Rubidium Assays Hit 2.84% Rb2O, Expanding Mt Edon Exploration Footprint

Expanding the Rubidium Frontier at Mt Edon

Morella Corporation Limited (ASX – 1MC) has announced a significant expansion of its rubidium exploration targets at the Mt Edon Project in Western Australia. Following a thorough review of both recent and historic rock chip sampling data, the company has identified multiple new rubidium-bearing pegmatite zones beyond the previously known Sophie, Miles, and June pegmatites.

The rock chip assays underpinning this discovery are compelling, with rubidium oxide (Rb2O) values reaching as high as 2.84%. Notably, over half of the 241 samples collected since 2016 returned Rb2O grades exceeding 0.1%, and many surpassed the 1.0% threshold, signalling a broad and consistent distribution of rubidium mineralisation across the project area.

Strategic Importance of Rubidium

Rubidium is a rare alkali metal typically found in lithium-caesium-tantalum pegmatites and is increasingly recognised as a critical mineral due to its limited global supply and strategic applications. It plays a vital role in specialty glass manufacturing, advanced electronics, atomic clocks, and emerging technologies such as next-generation energy storage and defence sensors.

Morella’s discovery at Mt Edon complements its existing lithium portfolio, positioning the company to capitalise on the growing demand for critical minerals essential to clean energy and high-tech industries. The high-grade, microcline-hosted rubidium mineralisation offers potential for Morella to participate in this niche market through its joint venture with Elevra.

Next Steps in Exploration

Building on recent drilling successes, Morella plans to advance exploration with additional surface sampling and detailed geological mapping to refine the understanding of these newly identified targets. The company intends to design and execute a drilling program aimed at testing the expanded rubidium mineralisation zones outside the established pegmatite areas.

Managing Director James Brown emphasised the value of integrating historic data with recent results, stating that this approach has materially expanded the project’s exploration footprint and reinforced Mt Edon’s strategic significance. The company is committed to a disciplined exploration strategy to unlock the full potential of its rubidium assets.

Broader Market Context

Global rubidium supply remains scarce and concentrated in a few jurisdictions, with production largely as a by-product of other mineral operations. This scarcity, combined with increasing demand in high-tech and energy sectors, underscores the critical nature of Morella’s Mt Edon discoveries. The company’s progress will be closely watched by investors seeking exposure to emerging critical minerals with strong growth prospects.