Kingsland Achieves Up to 94% Gallium Recovery in Leliyn Graphite Metallurgical Tests
Kingsland Minerals has announced breakthrough metallurgical test results from its Leliyn Graphite Project, revealing gallium recoveries up to 94%. The critical metal’s extraction potential could enhance project economics, with plans to establish a maiden gallium JORC Resource in 2026.
- Gallium recoveries of up to 94% achieved from Leliyn graphitic schist
- Gallium identified as a valuable by-product to improve project economics
- Maiden gallium JORC Resource targeted for later in 2026
- Strong global gallium demand amid China’s export restrictions
- Further testwork underway using recent drilling samples to optimise extraction
Breakthrough Metallurgical Testwork Highlights Gallium Potential
Kingsland Minerals Ltd (ASX:KNG) has reported significant metallurgical test results from its Leliyn Graphite Project in the Northern Territory, demonstrating gallium recoveries of up to 94% from alkaline bake and leach processes applied to graphitic schist samples. This breakthrough suggests gallium could be a valuable by-product alongside graphite, potentially enhancing the project’s economic profile.
The testwork involved roasting a 50g composite sample from diamond drill core with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at 375°C, followed by sequential water and hydrochloric acid leaches at 90°C. The cumulative gallium extraction reached 44.7% after stage one, 77.9% after stage two, and 94.4% after stage three, indicating high leachability of gallium from the mineralisation.
Gallium Mineralisation and Host Minerals
Strategic Importance of Gallium Amid Supply Constraints
Gallium is a critical metal used extensively in advanced electronics, optical equipment, semiconductors, and military applications. Its compounds, such as gallium arsenide and gallium nitride, are vital for high-speed electronics, satellite communications, renewable energy technologies, and increasingly for artificial intelligence hardware. Global demand has surged, especially following China’s export restrictions on gallium, which currently accounts for about 99% of global production.
As of April 2026, high-purity gallium prices are reported at approximately USD 2,269/kg (AUD 3,240/kg), reflecting a near 140% increase over the past year. This price trend underscores the metal’s growing strategic value and the urgency to identify alternative sources.
Exploration Target and Resource Development Plans
Kingsland has previously estimated a gallium Exploration Target at Leliyn based on its graphite mineral resource, with tonnage ranging between 190 and 195 million tonnes at grades of 20 to 25 ppm Ga2O3, equating to 3,800 to 4,875 tonnes of contained gallium oxide. However, the company emphasises that this target remains conceptual, with insufficient exploration to define a formal Mineral Resource.
The company intends to progress to a maiden gallium JORC Resource within 2026, incorporating further metallurgical testwork and beneficiation studies. This development aligns with ongoing efforts to advance the Leliyn Graphite Project, which already boasts a substantial Indicated Mineral Resource of 12.3 million tonnes at 7.9% Total Graphitic Carbon and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 180.2 million tonnes at 7.2% TGC.
Integration with Existing Project Development
These gallium findings complement Kingsland’s broader project development activities, including recent high-grade graphite assay results and ongoing pre-feasibility studies. The company has been advancing metallurgical testing with partners such as Quinbrook to assess battery anode material potential and downstream processing options. The gallium extraction circuit is expected to be incorporated into the upcoming Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) for Leliyn, providing a more comprehensive economic assessment.
This announcement follows Kingsland’s recent update on high-grade graphite assays boosting Leliyn’s battery material prospects, indicating a multi-commodity approach to project value enhancement.
Next Steps and Ongoing Testwork
Further testwork will focus on optimising mica beneficiation to produce a concentrate suitable for gallium leaching, followed by precipitation and recovery of gallium metal. These steps are critical to confirming the technical and economic viability of gallium as a by-product. Kingsland plans to incorporate these results into future PFS-level studies to refine project economics and development pathways.
Overall, the metallurgical breakthroughs and strategic positioning in a critical metal market highlight the evolving potential of the Leliyn Graphite Project beyond graphite alone.
Bottom Line?
Kingsland’s gallium testwork breakthrough adds a new dimension to Leliyn’s value proposition, but further resource definition and processing validation remain essential.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the integration of gallium extraction impact the overall processing costs and timelines at Leliyn?
- What are the potential challenges in scaling up mica beneficiation and gallium recovery from graphite processing streams?
- How might evolving global gallium supply dynamics influence Kingsland’s strategic positioning and project economics?
