Ntungamo Drilling Yields Up to 27 ppm Ga2O3 and 800 ppm Rb2O Intercepts

Exploration Breakthrough at Ntungamo

Blaze Minerals Limited (ASX, BLZ) has revealed encouraging early results from its maiden diamond drilling campaign at the Ntungamo Project in Uganda. The company targeted two LCT-type pegmatite bodies, known for hosting critical metals, completing five drill holes for a total of 1,548 meters. Assays from three of these holes have confirmed a new discovery of Gallium and Rubidium mineralisation, both vital to emerging technologies.

Gallium, primarily used in semiconductors, LEDs, and solar panels, was intercepted at notable grades, with intervals such as 9 meters at 27 ppm Ga2O3 and 800 ppm Rb2O from 258 meters depth. Rubidium, a less common but strategically important metal, showed strong concentrations, particularly within coarse-grained pegmatite units. Scandium, another critical element used in aerospace alloys, was also detected, though sampling density was limited, suggesting further work is needed to fully understand its distribution.

Geological Context and Sampling Approach

The Ntungamo Project lies within the Mesoproterozoic Kibaran Belt, featuring metasediments intruded by LCT pegmatites and granitoids enriched in critical metals. The drilling intersected various rock types, including quartz granitoid, phyllite, and coarse pegmatite, with mineralisation predominantly hosted in the coarse pegmatite. Sampling was conducted on a continuous meter-for-meter basis within this lithology, while other rock types were sampled less intensively to identify mineralisation associations.

Drillholes NT-DD-001 to NT-DD-003 focused on the southern pegmatite, returning the significant assay results reported. The northern pegmatite was targeted by holes NT-DD-004 and NT-DD-005, with assays still pending. The company notes that true widths of mineralisation are yet to be established due to the current understanding of pegmatite geometry and drillhole orientations.

Strategic Implications and Next Steps

Director Mathew Walker described the results as validating the company’s critical minerals thesis for Ntungamo, highlighting the potential for these metals in the global supply chain. With demand for Gallium and Rubidium rising due to their applications in clean energy and electronics, Blaze’s discovery could position the project as a valuable source of these strategic elements.

The company plans to review the full dataset, including pending assays, to determine the scope of the next exploration phase. This will likely involve infill drilling to better define mineralisation continuity and geometry, as well as more comprehensive sampling for Scandium. The results also add momentum to Blaze’s broader portfolio, which includes other critical mineral projects in Uganda and gold exploration in Western Australia.