Delta Lithium (ASX: DLI) has revised the mineral resource estimate (MRE) at its Mt Ida lithium project in Western Australia to incorporate recent drilling intercepts and a maiden rubidium component.
The new estimate totals 14.8 million tonnes at 1.21% lithium oxide, 170 parts per million tantalum pentoxide, and 0.42% rubidium oxide, with a measured and indicated 7.7Mt at grades of 1.33% lithium oxide, 212ppm tantalum pentoxide, and 0.45% rubidium oxide.
The updated MRE highlights Mt Ida as a globally significant source of rubidium, potentially adding a second revenue stream to the project’s economics.
Refined Project Wireframes
The resource update follows previous drilling by Delta, as well as gold infill work by wholly owned subsidiary Ballard Mining (ASX: BM1) that resulted in refined wireframes and led to an increase in overall confidence and tonnes.
Managing director James Crosser said a maiden rubidium estimate coincident with existing lithium and tantalum mineralisation illustrates the “exciting” critical mineral suite at Mt Ida.
“This is a very positive milestone for our critical mineral credentials, with the delineation of a high-grade maiden rubidium resource accompanying the lithium and tantalum,” he said.
“It presents as a worthy target for value-add and co-product revenue generation with little change to the current process flowsheet, and reflects our strategy of seeking a global significance for rubidium in a very opaque market dominated almost entirely by Chinese producers.”
Strategic Specialty Metal
The global rubidium market is a relatively small yet strategically significant segment within the specialty metals sector, underpinned by its unique properties and expanding high-technology applications.
Traditionally used in specialty glass, electronics, and chemical research, end-uses in military and defence systems, quantum technologies, and biomedical applications are driving the recent growth in demand.
Key markets including the US and Japan have designated rubidium as a critical mineral, which — coupled with the global push to secure non-Chinese supply chains — positions Delta favourably in Western markets.
Delta has commissioned Perth-based Strategic Metallurgy to carry out Phase 1 downstream processing optimisation and economic studies for the commercial production of lithium, rubidium, and potassium products from mica concentrates.
