Altona Rare Earths PLC has provided a project update confirming that its upcoming JORC Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the Monte Muambe project will include both fluorspar and gallium, with completion targeted by the end of 2025.
Recent metallurgical testing has validated that the flotation process can successfully separate fluorspar from gallium, creating a two-step recovery pathway that could enhance the project’s economic viability.
As part of the current work programme:
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Drilling of hole MM111 has commenced, targeting intersections of both fluorspar and gallium.
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280 soil samples containing more than 60ppm gallium have been dispatched for fluorine assays, potentially unlocking further fluorspar resources.
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An initial 2,000-metre drilling campaign is underway, aimed at supporting the upcoming MRE and improving geological understanding of gallium mineralisation.
The inclusion of both critical and strategic minerals in the Monte Muambe resource base positions the project as a significant contributor to future supply chains.
Cédric Simonet, CEO of Altona, commented:
“I am very pleased with the progress made in understanding gallium occurrences at Monte Muambe which allowed us to pinpoint a close geological association between gallium and fluorspar, but also a pathway to separate both minerals during fluorspar recovery. The results we have obtained so far now justify reporting gallium in the upcoming JORC fluorspar MRE. This will allow Altona to quantify this commodity, and to substantially increase the value of this asset for the Company’s shareholders.”
