WA1 drilling strengthens Luni’s eastern niobium zone ahead of PFS

Eastern Luni drilling delivers broad niobium intersections

WA1 Resources Ltd (ASX:WA1) has reported another set of strong niobium intersections at the eastern zone of its 100%-owned Luni Project in Western Australia, including 35.2 metres at 4.8% Nb₂O₅, 38.2 metres at 3.4% Nb₂O₅ and 22.9 metres at 4.1% Nb₂O₅. The results come from 24 diamond drillholes and are being used to tighten the geological picture in an area WA1 expects could support the early years of a potential mining operation.

Other notable results included 21.5 metres at 3.4% Nb₂O₅, 11.6 metres at 4.3% Nb₂O₅, 18.1 metres at 3.5% Nb₂O₅ and 38.1 metres at 4.0% Nb₂O₅. WA1 said the latest drilling continues to demonstrate width, grade and continuity within the eastern Indicated zone.

Pending assays will feed a higher-confidence resource update

The latest campaign builds on the eastern-zone infill drilling, which targeted a potential Measured Resource conversion ahead of the project’s next study milestone. A further 41 drillhole assays remain outstanding and are expected to be reported over the coming months.

WA1 plans to incorporate the 2026 drilling into a Mineral Resource Estimate update in the first quarter of calendar 2027. The stated objective is an initial Measured Resource component in the eastern zone, rather than an immediate declaration of a mining reserve or production schedule. Any change in resource tonnes, grade or classification will depend on the completed assays and subsequent geological interpretation.

Weathered mineralisation is defined while deeper potential remains open

The mineralisation intersected to date is generally subhorizontal and occurs around the transition between intensely and moderately weathered carbonatite. WA1 said most drilling has focused on the weathered oxide zone, where vertical holes are generally interpreted to provide intercepts close to true thickness.

The deeper, unweathered primary mineralisation has not yet been adequately tested. WA1 considers its potential significant, but the company also states that the orientation and true thickness of transitional and primary mineralisation remain poorly constrained. That distinction matters: the current results improve confidence in the tested weathered zone, but do not by themselves establish the geometry or economic potential of the deeper material.

PFS remains on track as processing and approvals advance

WA1 said the Pre-Feasibility Study remains on track for completion in the fourth quarter of 2026. Field programs for the year are now complete, with the company saying parts of the work were designed to generate data beyond the immediate PFS requirements and support later feasibility studies.

Metallurgical work across multiple composites has continued to produce niobium concentrates through a two-stage flotation process using raw site water. Results from the eastern focus area were described as particularly strong, with the work feeding into mine planning, process design, downstream refining and product development. Environmental and permitting workstreams are also continuing, but the release does not provide an approvals timetable, project economics, capital cost or operating cost estimate.