中文译文生成中，先为你显示原文。
WA1 Resources has strengthened its understanding of high-grade niobium mineralisation at its Luni project in Western Australia, sharpening plans for early mining as it approaches a key feasibility milestone.
The company confirmed in its September quarterly report that its pre-feasibility study remains on track to be completed in the December quarter, with key field activities for 2026 now finished.
WA1 has also commissioned a new airstrip at Luni, allowing regular direct flights to the remote project and improving access for personnel involved in exploration and pre-development activities. The airstrip, commissioned in July, provides supporting infrastructure as WA1 advances its technical studies and prepares for the next phase of fieldwork in 2027.
Resource definition drilling has focused on the eastern portion of the deposit, where WA1 is seeking to improve confidence in the mineralisation expected to support potential early mining operations.
Results reported during the September quarter included an intersection of 21.4m at 7.4 per cent niobium pentoxide from 91.3m in hole LUDD-0162.
Another hole, LUDD-0171, returned 38m at 3.8 per cent niobium pentoxide from 72m, while LUDD-0166 intersected 10.2m at 6.1 per cent from 40.3m.
The drilling results, originally announced in July, are being incorporated into ongoing resource modelling and development studies. WA1 has completed approximately 93,000m of drilling at Luni to date, collecting geological, metallurgical and engineering information to support project development.
The current mineral resource estimate stands at 220 million tonnes grading 1.0 per cent niobium pentoxide, including an Indicated resource of 93 million tonnes at 1.32 per cent. Within that indicated resource is a higher-grade subset of 35 million tonnes at 2.57 per cent niobium pentoxide.
Further drilling and resource modelling could support the conversion of part of the high-grade zone into the higher-confidence measured category. Metallurgical testwork has also progressed, with results from the eastern focus area informing mine planning, processing design and potential downstream product development.
The company held approximately $113 million in cash at the end of September, with planning underway for its next phase of field activities in 2027.
In an earlier announcement, WA1 managing director Paul Savich said the company’s resource definition work was focused on establishing greater geological confidence in the area expected to support initial mining.
“This update is targeting an initial measured resource component, providing a high level of geological confidence in the zone expected to support the early years of a potential mining operation,” Savich said.
“Beyond drilling, we continue to make significant progress across the technical and development activities required to advance Luni. Much of the work completed in 2026 extends beyond the requirements of the PFS and will provide a strong platform for the next phase of studies and project development.”
Subscribe to Australian Mining and receive the latest news on product announcements, industry developments, commodities and more.