WA1 Resources Ltd. has updated the mineral resource estimate (MRE) for its Luni niobium project in Western Australia, reporting an expanded indicated component of the project.
The company said that the indicated component of the Luni deposit, a classification denoting a higher level of certainty, has expanded by 20 million tonnes.
The updated indicated MRE now stands at 93 million tonnes at 1.32 per cent niobium oxide, including a particularly rich high-grade subset of 35 million tonnes at an impressive 2.57 per cent niobium oxide.
This upgrade means that 57 per cent of the total contained niobium at Luni is now classified as Indicated, providing a robust foundation for the company’s ongoing development studies.
The total resource, which includes both Indicated and Inferred categories, remains globally significant at 220 million tonnes at 1 per cent niobium oxide.
WA1 Managing Director Paul Savich said the update represents a step-change in the geological model of the deposit.
“The scale and grade of Luni makes it a globally significant niobium resource with the potential to support a long-life operation,” Savich said.
“We remain focused on systematically defining the highest-value and lowest-risk development pathway for this resource.”
Niobium is a critical metal used primarily in high-strength, low-alloy steels for the automotive and structural industries, as well as in advanced technologies like superconducting magnets and fast-charging batteries.
The update is underpinned by extensive data, including over 52,000 metres of drilling across more than 450 holes.
The mineralisation at Luni is primarily constrained within weathered domains, typically starting between 30 and 80 metres below the surface, which could simplify future mining efforts.
Looking ahead, WA1 is maintaining a wide range of site activities for the remainder of 2026.
Current drilling is targeting the definition of a “measured” component, the highest level of resource confidence, within the eastern zone of the deposit, by the end of this year.
This zone is expected to host the initial mining activities should the project proceed to development.