Wildcat’s Tabba Tabba Project Could See Reduced Waste and Lower Costs After Metallurgical Advances

Advancing Tabba Tabba’s Potential

Wildcat Resources Limited (ASX – WC8) has taken a significant step forward in developing its 100%-owned Tabba Tabba Project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The company announced the completion of Stage 1 metallurgical testwork on two key resources – the Chewy lithium deposit and the Tabba Tabba tantalum deposit. These results promise to unlock new economic value by converting material previously classified as waste into ore, a development that could reshape the project’s financial outlook.

Located near Port Hedland, the Tabba Tabba Project is strategically positioned close to some of the world’s largest hard-rock lithium mines. Wildcat’s recent metallurgical advances build on the Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) completed earlier in 2025, which had identified the need for further processing methodology work on resources outside the Leia and Luke orebodies.

Chewy Resource – From Waste to Worth

The Chewy lithium resource, situated in the hanging wall of the Leia orebody, has shown promising metallurgical characteristics. Testwork revealed that the Chewy deposit contains both spodumene and petalite minerals. Using a two-stage Dense Media Separation (DMS) process, Wildcat successfully produced a spodumene concentrate exceeding 5.5% lithium oxide with approximately 62% recovery, alongside a premium petalite concentrate with over 4.2% lithium oxide and about 53% recovery.

This breakthrough means that material once considered waste in the PFS could now be economically processed, reducing the strip ratio and lowering overall mining costs. Furthermore, blending tests combining Chewy spodumene with Leia feed material demonstrated excellent flotation recoveries, suggesting operational compatibility and potential for streamlined processing.

Tabba Tabba Tantalum – Unlocking Additional Value

Parallel testwork on the Tabba Tabba tantalum resource confirmed that simple gravity processing can yield tantalum oxide concentrates with grades exceeding 5.0% Ta₂O₅ and recoveries between 60% and 65%. Notably, these concentrates also contain valuable by-products such as niobium and tin, which could provide additional revenue streams.

The tantalum deposit, like Chewy, was previously classified as waste in the PFS open pit design. The identification of a standalone processing flowsheet for tantalum, based on gravity recovery principles, opens the door to incorporating this resource into the project’s economic model.

Fully Funded and Focused on DFS Completion

Wildcat enters the next phase with a strong financial position, holding $51.2 million in cash as of 30 September 2025. This funding supports the completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) and progression toward a financial investment decision. The company plans further metallurgical variability testing, process engineering, and financial modelling for the Chewy, Tabba Tabba, Han, and Hutt resources to refine the project’s development pathway.

Project Director James Dornan highlighted the significance of these developments, noting that the new processing pathways are expected to enhance early mine life economics and reduce waste stripping requirements.

Looking Ahead

While the metallurgical flowsheets and processing methodologies remain preliminary and subject to optimization, Wildcat’s advances mark a pivotal moment for the Tabba Tabba Project. The ability to convert previously discarded material into valuable concentrates could materially improve project viability and investor confidence.

As Wildcat moves toward completing its DFS, market watchers will be keen to see how these metallurgical breakthroughs translate into updated economic models and whether the company can maintain its momentum toward production.