WA1 Resources has announced a significant update to its Luni niobium deposit, increasing total tonnage by 10% and adding a substantial Indicated resource component, reinforcing its status as a world-class discovery.
- 10% increase in total Mineral Resource Estimate to 220 Mt at 1.0% Nb2O5
- Indicated resource component of 73 Mt at 1.38% Nb2O5, including 31 Mt at 2.31% Nb2O5 high-grade subset
- Resource upgrade driven by focused drilling in two key high-grade zones
- Resource constrained to shallow weathered mineralisation, open at depth
- Metallurgical testwork confirms niobium amenability to beneficiation and ferroniobium production
Resource Upgrade Highlights
WA1 Resources Ltd (ASX, WA1) has delivered an important update to the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for its 100%-owned Luni niobium deposit, located within the West Arunta Project in Western Australia. Effective 30 June 2025, the updated MRE shows a 10% increase in total tonnage to 220 million tonnes at 1.0% niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5), with a notable Indicated resource component of 73 million tonnes at 1.38% Nb2O5. This includes a high-grade subset of 31 million tonnes at 2.31% Nb2O5, underscoring the deposit’s exceptional quality.
Focused Drilling Drives Confidence
The upgrade reflects the results of a strategic drilling campaign in 2024 that concentrated on two key high-grade zones within the deposit’s eastern and western sectors. This drilling not only increased the overall tonnage but also improved grade and resource confidence, with 46% of the contained niobium now classified as Indicated. These zones, starting from about 30 meters below surface and extending to depths of up to 180 meters, remain open at depth, suggesting further upside potential.
Geological and Metallurgical Insights
The Luni deposit is hosted within a complex carbonatite intrusive system, enriched in niobium and rare earth elements. The mineralisation is largely confined to weathered zones, which have been extensively drilled and modelled. Metallurgical testwork has confirmed that the niobium mineralisation is amenable to beneficiation through flotation, producing a concentrate suitable for conversion to ferroniobium, the primary commercial product used to enhance steel properties and emerging battery technologies.
Development and Environmental Considerations
WA1 anticipates conventional open-pit mining methods, with a significant portion of the material being free-dig. The remote location will require a fly-in fly-out workforce and off-grid power solutions. Environmental and heritage studies are well advanced, with no identified constraints that would impede development. The company maintains strong engagement with native title holders, ensuring ongoing collaboration and compliance.
Looking Ahead
Ongoing drilling is planned to further increase resource confidence and define additional high-grade mineralisation. WA1 aims to update the MRE in 2026, incorporating new data and advancing studies that will underpin future development decisions. The Luni deposit’s scale, grade, and metallurgical amenability position it as a compelling asset in the critical minerals sector, particularly given niobium’s role in low-carbon technologies.
Bottom Line?
WA1’s Luni resource upgrade sets the stage for advancing a globally significant niobium project with promising economic potential.
Questions in the middle?
- How will ongoing drilling impact the classification of resources from Inferred to Measured?
- What are the next steps in metallurgical optimisation to improve recovery rates?
- How might infrastructure and energy solutions be developed to support remote mining operations?