Gallium Grades Soar to 82g/t at Tusker’s Tundulu Project in Malawi

• High-grade gallium results up to 82g/t Ga2O3 at Tundulu
• Gallium mineralisation confirmed across entire Nathace Hill
• Strong multi-commodity credits including rare earth elements, phosphate, and niobium
• Machinga project shows gallium alongside heavy rare earths and niobium
• Only 40% of Tundulu project has been drill tested, highlighting exploration potential

Expanding the Gallium Footprint

Tusker Minerals Ltd (ASX, TSK) has announced compelling new surface sampling results from its Tundulu and Machinga projects in Malawi, which materially extend the footprint of high-grade gallium mineralisation. The latest assays reveal gallium grades reaching as high as 82 grams per tonne of Ga2O3 at Tundulu’s Nathace Hill, alongside significant concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs), phosphate, and niobium. This multi-commodity profile underscores the potential of these projects as large, strategically important critical mineral systems.

Tundulu, A Multi-Commodity System with Scale Potential

Located in southern Malawi, the Tundulu project is an alkaline intrusive complex that has historically been known for its rare earth and phosphate mineralisation. However, the recent systematic surface sampling program, covering approximately 60% of the project area previously untested by drilling, has revealed that high-grade gallium mineralisation is widespread across Nathace Hill. This discovery significantly expands the known mineralised zones beyond historical drilling footprints, which to date have only tested about 40% of the project. The strong spatial association of gallium with REEs, phosphate, and niobium suggests a robust and extensive multi-commodity system that could underpin future resource growth.

Machinga Project, Adding Gallium to Heavy Rare Earths and Niobium

At the Machinga project, known for its heavy rare earth elements and niobium mineralisation, surface sampling has confirmed the presence of high-grade gallium for the first time. Gallium grades up to 75.28g/t Ga2O3 were recorded, alongside encouraging REE and niobium values. Notably, these results were obtained across a large 2.7-kilometre radiometric anomaly, which had not been previously drill tested. The addition of gallium enhances the strategic optionality of Machinga, positioning it as a multi-commodity critical minerals asset with diversified value drivers.

Strategic Implications and Next Steps

Tusker’s CEO, Cliff Fitzhenry, highlighted the significance of these findings, emphasizing that the expanded gallium mineralisation materially increases the scale potential of the Tundulu system and adds a valuable new dimension to Machinga. The company views these results as a de-risking milestone that lays a strong foundation for the next phase of targeted drilling. With only a fraction of the Tundulu project drill tested and the Machinga radiometric anomaly newly identified, there is considerable scope for resource definition and growth.

While these surface sampling results are promising, it is important to note that no recent drilling data or resource estimates have been reported yet. Future work will need to focus on confirming subsurface continuity, metallurgical characteristics, and economic viability. Nonetheless, Tusker’s expanding critical minerals footprint in Malawi aligns well with growing global demand for gallium and rare earths, both essential for advanced technologies and clean energy applications.

Bottom Line?

Tusker Minerals’ expanded gallium discoveries set the stage for a pivotal drilling campaign that could reshape its critical minerals profile.

Questions in the middle?

• How will upcoming drilling programs confirm the continuity and scale of gallium mineralisation?
• What metallurgical challenges and opportunities might arise from the multi-commodity nature of these deposits?
• How will evolving global demand for gallium and rare earths impact Tusker’s project economics and development timeline?