REG - Altona Rare Earths - Gallium Exploration Update

Altona Rare EarthsAnnouncement

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RNS Number : 0782N  Altona Rare Earths PLC  17 June 2025

 

17 June 2025

 

 

ALTONA RARE EARTHS PLC

("Altona" or "the Company")

 

 

HIGH-GRADE, NEAR-SURFACE GALLIUM MINERALISATION DISCOVERED

AT MONTE MUAMBE - UP TO 550 G/T GA

 

Altona Rare Earths PLC (LSE: REE), a resource exploration and development
company focused on critical raw materials in Africa, is pleased to announce
the discovery of high-grade, near-surface gallium mineralisation at its Monte
Muambe project in Mozambique. Grades of up to 550 g/t Ga have been recorded in
rock samples - an increase of 137% over the Company's initial discovery in
April 2025.

 

Highlights

 

·    Shallow, high-grade gallium mineralisation internally confirmed at
Monte Muambe.

·   Over 700 in-fill soil samples collected and assayed as part of a
focused, fast-tracked exploration programme.

·    Test pitting exposes gallium-rich rock with assays of up to 550 g/t
Ga.

·   Gallium found in two distinct geological settings so far, increasing
the potential for scalable and standalone economic extraction.

·    Independent analysis underway to determine the precise gallium
concentrations and host minerals

 

In-Fill Programme Delivers Enhanced Targeting Precision

 

Building on the identification of three significant gallium soil anomalies
announced on 17 April 2025, Altona has now completed an in-fill soil sampling
campaign across several of these anomalies. More than 700 soil samples were
collected, prepared and assayed using portable XRF ("pXRF") technology
allowing for immediate on-site assay and interpretation.

 

Sampling density was significantly increased from the original 100 metre to 50
metre spacing down to as little as 5 metre spacing in selected areas, greatly
improving the resolution of anomaly maps. This refinement provides high
confidence targeting for test pits and future drill planning. Soil assays
returned gallium values of up to 187 g/t Ga.

 

First Test Pit Yields Up To 550 g/t Ga In Exposed Rocks

 

Guided by the soil geochemistry data, Altona excavated a first test pit
measuring 2m by 1m, which exposed weathered fenite rock about 1 metre below
the surface.

 

pXRF assays on these rocks returned gallium grades as high as 550 g/t Ga
(sample T264-5), which is 137% higher than the highest grade previously
reported.

 

Widespread Gallium Occurrences In Two Distinct Geological Contexts

 

This latest discovery demonstrates that near-surface gallium mineralisation is
indeed the source of the extensive gallium soil anomalies. It should be noted
that in the initial discovery holes MM039 and MM040, gallium is associated to
high-grade rare earths mineralisation, but this is not the case with this new
discovery.

 

In the board's opinion, the presence of gallium in two distinct geological
settings broadens the scope for future development and significantly increases
the possibility of discovering commercially viable gallium mineralisation
offering the potential for gallium to be extracted either as a primary product
or a high-value co-product alongside rare earths.

 

Samples collected in the test pit will now undergo geochemical and
mineralogical analysis in a certified laboratory to determine precise gallium
concentrations and hosting minerals, as well as to evaluate potential
extraction pathways. These insights will guide the design of the next phase of
work, including additional test pitting and reconnaissance drilling.

 

In parallel, core samples from hole MM040, which contain about 100 g/t Ga and
3.8% TREO((1)) have been submitted to SGS Lakefields for metallurgical
testing. The aim is to understand gallium's behaviour during rare earths
recovery.

 

Cedric Simonet, CEO of Altona, commented:

 

"I am very pleased with the swift progress made in assessing the April gallium
discovery. As predicted, higher grades than those initially reported have been
discovered, and this is just the first test pit we excavated. Just as
importantly, we have now internally confirmed gallium mineralisation in two
distinct geological contexts, which broadens the project's commercial
potential and supports the case for advancing the assessment for the potential
viability of gallium recovery from this new type of deposit."

 

Notes on assay methods:

 

Soil samples were prepared and assayed on site using the Company's pXRF
analyser. Altona uses a Hitachi X-Met8000 pXRF analyser equipped with a 50kv
anode and specific programmes to enable the detection and quantification of
Nd, Pr, La, Ce and Y, of Ga, as well as of light elements relevant to
carbonatites such as K, Mg and Si. Soil samples are dried, split, and placed
in specially designed plastic cups covered by a mylar film in accordance with
set out Standard Operating Procedures. Rock samples did not undergo a specific
preparation. All samples are assayed by a trained technician under standard
conditions using both the light elements programme (30s assay time) and the
rare earths programme (60s assay time), with the pXRF set up in bench top
mode. Regular quality control checks and calibration are done using a SiO(2)
blank and various internal standards and certified reference materials with
known rare earths and Ga content.

 

To subscribe for RNS alerts, please visit: https://investors.altonare.com/
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(1)  Total Rare Earths Oxide

 

This announcement contains information which, prior to its disclosure, was
inside information as stipulated under Regulation 11 of the Market Abuse
(Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019/310 (as amended).

 

-ENDS-

 

Altona Rare Earths Plc

Cédric Simonet, CEO
                                      +44 (0) 7778 866 108

Louise Adrian,
CFO
+44 (0) 7721 492 922

 

Strand Hanson (Financial Adviser)
 
+44 (0) 20 7409 3494

Christopher Raggett

 

 

About Altona Rare Earths Plc

 

Altona is a resource exploration and development company focused on critical
raw materials in Africa. The Company is listed on the Main Market of the
London Stock Exchange with the ticker "REE". The Company currently holds
copper, fluorspar and rare earths projects.

 

The Monte Muambe rare earths, gallium and fluorspar project is located in
Northwest Mozambique. The Project was acquired in June 2021, and the Company
has so far drilled over 7,800m, and defined a maiden JORC Mineral Resource
Estimate of 13.6 million tons at 2.42% TREO. A Competent Person Report
including the Scoping Study for Monte Muambe was published on 18 October 2023.
The Project is now at Prefeasibility Study stage, with a focus on
metallurgical testing for rare earths extraction.

 

The Company is assessing the possibility of rapidly putting in production
high-grade fluorspar veins occurring at Monte Muambe along the western margin
of the rare earth bearing carbonatite intrusion. The Company is also assessing
the potential of recently discovered gallium occurrences.

 

Altona is presently diversifying its portfolio by acquiring a limited number
of critical raw material projects to complement Monte Muambe. The acquisitions
of the Kabompo South copper project in Zambia and of the Sesana copper-silver
project in Botswana, located just 25 km from MMG's Khoemacau Zone 5
copper-silver mine, represent the first steps towards the implementation of
this expanded strategy.

 

Competent Person Statement

 

The information in this RNS that relates to geology and exploration results is
based on information compiled and/or reviewed by Cédric Simonet, who is a
Member of European Geologist Federation (Eur. Geol. #739). Cédric Simonet is
the Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company. He has sufficient
experience which is relevant to the styles of mineralisation and type of
deposit under consideration and the activity which he is undertaking to
qualify as a Competent Person in terms of the 2012 Edition of the Australian
Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore
Reserves. Cédric Simonet consents to the inclusion in the RNS of the matters
based on his information in the form and contest in which it appears.

 

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