Sunrise Energy Metals has reported promising assay results from its latest drilling campaign at the Syerston Scandium Project, revealing multiple new zones of high-grade scandium mineralisation. These findings come as global scandium supply tightens following recent Chinese export restrictions.
- 125-hole reverse circulation drilling campaign completed
- Multiple new continuous high-grade scandium zones identified
- Significant intersections include up to 1123ppm Sc over 3 meters
- Results to update Mineral Resource Estimate and Feasibility Study
- Scandium market tightens due to Chinese export restrictions
Exploration Campaign and Results
Sunrise Energy Metals Limited has announced the results from a substantial reverse circulation drilling campaign at its Syerston Scandium Project in New South Wales. Conducted over April and May 2025, the campaign comprised 125 drill holes totaling 3,589 meters, aiming to extend known zones of high-grade scandium mineralisation.
Assays received so far from 49 drill holes reveal multiple new areas of continuous, high-grade scandium, with standout intersections such as 7 meters at 884ppm scandium, including a 3-meter section grading 1123ppm. These results confirm and expand upon earlier drilling and historic sample re-assays, underscoring the project's potential as one of the world's largest and richest scandium resources.
Strategic Importance Amid Market Dynamics
Sunrise’s Managing Director, Sam Riggall, highlighted the significance of these findings for the project's feasibility study and mine planning. The zones remain open in multiple directions, suggesting further upside potential. This comes at a critical time as the scandium market experiences heightened tightness following China's export restrictions imposed in April 2025, which have constrained global supply.
Sunrise is actively engaging with potential customers in advanced alloy and semiconductor sectors, industries where scandium's unique properties are increasingly valued. The company’s strategy focuses on rapid, low-cost development supported by a robust resource base, positioning Syerston to meet growing demand.
Next Steps and Resource Update
The company anticipates incorporating the full suite of assay results, including pending assays from remaining drill holes, into an updated Mineral Resource Estimate. This update is expected to convert some inferred resources into higher confidence categories, strengthening the project's economic foundation. The revised resource will underpin the ongoing update to the Syerston Scandium Project Feasibility Study, advancing Sunrise’s goal of delivering the world’s first mineable high-grade scandium source.
While the drilling campaign has delineated clear boundaries of mineralisation; such as confirming the northwest limit of the lateritic profile; further exploration and assay results will refine the resource footprint. The company’s methodical approach to sampling and assay quality control, including the use of advanced X-ray fluorescence techniques, adds confidence to the reported grades.
Broader Implications
Sunrise’s progress at Syerston is a noteworthy development in the scandium sector, a niche but strategically important market. With supply constraints and increasing demand from high-tech industries, projects like Syerston could play a pivotal role in shaping the future supply landscape. Investors and industry watchers will be keen to see how the updated resource and feasibility outcomes translate into commercial viability and production timelines.
Bottom Line?
Sunrise’s expanding high-grade scandium zones at Syerston position it well to capitalize on tightening global supply and growing demand.
Questions in the middle?
- How will pending assay results influence the updated Mineral Resource Estimate?
- What timeline does Sunrise envision for advancing from feasibility to production?
- How might ongoing Chinese export policies impact global scandium pricing and Sunrise’s market strategy?