Mount Ridley Teams with CSIRO to Develop Scandium Alloys for Additive Manufacturing

Mount Ridley Secures CSIRO Backing for Scandium Alloy Research

Mount Ridley Mines (ASX:MRD) has landed co-funding support from CSIRO’s Kick-Start program to advance research into scandium alloys tailored for additive manufacturing. The $104,000 project, with CSIRO contributing up to $50,000, will be led by CSIRO’s Lab22 additive manufacturing facility and marks the first phase of what Mount Ridley describes as a broader, multi-stage program aimed at downstream value creation from its scandium resource.

Exploring High-Value Scandium Applications

The initial stage focuses on mapping the patent landscape around scandium-containing alloys, identifying global scandium suppliers and their product specs, and pinpointing 2-3 promising application areas, particularly in aerospace, defence, and advanced manufacturing sectors such as robotics. CSIRO will also assess emerging scandium extraction and refining technologies to inform future alloy development. The research will culminate in a report that Mount Ridley will own, setting the stage for a subsequent phase focused on actual material development.

Leveraging One of the World’s Largest Scandium Resources

Mount Ridley holds a JORC-compliant inferred scandium resource at its Grass Patch Complex in Western Australia, boasting 18,555 tonnes of scandium metal contained within 367.98 million tonnes at 57.2 ppm scandium. This positions the project among the largest global scandium deposits. The scandium is co-located with heavy rare earth elements and gallium within the same regolith, potentially enabling combined extraction and processing efficiencies.

The company is actively re-assaying historical drill samples not previously tested for scandium, aiming to expand the resource base. Recent re-assay results have already indicated extensions of high-grade scandium mineralisation beyond existing resource boundaries, highlighting the potential for future upgrades to the resource model Re-assays confirm scandium mineralisation and Phase 1 re-assay confirms scandium grades.

Strategic Ambitions Beyond Mining

Mount Ridley’s CEO Allister Caird emphasised the company’s ambition to move beyond resource estimation towards establishing proprietary positions in high-value manufacturing supply chains. He highlighted the unique role scandium could play in rapidly scaling industries where no suitable substitute exists for high-performance alloys. The collaboration with CSIRO’s Lab22, known for expertise in critical minerals and metallic additive manufacturing, is central to this strategy.

The initiative aims not only at developing new scandium-based alloys but also at creating strategic partnerships and licensing opportunities in aerospace, defence, and robotics. This downstream focus aligns with Mount Ridley’s broader critical minerals strategy, which includes heavy rare earths and gallium resources at Grass Patch and the Weld Range Project.

Early-Stage Research with Long-Term Potential

The project remains at an early research stage, with outcomes from this first phase intended to inform more advanced material development work. The company’s approach reflects the tight global supply of refined scandium relative to growing demand from additive manufacturing sectors. How effectively Mount Ridley can translate its resource advantage into proprietary technology and commercial partnerships will be a key development to watch.