Wuudagu E and F Drilling Reveals Up to 51% Alumina in New Bauxite Zones
VBX Limited reports promising exploration drilling results from its Wuudagu E and F bauxite plateaus, revealing thicker deposits with higher alumina and lower silica content than previously recorded. These findings could significantly expand the company’s resource base in northern Western Australia.
- First-ever drilling at Wuudagu E and F plateaus reveals superior bauxite quality
- Higher alumina (Al2O3) and lower silica (SiO2) than existing Wuudagu deposits
- Results lie outside current 95.9Mt resource estimate, indicating potential growth
- Bauxite mineralisation starts at surface, favouring operational efficiency
- Updated and initial resource estimates for Wuudagu deposits expected soon
Exploration Breakthrough at Wuudagu E and F
VBX Limited (ASX, VBX) has announced a significant milestone in its development of the Wuudagu bauxite project in northern Western Australia. The company’s recent exploration drilling program at the previously untested Wuudagu E and F plateaus has yielded encouraging results, revealing thicker bauxite layers with notably higher alumina (Al2O3) and lower silica (SiO2) content than those recorded in earlier drilling campaigns at other Wuudagu deposits.
The drilling comprised 28 holes on the Wuudagu E plateau and 68 holes on the Wuudagu F plateau, each spaced approximately 150 metres apart. Assay results show consistent bauxite mineralisation commencing from surface, a feature that is operationally advantageous as it reduces overburden removal and associated costs.
Quality and Quantity, A Step Up
Key assay highlights include intervals such as 5 metres at 47.5% Al2O3 and 6.7% SiO2 from surface at Wuudagu E, and 6 metres at 51.0% Al2O3 and 7.1% SiO2 at Wuudagu F. These grades surpass the existing Wuudagu Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 95.9 million tonnes at 39.4% Al2O3 and 13.4% SiO2, suggesting the potential for a material increase in both resource size and quality.
VBX’s Managing Director, Ryan de Franck, described 2025 as a transformational year for the company, with the new drilling results reinforcing the project's strong growth trajectory. He emphasised the strategic importance of these findings, noting that the bauxite profile at Wuudagu E and F is the thickest and highest grade the company has encountered to date.
Implications for Project Development
The near-surface nature of the bauxite deposits at Wuudagu E and F is particularly favourable from a mining and cost perspective. The company also highlighted that beneficiation; standard industry processing techniques; can further enhance product quality beyond the in-situ assay grades reported.
With over 6,000 metres of exploration and infill drilling completed in the second half of 2025, VBX is poised to update resource estimates for the Wuudagu B, C, CN, and CNN deposits imminently. Initial resource estimates for the Wuudagu D, E, and F plateaus are expected shortly thereafter, potentially reshaping the project's resource base and underpinning future development plans.
Strategic Context and Next Steps
VBX operates on Wunambal Gaambera country near Kalumburu, with exploration licences fully owned by the company and no known impediments to mining. The global aluminium market is experiencing rising demand driven by decarbonisation and technological innovation, making high-quality, low-silica Australian bauxite increasingly valuable.
Investors and industry watchers will be keenly awaiting the forthcoming updated resource estimates and further metallurgical test results to better understand the full potential of these new discoveries. VBX’s commitment to responsible mining and strong community relationships also positions it well for sustainable project advancement.
Bottom Line?
As VBX prepares to release updated resource estimates, the new drilling results at Wuudagu E and F could mark a pivotal expansion phase for the company’s flagship bauxite project.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the updated resource estimates impact VBX’s project valuation and development timeline?
- What beneficiation improvements can be expected to enhance the bauxite product quality further?
- How will regulatory approvals and community engagement progress alongside resource expansion?
