Resources Top 5: Leliyn’s glorious gallium sends crowds flocking to Kingsland

• Rutile and gallium are potential value-adds for KNG at Leliyn graphite project
• ASN has shipped two tonnes of lithium-rich Green River brine to POSCO
• PLN has expanded its uranium footprint on being granted the Botsalano project in Botswana

Your standout small cap resources stocks for Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

Kingsland Minerals (ASX:KNG)

Rutile and gallium represent potential value-adds for Kingsland Minerals (ASX:KNG) at its Leliyn graphite project in the Northern Territory and investors are applauding the company’s initiative with shares climbing 52.63% to 14.5c.

The company is undertaking testwork to assess the viability of concentrating and extracting rutile and gallium from the graphitic schist with samples provided to the CSIRO to determine the mineralogical host to the gallium within the schist.

Perth-based Independent Metallurgical Operations has kicked off work with a comprehensive database from the company’s previous drilling campaigns enabling the estimation of conceptual exploration targets for rutile and gallium.

The gallium exploration target is 190-195Mt at 20-25ppm Ga2O3 for 3800-4875t of gallium and the rutile target is 190-195Mt at 0.3-0.5% TiO2 for 570,000-975,000t TiO2.

KNG managing director Richard Maddocks said elevated levels of gallium and titanium were noted during previous drilling of the Leliyn graphite deposit.

“Subsequent metallurgical testwork focusing on graphite concentration revealed the presence of titanium in the form of rutile and gallium in the graphite flotation tails stream,” he said.

“Work has commenced to assess the viability of concentrating and ultimately extracting gallium and rutile.

“The high prices and very strong demand for gallium and rutile highlights the potentially substantial additional revenue which could flow from by-products of these critical metals at Leliyn.”

The company believes it is well placed to capitalise on the growing push in the US, Europe and Asia to reduce reliance on China for specialty metals.

Prices for gallium have been on a tear, currently sitting around $1600/kg, largely due to increased demand in semiconductors, solar panels and EVs.

The primary driver for increased rutile demand is its use in the production of titanium dioxide, a key pigment in paints, plastics and paper, as well as in the manufacturing of titanium metal for aerospace, medical implants and industrial equipment.

Anson Resources (ASX:ASN)

Making positive moves to value-add to the lithium-rich brines at the Green River project in southeastern Utah, USA, is Anson Resources (ASX:ASN) , which has increased 33.34% to a daily high of 9.6c.

Two tonnes of lithium-rich Green River brine has been shipped by ASN to POSCO in South Korea as part of due diligence for a planned demonstration plant. 

The brine, which is iron-free and processed using a non-chemical method, will be tested for lithium extraction efficiency to help shape initial engineering and cost estimates.

Results will be used by POSCO to prepare initial engineering design and cost estimates for the planned demonstration plant to be built at the Green River project. 

This test work is a part of the due diligence process POSCO is undertaking to determine an investment into a demonstration plant at Green River which is expected to be completed by December 2025 as outlined in the non-binding MoU signed between the companies.

This bulk sample includes iron-free brine produced by Anson’s unique chemical-free process. The pretreatment process to reduce iron prior to being fed into the DLE processing was developed at Anson’s Lithium Innovation Center in the USA. 

The planned demonstration plant is a scaled-up version of a pilot plant to validate a new industrial process at a larger, commercially relevant scale before full-scale construction. 

This demonstration plant will operate on a continuous process basis to closely resemble that of the anticipated future commercial plant as well as generating significant quantities of lithium carbonate product.

Pioneer Lithium (ASX:PLN)

Expanding its uranium footprint on being granted the Botsalano project in southern Botswana along the South African border, Pioneer Lithium (ASX:PLN) closed at 12.5c, a lift of 19.05%.

The project is within the Botsalano Ring Complex, an ideal setting for uranium mineralisation, and is in Botswana, Africa’s most politically stable jurisdiction.

There is access to established infrastructure including rail, roads, power and water supply, and the project has a proven pedigree as it was previously held by UraMin Inc.

PNL said the project’s uranium potential was also underscored by its geological similarities to world-class assets.

Botsalano Prospecting Licence covers 815km2 and the acquisition adds a third uranium jurisdiction to PNL’s growing pipeline alongside Namibia and the US.

Pioneer’s initial focus will be to compile all available historical exploration and geophysical data relevant to the project area and surrounds, and then move to fieldwork. 

Pure Resources (ASX:PR1)

After neighbour Green Critical Minerals (ASX:GCM)  released a robust feasibility study for the 80%-owned McIntosh graphite project north of Halls Creek in WA, Pure Resources (ASX:PR1) is increasing its focus on the graphite potential of its Reedy Creek project.

Reedy Creek, which is the subject of extensive garnet exploration and testing, surrounds the McIntosh project and PR1 is now reviewing graphite potential.

This review is focusing on confirmation of graphite mineralisation, untested VTEM conductors and high-quality garnet skarn.

It will focus on any historical drilling that has intersected graphite schist units, which may confirm the presence of a prospective graphite horizon. 

PR1 is also investigating US focused technology to assist in extracting rare earth elements from industrial garnet.

In a bid to create a mine to market downstream opportunity with the intention of entering the US market, the company is in discussions with suppliers of the thermal management sector, including those focused on heat sinks and weapons cooling.

Strategic US collaboration has been initiated across several institutions and Department of Energy funded academic institutions.

Canadian Phosphate (ASX:CP8)

Not only is phosphate a key fertiliser requirement in agriculture and animal nutrition, it is increasingly used in the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery market as the world looks to a decarbonised future.

One ASX-listed company looking to feed demand is Canadian Phosphate with its Fernie project in British Columbia, for which a 10,000t bulk sample permit was received in June for the Barnes rock phosphate deposit.

Phosphate is listed as a critical mineral in Canada with the country being 100% reliant on imported phosphate, 80% of which originates from the USA. Securing domestic supply is paramount for the future of food security and a decarbonised energy grid, especially as tariff fears rise.

Bulk sampling at Barnes is expected to begin this quarter while CP8 has submitted another 10,000t bulk sample permit for Pump Station deposit with a 150,000t industrial minerals permit being prepared for Marten deposit for submission to BC’s Ministry of Mines and Critical Minerals.

CP8 shares reached a 12-month high of 7.5c, a 25% lift on the previous close.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent financial advice before making any financial decisions. While Anson Resources, Kingsland Minerals and Pioneer Lithium are Stockhead advertisers, they did not sponsor this article.