Key points
- Maiden Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 5.44Mt @ 0.16% Rb2O
- Shallow, near-surface mineralisation with higher cut-off sensitivities
- Laboratory-scale metallurgical testwork achieved rubidium extraction of up to 93.6%
- RPEEE assessment attributes no economic contribution to associated lithium or tantalum
- Significant potential for resource growth within a broader mineralised pegmatite system
Full summary
Morella Corporation Limited (ASX: 1MC) announces the maiden JORC 2012 Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for its Mt Edon Critical Minerals Project in Western Australia. The MRE of 5.44 Mt @ 0.16% Rb2O, containing approximately 8,300 tonnes Rb2O, establishes a substantial initial Australian rubidium inventory. The MRE covers only two areas within a much broader mineralised pegmatite system, indicating significant potential for resource growth. Mineralisation outcrops or occurs close to surface and remains open beyond the current resource footprint. Laboratory-scale metallurgical testwork has demonstrated rubidium extraction of up to 93.6% into solution, providing encouraging support for the potential amenability of the Mt Edon mineralisation to hydrometallurgical processing.