Mount Ridley Mines achieves 95% gallium extraction using Selectro technology

Mount Ridley Mines (ASX: MRD) has successfully extracted 94.9% of gallium from a third-party bauxite sample using its proprietary Selectro process. The lab tests, conducted on material from the Darling Range bauxite project in Western Australia, also yielded high recovery rates for other metals, including 91.9% aluminium and 96.7% iron, all within a single low-temperature leach.

Unlike conventional alumina refining, which produces significant amounts of red mud, the Selectro process leaves behind a silica-rich solid residue containing more than 90% of the original silica. This characteristic suggests potential environmental advantages and the ability to recover multiple valuable metals simultaneously.

Following these results, Mount Ridley has lodged a second provisional patent application through its subsidiary, Mount Ridley Tech. This new application covers an adapted version of the Selectro chemistry specifically tuned for industrial metal feedstocks, distinct from the original patent focused on rare earths and scandium. The company now intends to investigate methods for separating and purifying the dissolved metals to prepare for potential commercial application.