New Drilling Reveals 60m Thick Ti-V-Ga Reefs Extending 800m at Southwest Prospect

A Breakthrough Discovery in Western Australia

Terra Metals Limited (ASX, TM1) has announced a significant new mineral discovery at its Southwest Prospect, part of the larger Dante Project in Western Australia’s West Musgrave region. The company’s latest drilling results reveal a thick, laterally extensive titanium-vanadium-gallium (Ti-V-Ga) system at the SW3 and SW4 targets, with reef packages reaching up to 60 metres thick, a remarkable scale that dwarfs the basal reef underpinning the current 148 million tonne Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE).

This discovery not only expands the footprint of the Dante Project but also introduces gallium, a critical metal with strategic importance, as a consistent by-product alongside titanium and vanadium. The mineralised system now stretches over 800 metres in strike and more than 400 metres in width from surface, highlighting the potential for a large, near-surface deposit.

A Vertically Stacked Polymetallic System

What sets the Southwest Prospect apart is its complex, vertically stacked magmatic system. Alongside the thick oxide reefs rich in Ti-V-Ga, Terra Metals has identified high-grade platinum group metals (PGM), copper, nickel, and cobalt sulfide mineralisation in feeder-style zones above and below the reefs. This polymetallic architecture suggests multiple mineralisation styles operating within the same geological corridor, driven by repeated injections of mantle-derived magma.

The presence of scandium-rich wall rocks and consistent copper-nickel-PGM sulfide enrichment further enhances the prospect’s value proposition. The integration of oxide and sulfide mineralisation within a single intrusive corridor is reminiscent of some of the world’s most significant layered mafic-ultramafic complexes, such as South Africa’s Bushveld Complex.

Critical Metals and Strategic Implications

Gallium’s enrichment, typically between 40 and 55 parts per million of Ga₂O₃, is particularly noteworthy. Recognised as a critical mineral by Australia, the US, and the EU, gallium’s global supply is currently dominated by China, making alternative sources strategically valuable. Terra Metals’ discovery could position the Dante Project as a future supplier of this critical metal, alongside its established titanium and vanadium resources.

Moreover, the spatial correlation of gallium with magnetite suggests processing advantages, as magnetic separation could concentrate gallium alongside titanium and vanadium oxides. Ongoing metallurgical testwork aims to quantify recovery potential and explore the feasibility of producing copper-nickel-PGM sulfide concentrates as by-products.

Next Steps and Market Outlook

Terra Metals plans to continue drilling to refine the geometry and extent of both oxide and sulfide mineralisation. A maiden Mineral Resource Estimate for the SW3-SW4 system is anticipated in 2026, following completion of preliminary metallurgical studies. The company is also undertaking detailed structural analysis and petrographic work to better understand the deposit’s formation and optimise future resource modelling.

With the Southwest Prospect now emerging as a major polymetallic discovery featuring multiple value streams, Terra Metals is well positioned to enhance the Dante Project’s standing in the critical metals and polymetallic sectors. Investors and industry watchers will be keenly awaiting the upcoming resource estimate and further assay results, which could reshape the project’s valuation and strategic importance.