Western Yilgarn grows bauxite position in Darling Range

• WYX granted exploration licences covering the Cardea 1 and 2 projects
• The company believes they provide scalability and strong potential to increase bauxite tonnage 
• Several areas have been earmarked and will be targeted in first-pass exploration

Special Report: Western Yilgarn has added scalability and bauxite tonnage to its portfolio in WA’s Darling Range bauxite mineral field on being granted the Cardea 1 and 2 project areas.

The company was granted exploration licences E70/6702 and E70/6703 by the WA Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) on April 3 covering Cardea 1 and 2, ~16.5km southeast of its 168Mt Julimar West bauxite project. 

Based on a review of current exploration data, extensive drilling within the eastern portion of E70/6702 returned high-grade bauxite with an average of more than 35% Al2O3 (alumina) and an average of 4% SiO2 (silicon dioxide). 

Surface bauxite mineralisation at Cardea 2 extends over 1.7km x 500m, with laterite profiles typical of the Darling Range, a world-leading alumina producing region with bauxite deposits stretching across a north-south corridor roughly 240km-long and 50km-wide.

Historical high-grade vacuum drilling results include 10m at 47.8% Al2O3 and 10% total Si02 from 1m, 7m at 50.7% Al2O3 and 10.2% total SiO2 from surface as well as 7.5m at 48.5% Al2O3 and 13.8% total SiO2 from surface. 

Western Yilgarn (ASX:WYX) said the project benefited from nearby major infrastructure, including the Millendon Junction Railway Line.

‘Excellent potential’

WYX non-executive director Pedro Kastellorizos said the company was extremely pleased with securing the Cardea 1 and 2 projects. 

“It provides further scalability and excellent potential to increase the bauxite tonnage and grade through further exploration to the west and northern portion of the exploration licence area,” he said. 

“The location of the current resources is within trucking distance of a multi-user railway at a time of record alumina and bauxite prices.”

Bauxite prices and market outlook 

Experts anticipate another record year for bauxite, the key raw material for aluminium production, following last year’s suspension of exports from Guinea.

Although the 2024 price rally had been building throughout the year, it was the suspension of bauxite exports by Guinea – impacting Emirates Global Aluminium, a major player supplying 4% of global aluminium – that triggered the final surge.

As the second-largest global bauxite producer, the importance of Guinea’s bauxite production cannot be overstated. The nation mined around 87.9Mt in 2023, positioning itself just behind Australia in production volume.

Guinea began proceedings earlier this month to revoke Emirates Global Aluminium’s mining licence in the West African nation, part of its broader effort to tighten control over its mineral resources. 

This development could drive prices even higher, following last year’s supply crunch that saw bauxite prices exceed the value of a tonne of iron for the first time.

Listen:Why bauxite is nothing to baulk at

What’s next? 

So far, WYX says surface and drilling geochemistry, along with the interpreted geophysics, has highlighted multiple targets proximal to the west and south of the current tenure areas. 

Regional mapping and interpretation of the Western Australia Geological Survey has delineated laterite and pisolitic gravels in which the bauxite occurs and these areas will be systematically targeted in first-pass exploration.

This article was developed in collaboration with Western Yilgarn, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.