Critical Metals Corp Discovers 147 PPM of Gallium at Its Tanbreez Project

Rhea-AI Summary

Critical Metals Corp (CRML) has announced significant findings from its drilling program at the Tanbreez Greenland Rare Earth Mine. The company discovered one of the world's highest concentrations of Gallium at 147 ppm Ga2O3 in Area G, along with four high-grade zones: Unit Zero, Base of the Kakortokite, EALS, and Area G. The EALS horizon showed grades exceeding 5% ZrO2 and more than 2% REO, with heavy rare earths reaching up to 40.8%. The Tanbreez Project, licensed for 500,000 metric tons per year, represents a strategic asset for producing critical metals essential for electrification and defense applications in the western world.

Positive

• Discovery of high-grade Gallium concentration (147 ppm Ga2O3) in Area G
• Identification of four high-grade zones with significant rare earth deposits
• EALS horizon shows impressive grades exceeding 5% ZrO2 and 2% REO
• Project licensed for 500,000 metric tons per year production capacity
• Strategic position in Gallium market, currently dominated by China (98%)

Negative

• None.

Insights

Mining Industry Analyst

The discovery of 147 ppm Ga2O3 at the Tanbreez Project represents a significant development, nearly doubling the typical concentration found in South American bauxite deposits (80 ppm). With China controlling 98% of global gallium production, this discovery positions Critical Metals Corp strategically in the western supply chain. The identification of four high-grade zones, particularly Area G with its extensive pegmatites, suggests substantial resource potential beyond initial estimates.

The EALS horizon's impressive metrics - 5% ZrO2 and 2% REO grades, coupled with up to 40.8% heavy rare earths content - indicates exceptional mineral enrichment. This discovery could significantly impact the project's economics, especially considering the current 20% annual growth rate in the gallium market and its critical applications in semiconductor manufacturing and defense technologies.

Technology Materials Specialist

The gallium discovery is particularly timely given the semiconductor industry's push for supply chain diversification. Gallium's role in producing GaN (Gallium Nitride) semiconductors makes it essential for next-generation electronics, power systems and military applications. The concentration levels found at Tanbreez are exceptionally promising, especially when combined with the project's existing rare earth potential.

The 500,000 metric ton annual license capacity, coupled with these high-grade discoveries, positions Critical Metals Corp to become a significant non-Chinese supplier of critical materials. This could attract substantial interest from western semiconductor manufacturers and defense contractors seeking secure supply chains.

Initial results from drilling program demonstrate significant upside potential for foundational rare earth asset in Southern Greenland

NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Critical Metals Corp (Nasdaq: CRML) (“Critical Metals Corp” or “the Company”), a leading mining development company focused on critical metals and minerals and producing strategic products essential to electrification and next generation technologies for Europe and its western world partners, today provided a project update for the Tanbreez Greenland Rare Earth Mine (the “Tanbreez Project”), one of the world’s largest rare earth assets located in Southern Greenland. In connection to the drilling, the Company has discovered one of the world’s highest concentrations of Gallium, an essential rare earth element for the production of computer chips and defense applications.

Based on initial results obtained from Critical Metals Corp’s recent drilling program, four high-grade zones have now been identified on the site. These zones are expected to play a significant role in the Company’s strategy for optimizing its mining operations and increasing throughput (the Tanbreez Project is currently licensed for 500,000 metric tons per year). The identification of these zones is a key milestone in the ongoing development of the project.

“The Tanbreez Project continues to demonstrate significant upside potential for investors, as we uncover key findings of the resource value through our important pre-production activities,” said Tony Sage, CEO and Executive Chairman of Critical Metals Corp. “The results from our drilling program compare favorably with other recent results that have been announced to the market and we look forward to unlocking the full potential of this transformational asset. Importantly, we have discovered that the Tanbreez Project has one of the world’s highest concentrations of Gallium, which reinforces our vision to support the production of defense applications in the western world. These are only the initial results and we look forward to sharing more data about the potential for this strategic asset as the assays continue to be processed in the lab.”

High Grade Zones:

• Unit Zero – This unit is up to 5 meters thick and is located approximately 50 meters behind the proposed plant location. This unit represents a potential target for future exploration.
• Base of the Kakortokite – At this zone there is a metasomatic replacement by eudialyte of the underlying unit. The unit possesses a high-grade of rare earth element material, which is located approximately 40 meters below the surface.
• EALS – This horizon is entirely separate from the Kakortokite and occurs within the overlying naujaite. In some areas, the unit is high-grade and can be traced for approximately 3 kilometres, with a thickness of up to 80 meters. This year, the company conducted surface diamond drilling and extensive sampling across the unit. The EALS horizon contains a large number of pegmatites and returned significant assay results, including grades exceeding 5% ZrO2 and more than 2% REO. Notably, the percentage of heavy rare earths within the rare earth fraction ranged up to 40.8%.
• Area G – This area, identified this year, spans over 1 km² and contains extensive late-stage pegmatites and pegmatite scree. The area also holds high-grade ore in a zone that will adjoin the proposed road to the tailings area. There was a high concentration of Gallium discovered in this zone, with values reaching up to 147 ppm Ga2O3.

Discovery of Gallium

The discovery of a significant amount of Gallium at Area G, further demonstrates the Tanbreez Project’s immense value. Gallium is a critical metal that is primarily produced as a by-product of bauxite mining, with additional sources from zinc smelters. Currently, approximately 98% of the world's gallium production is sourced from China, where it is primarily a by-product of bauxite mining. Certain South American bauxite deposits contain up to 80 ppm of Ga2O3.

The growing gallium market, currently worth billions of dollars per year and expanding at an annual rate of approximately 20%, presents a valuable opportunity for the Company. Critical Metals Corp plans to investigate the mineralogy of the gallium in this zone and assess its potential as a viable by-product.

About Critical Metals Corp.

Critical Metals Corp (Nasdaq: CRML) is a leading mining development company focused on critical metals and minerals, and producing strategic products essential to electrification and next generation technologies for Europe and its western world partners. Its initial flagship asset is the Wolfsberg Lithium Project located in Carinthia, 270 km south of Vienna, Austria. The Wolfsberg Lithium Project is the first fully permitted mine in Europe and is strategically located with access to established road and rail infrastructure and is expected to be the next major producer of key lithium products to support the European market. Wolfsberg is well positioned with offtake and downstream partners to become a unique and valuable building block in an expanding geostrategic critical metals portfolio.

For more information, please visit https://criticalmetalscorp.com/.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the financial position, financial performance, business strategy, expectations of our business and the plans and objectives of management for future operations. These statements constitute projections, forecasts and forward-looking statements, and are not guarantees of performance. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this news release, forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target,” “designed to” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical facts. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements may include statements, among other things, relating to: general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; expansion and other plans and opportunities, including expansion into other strategic assets; and other statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target” or similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the factors discussed under the “Risk Factors” section in the Company’s Shell Company Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 3, 2024 and in the Company’s proxy statement/prospectus, dated December 27, 2023, as supplemented by that proxy statement/prospectus supplement No. 1, dated February 15, 2024, forming a part of Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-268970), as amended, which was declared effective on December 27, 2023. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this news release, and expectations, forecasts and assumptions as of that date, involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

Critical Metals Corp.

Investor Relations: ir@criticalmetalscorp.com

Media: pr@criticalmetalscorp.com

FAQ

What concentration of Gallium did Critical Metals Corp (CRML) discover at the Tanbreez Project?

Critical Metals Corp discovered Gallium concentrations reaching up to 147 ppm Ga2O3 in Area G of the Tanbreez Project.

What are the four high-grade zones identified by Critical Metals Corp (CRML) at Tanbreez?

The four high-grade zones identified are Unit Zero, Base of the Kakortokite, EALS, and Area G.

What are the grade levels found in the EALS horizon at CRML's Tanbreez Project?

The EALS horizon showed grades exceeding 5% ZrO2 and more than 2% REO, with heavy rare earths percentage reaching up to 40.8%.

What is the annual production capacity of CRML's Tanbreez Project?

The Tanbreez Project is currently licensed for 500,000 metric tons per year.