ASX:WC1) has completed a comprehensive review and re analysis of historical drilling and recent sampling from the Salazar Critical Minerals Project, located northeast of Esperance in Western Australia.

The work has confirmed the presence of gallium across the Newmont and OConnor rare earth deposits and within nearby prospective areas, adding to the rare earth elements, scandium, titanium dioxide and alumina already recorded at the project.

Gallium is used in the production of computer chips, semiconductors and advanced communications systems, which positions it as a strategically important mineral for global technology supply chains.

“The Salazar project contains valuable rare earth elements as well as a unique mix of high value co products, such as scandium, titanium, alumina and now gallium.”

Re analysis was undertaken because gallium was not systematically assayed in earlier drilling programs.

The updated work provides a clearer understanding of gallium distribution across the Salazar tenure and supports ongoing assessment of a multi product development pathway.

To provide further context, MarketOpen spoke with Matt Szwedzicki, Managing Director of West Cobar Metals.

What is the significance of identifying gallium across the Salazar Project?

The identification of gallium is significant as it expands the known critical minerals profile of the project.

Gallium is a key material used in computer chip and semiconductor production, telecommunications systems and a range of advanced electronic applications.

Confirming that gallium occurs throughout multiple deposits and prospects enhances the overall mineral inventory at Salazar and supports the evaluation of a development approach that brings together rare earths, scandium, titanium dioxide, alumina and gallium within a unified processing pathway.

“The recent export restrictions on gallium products imposed by China, indicate the vulnerability of western markets which could result in supply shortages that impact global production of computer chips and semiconductors, used in smartphones, computers, EVs, military applications and other electronic devices.”

How does the gallium relate to the existing Mineral Resource at Newmont and OConnor?

Gallium has been recorded within and adjacent to the reported Mineral Resources at the Newmont and OConnor deposits.

The Newmont Mineral Resource is estimated at 123 million tonnes at 1145 parts per million total rare earth oxides, including an indicated portion of 44 million tonnes at 1229 parts per million total rare earth oxides.

The OConnor deposit contains an inferred Mineral Resource of 107 million tonnes at 1216 parts per million total rare earth oxides.

The presence of gallium in these areas means the Mineral Resource models can now be reviewed to determine how gallium may be incorporated in future estimates.

What are the standout intersections or grades of gallium found so far?

At the Newmont deposit, intersections include 5 metres at 47.4 parts per million gallium from 25 metres depth and 14 metres at 40.3 parts per million gallium from 4 metres depth with higher grade sub intervals.

At the Glenmorangie prospect, reconnaissance drilling returned 12 metres at 56 parts per million gallium from 3 metres depth, including 3 metres at 108 parts per million gallium from 6 metres.

These intersections demonstrate the presence of gallium in near surface settings and across multiple areas within the project.

What metallurgical testwork has been done and what did it show about gallium recovery?

Previous metallurgical testwork undertaken by Nagrom on saprolite material from the Newmont deposit assessed the leaching and precipitation of rare earth elements, gallium, scandium and alumina.

The results showed that gallium can be extracted using hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid leaching, with extraction rates improving with longer leach times.

The testwork also indicated that gallium and associated minerals are concentrated in the finer fraction of the material, which is an important consideration for processing design.

“Historical metallurgical testwork undertaken by Nagrom shows that the Salazar clays are amenable to leaching with the recovery of REEs, Sc and Ga concentrates.”

What are the next steps following this re analysis?

The company will now review the Mineral Resource estimates to consider how gallium can be included in future reporting.

Metallurgical evaluation will continue to refine a combined co product development approach, and geological work will proceed across the broader tenure to further define the distribution and continuity of gallium and related critical minerals.

“We are now reviewing our Mineral Resource estimates in light of a potential gallium co product.”

Forward focus

West Cobar Minerals ongoing work will integrate the gallium dataset into current geological, metallurgical and resource assessment programs, while exploration efforts across the Newmont, OConnor, Glenmorangie and Talisker areas will continue to evaluate the extent of gallium across the project.

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