Western Yilgarn identifies shallow gallium upside at Cardea 1 project

Stock image for referential purposes only

Western Yilgarn said re-assaying work at its Cardea 1 project in Western Australia’s Darling Range has confirmed shallow gallium mineralisation across multiple target zones.

The company believes the results strengthen the project’s potential as both a bauxite and critical minerals asset while also supporting future resource definition and expansion drilling.

According to the company, re-assays from 161 vacuum drill holes identified several zones of shallow gallium mineralisation from surface down to depths of around 7 metres.

Peak gallium oxide values reportedly exceeded 140 parts per million, while some of the stronger shallow drilling intersections returned grades above 80 to 100 ppm over thicknesses of around two to four metres.

Western Yilgarn said the mineralisation appears laterally extensive, with continuity between adjacent drill holes suggesting the gallium enrichment is part of a broader mineralised trend rather than isolated pockets.

Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report – Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook

The company added that many drill holes outside the highlighted zones also returned anomalous gallium values, pointing to additional exploration upside across the project area.

Non-executive director Pedro Kastellorizos said the latest results support the view that Cardea 1 hosts a large-scale and shallow gallium system with continuity across several target areas.

The mineralisation is mainly hosted within shallow lateritic and bauxitic units near the surface, which the company believes could support lower-cost extraction and processing if developed further.

Western Yilgarn also noted that the project sits within an established bauxite province, creating potential for future gallium recovery alongside alumina-related development.

Gallium has become increasingly important because of its use in semiconductors, power electronics, EV systems, AI data centres and advanced defence technologies.

The company pointed out that China currently dominates global gallium supply, accounting for more than 95 per cent of raw production, which has increased strategic interest in alternative sources outside China.

Management said the latest drilling results provide a foundation for future metallurgical studies and systematic resource evaluation at Cardea 1.

Explore our e-magazine ALuminium LeaderSpeak 2026 for the latest industry insights and trends.