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DY6 Metals Ltd (ASX:DY6) has found evidence of high-grade gallium following a review of historical drill data at its Tundulu project in Malawi, alongside the rare earths and phosphate for which the project is known.
The data showed high-grade gallium close to the surface, and included intercepts such as 74 metres at 93.26 grams per tonne (g/t) gallium oxide (Ga2O3), 1.56% total rare earth oxides (TREO) from 72m, including 14m at 202.79g/t Ga2O3 from 89m, with the highest grade in all assays intersected within this interval at 310.46 g/t Ga2O3, 5.68% TREO from 97m to 98m.
Alongside this was the intercept 53m at 72.79g/t Ga2O3 and 1.02% TREO from surface, including 12m at 145.07g/t Ga2O3 from 25m.
Adding to excitement about the prospectivity of this region is the fact that only around 40% of it – including the target areas of Nathace and Tundulu Hills – has been drill-tested.
The gallium is also open at depth, and despite some of the higher Ga2O3 responses occurring within saprolite clays from surface to 30 metres there is also the presence of this mineralisation within fresh rock at deeper levels (from 72 to 146 metres down), with deeper gallium potential yet to be pursued through assaying.
This commodity itself has increased in demand, driven by its importance to the electronics and semiconductor industries, with much of the demand for raw gallium met by China, which is the dominant producer.
DY6 has also been progressing metallurgical test work connected to the Tundulu project, with a select bulk sample being used to determine whether its mineralisation is suitable for production of a separate rare earth and phosphate concentrate. This work – which is being undertaken by Auralia Metallurgy in Perth – will be followed by further testing, and announced in due course.
DY6 has been trading at 4.2 cents.
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