Nimy Resources Hits 84% Gallium Extraction at Block 3 as Western Demand Surges
Key Takeaways
- Metallurgical testwork on Block 3's chlorite material returned 84% gallium extraction and 80–95% REE extraction, confirming the baseline flowsheet as a technically viable processing route.
- The validated flowsheet is now Nimy's proprietary IP, developed through a collaboration with Strategic Metallurgy and Curtin University — a tangible competitive asset as the scoping study advances.
- Block 3's JORC Inferred Resource stands at 7.23Mt at 102g/t Ga₂O₃ at a 70g/t cut-off, with the resource base expanding to 64.3Mt at 42g/t Ga₂O₃ at a 20g/t cut-off — and the deposit remains open at depth and along strike across just 0.4km² of a ~30km² target area.
- China controls up to 98% of global primary gallium output and imposed an outright export ban on gallium to the US in December 2024; Western consumer-side buffer inventories are estimated at only ~2,700kg globally, underscoring the strategic urgency of non-Chinese supply.
- The Block 3 Scoping Study is now underway, with off-take partner engagement, additional flowsheet optimisation, and soil sampling for new high-grade targets all on the near-term roadmap.
Nimy testwork returns 84% gallium extraction, strengthening Block 3 critical minerals case
Nimy Resources has reported metallurgical testwork results on the Block 3 gallium–REE mineralisation at the Mons Project in Western Australia, delivering gallium extraction of 84% and REE extraction of 80–95%. The results provide a sound technical basis for process development and feed directly into the Block 3 Scoping Study now underway. Critically, the testwork validates the flowsheet Nimy developed specifically for Block 3 — now the company’s proprietary IP. The announcement lands as Western demand for non-Chinese gallium and rare earths surges following Beijing’s December 2024 export ban to the US.
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What the metallurgical testwork delivered
The metallurgical program assessed a range of extraction methods for recovery of gallium and REEs from the less weathered chlorite material. One option demonstrated high extraction across both elements:
- Gallium extraction: 84%
- REE extraction: 80–95%
- Achieved via one extraction option on the less-weathered chlorite material
- Gallium and REEs recovered into a mixed gallium–REE intermediate product using conventional impurity-removal and product-recovery techniques
- Baseline flowsheet confirmed as a technically viable processing route
The testwork established preliminary design criteria, estimated recoveries, reagent requirements, and supports preliminary capital and operating cost estimates for the scoping study.
Luke Hampson, Managing Director
“These strong extraction results are another key milestone on the path to establishing Block 3 as a major source of much-needed gallium for western world markets.
“We already know that Block 3 has a substantial resource with scope for significant growth and it is one of the highest-grade gallium deposits in the world.
“Now our focus is on establishing the optimum processing route to maximise recoveries and economics through the Nimy, Strategic Metallurgy and Curtin University collaboration, tailored specifically to the unique minerology at Block 3.
“This proprietary IP and process knowledge is a valuable asset for Nimy as we continue to optimise the baseline flowsheet, evaluate alternative processing routes and advancing the scoping study into potential development pathways and market opportunities for the project.”
Optimisation and alternative flowsheets underway
Nimy is continuing to investigate alternative processing routes and flowsheet configurations alongside the baseline route. Multiple flowsheets are at varying levels of technical maturity. Potential upside from alternatives includes:
- Reduced operating costs
- Improved recoveries
- Simplified processing requirements
- Improved product outcomes
The MRIWA-Nimy-Curtin-Trailblazer research program has commenced, structured in three stages:
- Stage 1: Metallurgical characterisation and beneficiation
- Stage 2: Hydrometallurgical extraction and purification of gallium
- Stage 3: Gallium compound production and flowsheet optimisation
The program is expected to provide additional technical insight into the mineralogical controls on gallium and REE recovery and support selection of the most appropriate flowsheet option for future project development.
Inside Block 3 — one of the world’s highest-grade gallium deposits
Block 3 hosts Nimy’s maiden JORC Inferred Resource, reported on 13 November 2025. At a 70g/t Ga₂O₃ cut-off, the resource stands at 7.23Mt at 102g/t Ga₂O₃ for approximately 740 tonnes of contained gallium trioxide, plus 538ppm TREO by-product (3,890 tonnes contained TREO). At a lower 20g/t Ga₂O₃ cut-off, the resource base expands materially to 64.3Mt at 42g/t Ga₂O₃ for 2,700 tonnes contained Ga₂O₃ (and 32,600 tonnes TREO). The resource is constrained to the oxide and transition zones to approximately 100m depth and covers just 0.4km² of a broader ~30km² target area, remaining open at depth and along strike.
Exploration targets have been identified of up to 26Mt at 100g/t Ga₂O₃ and up to 100Mt at 810ppm TREO in deeper zones. Note: The Exploration Target quantities and grades are conceptual in nature. There has been insufficient exploration to estimate Mineral Resources and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of Mineral Resources.
| Cut-off (Ga₂O₃ g/t) | Tonnage (Mt) | Ga₂O₃ Grade (g/t) | Contained Ga₂O₃ (t) | Contained TREO (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 64.3 | 42 | 2,700 | 32,600 |
| 40 | 18.5 | 72 | 1,320 | 11,050 |
| 60 | 9.5 | 93 | 880 | 5,340 |
| 70 | 7.2 | 102 | 740 | 3,890 |
| 100 | 2.9 | 131 | 380 | 1,290 |
Why gallium matters — the critical minerals context
Gallium is irreplaceable in high-performance semiconductor applications. Gallium arsenide (GaAs) and gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors power advanced radar and electronic warfare systems, 5G and 6G networks, satellite communications, power electronics, photovoltaics, electric vehicles, and AI/data-centre power infrastructure. The US Department of War alone uses gallium across more than 11,000 individual parts.
China controls up to 98% of global primary gallium output and around 50% of high-purity refining capacity, according to industry sources cited in the announcement. In December 2024, Beijing imposed an outright export ban on gallium to the United States, driving a sharp price response. A November 2025 meeting between the US and Chinese heads of state produced a partial thaw, with exports now managed under a licensing regime through to 27 November 2026. However, the ban on military end-use exports remains firmly in place, and analysts describe the current arrangement as “a reprieve, not a resolution.” Western consumer-side buffer inventories are estimated at only around 2,700kg globally.
Demand growth is forecast to accelerate well beyond current tight supply. The GaN power semiconductor market is forecast to grow from approximately US$3.06 billion (2024) to US$12.47 billion by 2030 — near 27% annual growth — driven by defence modernisation, electric vehicles, AI and data-centre power infrastructure, and renewable energy build-out.
In response, Western governments and industry have begun moving to secure non-Chinese supply. The EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act targets 10% domestic extraction and 40% processing capacity by 2030, Rio Tinto’s Canadian facility is expected online by 2027, the US has made Defense Production Act awards toward domestic recovery routes, and the European Investment Bank is backing Greece’s first dedicated gallium plant. Yet even optimistic assessments concede meaningful non-Chinese volumes are unlikely before 2028 at the earliest — a gap that underscores the strategic value of new, high-grade, ex-China gallium discoveries such as Block 3 in Western Australia.
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What’s next for Nimy
The company has outlined the following roadmap:
- Continued metallurgical characterisation through the weathering profile
- Beneficiation studies assessing optimal methodology
- Flowsheet optimisation and completion of the Block 3 Scoping Study
- MRIWA-Nimy-Curtin-Trailblazer program to produce high-grade concentrate and gallium compound
- Soil sampling to identify additional high-grade gallium targets
- Ongoing engagement with potential industry off-take partners
The testwork results de-risk the processing pathway and feed the scoping study, positioning Nimy as a potential Western supplier of critical gallium and REEs. Economics will be established through the scoping study, which is now underway. Capital structure: 356.96 million shares on issue; 82.71 million options.
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