High-grade gallium hits make RareX’s Cummins Range one of Australia’s most strategically relevant mineral deposits

RareX has struck high grade gallium mineralisation at its Cummins Range project, placing it as one of Australia’s most “geopolitically relevant” mineral deposits.

Special Report: RareX has reported high-grade gallium assays from its Cummins Range project, after unexpectedly discovering gallium in historic data back in April.

• REE reports up to 242g/t gallium in first 15 of 58 drill assays at Cummins Range
• Company unexpectedly discovered the mineral in historical data back in April
• Project potentially a key producer as world scrambles for non-China supply

That data confirmed values of up to 6826g/t Ga2O3, with the project now hosting rare earths, phosphate, scandium and gallium. 

Gallium is on the critical mineral list for Europe, America and Australia and, with the growth of AI chips, electronics, semi-conductors and solar panels, it is anticipated the gallium market will grow significantly from US$2.45bn in 2024 to US$21.53bn by 2034.

And now the first 15 assays from 58 RC drill holes have returned hits including:

• 99m at 106g/t gallium, 0.77% TREO and 160g/t scandium from 1m to EOH
• 74m at 123g/t gallium, 2.4% TREO and 186g/t scandium from surface, including 30m at 206g/t gallium, 4.6% TREO and 310g/t scandium
• 56m at 114g/t gallium, 1.5% TREO and 263g/t scandium from 44m, including 11m at 220 g/t gallium, 3% TREO and 639 g/t scandium; and
• 60m at 124g/t gallium, 3% TREO and 372 g/t scandium from 36m, including 12m at 242g/t gallium, 6.7% TREO and 638 g/t scandium.

RareX (ASX:REE) said these results place Cummins Range as potentially the highest grade and most advanced gallium deposit in Australia whilst remaining one of Australia’s most significant undeveloped rare earth deposits. 

Strategic market

The global gallium market is dominated by China, which controls 98% of production, an advantage stemming from its integration of gallium recovery with its massive aluminum industry, where gallium is typically extracted as a by-product.

Prices have also seen increasing volatility since China imposed export restrictions back in August 2023, which immediately disrupted global supply chains and pushed prices higher. 

By December 2024, China had escalated these measures, announcing a comprehensive ban on gallium exports to the United States, further intensifying market pressures. 

And with virtually no Western production, RareX is positioned to secure a strategic stake in the market at a time when customers are scrambling to shore up supply outside of China.

“This latest round of assays confirms what our early analysis suggested; the gallium at Cummins Range is not only real, but significant,” CEO and managing director James Durrant said.

“With consistent grades now returned from infill drilling, we can probably say Cummins Range is one of Australia’s most advanced and highest grade gallium projects. 

“What makes this particularly strategic is that the gallium sits within a broader rare earth-phosphate-scandium system, making Cummins Range one of the most geopolitically relevant critical mineral deposits in the country. 

“With Chinese supply effectively off the table, and no meaningful Western production, we’re now prioritising pathways to unlock gallium as a core value stream alongside rare earths and phosphate, including working in our strategic partnership with Gega Elements to assess novel refining technology that could enable low-cost gallium extraction.”

This article was developed in collaboration with RareX, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

Originally published as High-grade gallium hits make RareX’s Cummins Range one of Australia’s most strategically relevant mineral deposits