Australasian Metals Unlocks Tantalum at Atex with Historical Data Review
Key Takeaways
- A review of 1965–1966 SODEMI exploration data at Atex confirms near-surface tantalum (coltan) mineralisation across three zones, with peak grades reaching 14,700 g/m³ in Zone 2 — which remains incompletely tested.
- Zone 1 and Zone 2 are both interpreted to extend further southwest, meaning the historical program did not fully define the mineralised footprint at either zone.
- CoreMet metallurgical testwork achieved an upgrade ratio exceeding 120 times via shaking table, with more than 95% of columbite occurring in a highly liberated state — supporting a conventional gravity-based processing pathway.
- Tantalum will be included in multi-element assays from the upcoming maiden lithium drill program, adding a potential second value stream without requiring a separate drilling campaign.
- Tantalum concentrate traded at approximately US$80–110/lb Ta₂O₅ during 2025 and has experienced a substantial re-rating into 2026, materially improving the project's commodity backdrop as drilling approaches.
Historical review unlocks tantalum opportunity at Atex
Australasian Metals Limited (ASX: A8G) has completed a review of historical exploration data at the Atex Lithium-Tantalum Project in Côte d’Ivoire, confirming widespread near-surface tantalum (coltan) mineralisation across the Spodumene Hill area. The company currently holds an exclusive option to acquire a majority interest in Atex from Firering Strategic Minerals plc (AIM: FRG).
The review sets the stage for a maiden drilling program, with auger and diamond drill contractors being finalised. This is early-stage exploration, not a resource announcement, but the historical data provides a substantive foundation for systematic modern follow-up.
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What the historical data shows
The data originates from a systematic niobium-tantalum exploration program conducted by SODEMI under geologist H. Adam during 1965–1966. The program included geological mapping, mineralogical characterisation, and grid-based pit sampling across Spodumene Hill, Zone 1, and Zone 2.
Adam’s pitting returned columbo-tantalite concentrate grades (reported as grams of recovered concentrate per cubic metre of pit colluvial material, not in-situ Ta₂O₅ grades) across three zones:
- Spodumene Hill: 50–655 g/m³
- Zone 1: 50–4,600 g/m³ (incompletely tested; mineralisation interpreted to continue southwest)
- Zone 2: 55–14,700 g/m³ (incompletely tested; next-highest result 1,385 g/m³; mineralisation interpreted to continue southwest)
Adam estimated approximately 40 tonnes of columbo-tantalite across Spodumene Hill and adjacent zones, at grades generally ranging from approximately 155–295 g/m³. Adam considered this figure conservative. This is a historical estimate only. It is not JORC-compliant, does not constitute a Mineral Resource or Ore Reserve, and should not be relied upon as such.
| Zone | Grade Range (g/m³) | Peak Result | Test Status | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spodumene Hill | 50–655 | 655 g/m³ | Systematically tested | ~two-thirds of material in 1–4 mm size fraction |
| Zone 1 | 50–4,600 | 4,600 g/m³ | Incompletely tested | Mineralisation interpreted to continue southwest |
| Zone 2 | 55–14,700 | 14,700 g/m³ | Incompletely tested | Next-highest result 1,385 g/m³; continuation interpreted southwest |
All grades are recovered columbo-tantalite concentrate per cubic metre of pit colluvial material as reported by Adam (1966), not in-situ Ta₂O₅ grades.
What is tantalum — and why does it matter now?
Tantalum (symbol Ta) is a transition metal with atomic number 73. Its combination of hardness, electrical conductivity, and corrosion resistance makes it difficult to replace in several high-technology applications.
Primary end-uses include:
- Tantalum capacitors for electronics (automotive, mobile phones, personal computers) — accounting for approximately 50–60% of global consumption
- Alloys for gas turbines used in the aerospace and oil and gas industries
- Tantalum carbides for cutting and boring tools
- Tantalum oxide (Ta₂O₅) in camera lens glass to produce lighter, brighter optics
Tantalum holds critical mineral status due to a highly concentrated global supply base. In 2020, African production (Burundi, DRC, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Rwanda) accounted for approximately 70% of estimated global tantalum mine production. Few effective substitutes exist across its main applications, making supply disruption a genuine risk.
The market backdrop has shifted materially. Tantalum concentrate traded broadly in the range of approximately US$80–110/lb Ta₂O₅ during 2025. Prices have experienced a substantial re-rating during 2026 amid tightening global supply and growing demand. Atex’s tantalum potential is being advanced precisely as the commodity enters a stronger price environment.
Metallurgy supports conventional processing pathway
In 2022, Firering Strategic Minerals commissioned CoreMet Mineral Processing in South Africa to characterise and assess beneficiation potential using two 100 kg composite samples (Composites 1 and 2) from pits A1–A8 at Spodumene Hill.
CoreMet’s key findings were:
- Mineralogy: Columbite is the only Ta-Nb bearing mineral phase present in both composite samples
- Liberation: In both composites, more than 95% of total columbite occurs in a highly liberated state with a density of 5.3–7.3 g/cm³, readily separable from silicates
- Shaking table: An upgrade ratio exceeding 120 times was achieved with both composites, indicating strong potential for gravity-based beneficiation
- Magnetic separation: Both composites showed good response to magnetic separation
CoreMet explicitly noted that sample size was too small and results are indicative only. Further testwork is required to establish recoveries, concentrate grades, and overall processing performance.
Managing Director Qingtao Zeng
“These historical tantalum results add an important new dimension to the opportunity at Atex. The widespread occurrence of near-surface coltan, together with tantalum-bearing pegmatite samples, strengthens our view that we are exploring a significant LCT pegmatite system with potential beyond lithium alone.
“The high-grade tantalum concentrate assays reported from historical testwork are particularly encouraging. While further sampling and metallurgical work is required, they provide a strong basis to assess tantalum as a potential additional value stream as we advance our maiden lithium drilling program at Atex.”
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What comes next for Australasian Metals
Auger and diamond drill contractors are being finalised for the maiden drilling program at Atex. Tantalum will be included in multi-element assays from the maiden lithium drill program, running alongside rather than separate to the primary lithium focus.
The strategy is two-track: lithium drilling proceeds as the primary program, with dedicated tantalum bulk sampling to follow if initial results warrant it. Before any Mineral Resource assessment could be considered, verification work would be required, including modern JORC-compliant pitting, documented sampling volumes and masses, and systematic assay with appropriate quality control.
Atex is interpreted to be an LCT pegmatite system carrying both lithium and tantalum exposure. The historical data, while not JORC-compliant, provides a substantive basis for a systematic modern program. With the tantalum market strengthening into 2026, the project now carries a potential second value driver as drilling approaches.
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