【Mineral News】Critical Metals and Bayan Mining Discover Gallium Resources

Critical Metals Discovers Gallium Element in Tanbreez REE Project

Tanbreez project site in Greenland. Image from Tanbreez investor presentation.

      Critical Metals Corp (Nasdaq: CRML) says drilling at its Tanbreez project in southern Greenland has led to the discovery of one of the world’s highest concentrations of gallium, further demonstrating the value of what is already a world-class rare earth asset.

      By total resource count, Tanbreez is currently ranked the largest rare earth deposit in the world at 28.2 million tonnes of total rare earth oxides (TREO), contained within 4.7 billion tonnes of material. This resource is expected to contain over 27% heavy rare earth elements (HREE), which carry higher value than light rare earth elements.

      The gallium discovery follows initial analysis of the recently completed drilling at Tanbreez, leading to the identification of four high-grade zones (Unit Zero, Base of the Kakortokite, EALS and Area G). These zones, Critical Metals says, are expected to play a significant role in optimizing its mining operations and increasing throughput. Tanbreez is currently licensed for 500,000 tonnes of material per year.

      Of the four zones, the company highlighted assay results from the EALS zone, which contains a large number of pegmatites with grades exceeding 5% ZrO₂ (zirconium dioxide) and more than 2% REO (rare earth oxides). Notably, the percentage of HREEs within the rare earth fraction ranged up to 40.8%.

      Also of importance is the high concentration of gallium discovered at Area G, with values reaching up to 147 parts per million (ppm) Ga₂O₃ (gallium oxide). This zone spans over 1 km² and contains extensive late-stage pegmatites.

      Currently, approximately 98% of the world’s gallium production is sourced from China, where it is primarily a byproduct of bauxite mining. However, the Chinese government last year imposed export licensing controls on the metal, which would significantly impact the global supply moving forward.

      Certain South American bauxite deposits can contain up to 80 ppm of Ga₂O₃, Critical Metals noted. It added that the growing gallium market, which is expanding at an annual rate of approximately 20%, presents a valuable opportunity for the company.

Bayan Mining Company Reports the Tango Project in Canada is Expected to Discover Gallium and Lithium Elements

      Freshly rebranded Bayan Mining and Minerals has identified high-value gallium potential in assay results from a rock chip and soil sampling program at its Tango lithium and Barbara projects in Canada.

      The company has ushered in that change of name with recent field work providing significant evaluations, showing elevated values of both gallium and lithium to further highlight the promising potential of these projects.

Canadian portfolio

      “These outstanding gallium and lithium assay results from our Tango project underscore the potential of our Canadian portfolio to contribute to the global demand for critical minerals,” executive director Fadi Diab said.

      Mr Diab said the new assay results highlighted elevated levels of gallium and lithium oxide in several samples, including gallium oxide grades ranging up to 72.32 grams per tonne, with several samples showing concentrations above 50g/t.

      Lithium oxide grades were also significant, with the highest value recorded at 6.85% and multiple samples exceeding 3%.

Gallium importance

      Due to its unique properties, gallium is considered indispensable in modern technology, particularly in the production of semiconductors and optoelectronic devices.

      Gallium-based compounds are essential for cutting-edge technologies including advanced communications, power amplifiers and next-generation solar panels.

      The US and Canada rely on gallium for critical industries including defence, telecommunications and renewable energy and its applications in semiconductors and advanced circuitry are vital for technologies such as generative artificial intelligence, radar systems and photovoltaics.

      As gallium-based chips begin to outperform those using silicon, securing a stable supply of the element is essential for maintaining technological leadership and innovation.