WA1 Hits 21.4m at 7.4% Niobium Locking in High-Grade Zone for Early Mining Years
WA1 hits 21.4m at 7.4% Nb₂O₅ as Luni infill drilling locks in high-grade early-mining zone
WA1 Resources (ASX: WA1) has reported exceptionally high-grade niobium intercepts from its 100%-owned Luni Niobium Project in Western Australia, with results including 21.4m at 7.4% Nb₂O₅ from 91.3m depth in drillhole LUDD-0162. The S&P/ASX 300 company’s latest assays span 18 diamond drillholes targeting resource definition in the eastern zone of the deposit, where mineralisation coincides with recent beneficiation testwork that returned excellent metallurgical outcomes. These results are set to inform a planned Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) update later this year, with the project’s Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) remaining on track for release in Q4 CY2026.
The drilling program forms part of 90,000m of total drilling completed at Luni since discovery, with the current phase focused on infilling the eastern Indicated Resource zone to a 50m x 50m staggered grid pattern. The company’s strategy targets conversion of a substantial portion of this high-grade zone to the Measured Resource confidence category — the highest classification under the JORC Code — to underpin early-year mining economics in future definitive studies.
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Standout niobium intercepts from the eastern focus zone
Assay results from the 18-hole program confirm continuity of high-grade niobium mineralisation and provide additional definition of deposit geometry, thickness and grade distribution within the focus area for potential early-stage mining operations.
| Hole ID | From (m) | Interval (m) | Nb₂O₅ (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| LUDD-0162 | 91.3 | 21.4 | 7.4 |
| LUDD-0166 | 40.3 | 10.2 | 6.1 |
| LUDD-0155 | 44.7 | 7.3 | 2.9 |
| LUDD-0155 | 56.0 | 13.0 | 3.2 |
| LUDD-0208 | 34.6 | 20.1 | 3.8 |
| LUDD-0171 | 72.0 | 38.0 | 3.8 |
| LUDD-0164 | 45.0 | 25.4 | 3.3 |
| LUDD-0169 | 54.3 | 24.2 | 3.1 |
| LUDD-0160 | 33.3 | 26.8 | 2.5 |
Key highlights demonstrating scale alongside grade include:
- 38.0m at 3.8% Nb₂O₅ (LUDD-0171) — the widest high-grade intercept in the program
- 25.4m at 3.3% Nb₂O₅ (LUDD-0164) — thick, consistent mineralisation in the core of the eastern zone
- 26.8m at 2.5% Nb₂O₅ (LUDD-0160) — wide intersection supporting continuity interpretation
Why niobium matters — and what these grades mean
Niobium (reported as Nb₂O₅, or niobium pentoxide) is a critical metal primarily used to strengthen steel alloys, with small additions — typically less than 0.1% — significantly enhancing structural performance in pipelines, construction steel and automotive applications. The metal is also gaining strategic importance in high-temperature superconductors and advanced battery technologies, with global supply highly concentrated in Brazil, which accounts for approximately 90% of world production. High-grade niobium deposits in Western jurisdictions carry strategic supply-chain value.
Grades of 7.4% and 6.1% Nb₂O₅ reported from the latest Luni drilling are considered exceptionally high for niobium deposits globally, where typical ore grades supporting commercial operations range from 1.5% to 3% Nb₂O₅. Higher grades over meaningful widths typically support stronger project economics by reducing the volume of material requiring processing per unit of contained metal and lowering operating costs per tonne of niobium produced.
Building the Measured Resource for early mining years
The infill drilling program targets conversion of Indicated Resources to Measured Resources within the eastern zone — the highest confidence category under the JORC Code’s three-tier classification hierarchy: Inferred (lowest), Indicated (moderate), and Measured (highest). Measured Resources carry the highest level of confidence in tonnage and grade estimates, reducing technical risk for the early years of any potential mining operation.
Drilling on a 50m x 50m staggered grid — infilling to 25m x 50m spacing — is designed to meet JORC confidence requirements for Measured classification. The eastern zone targeted by this program coincides with the area where recent beneficiation testwork returned excellent metallurgical outcomes, strengthening the technical case for this zone as the foundation for initial production scenarios. The existing MRE (ASX announcement 14 May 2026) underpins current study workstreams, with these latest results expected to support a substantial upgrade when the updated MRE is released later in CY2026.
Drilling to date has primarily focused on oxide mineralisation in the weathered carbonatite, which is sub-horizontal in orientation. Primary (unweathered) mineralisation at depth remains largely untested and is considered to hold significant upside, with future drilling programs planned to evaluate this deeper potential.
Paul Savich, Managing Director
“This year, resource definition drilling has concentrated on the eastern focus area, with the primary objective of working towards an initial Measured Resource. This work is targeted to provide the highest level of geological confidence in the mineralisation expected to underpin the early years of any potential mining operation.”
Airstrip commissioned to unlock site logistics
WA1 has commissioned the Luni airstrip with regular direct flights to site now operational, improving logistics and personnel mobilisation for ongoing exploration and pre-development activities. The airstrip represents key enabling infrastructure expected to improve safety and efficiency of personnel mobilisation for ongoing exploration and pre-development activities in the remote Western Australian location. Construction activities associated with the airstrip included work experience programs for Traditional Owners, with insights from these programs intended to support the development and delivery of future collaborative initiatives.
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What’s next: PFS and MRE milestones ahead
- MRE update — planned for later in CY2026, informed by current eastern-zone infill drilling targeting Measured Resource conversion.
- Pre-Feasibility Study — on track for release in Q4 CY2026; field data collection supporting the PFS is now complete.
- Ongoing workstreams — permitting, approvals, metallurgical testwork and development studies advancing across multiple disciplines.
- Future drilling — planned programs to test deeper primary mineralisation upside beneath the current oxide focus zone.
WA1’s systematic progression through resource definition, metallurgical optimisation and feasibility-level studies positions Luni as a potential Tier-1 niobium asset advancing toward development readiness. The combination of exceptionally high-grade intercepts, thick mineralised zones, and strategic infrastructure commissioning supports the project’s pathway through definitive study phases toward a potential development decision.
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