SYDNEY, Oct. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mount Ridley Mines (ASX: MRD) today reported 95% gallium recovery from Western Australian bauxite using its patent-pending Selectro™ Process, against about 70% in conventional Bayer refining.
| Key Facts |
| • Gallium 95%, aluminium 92% and iron 97% in one leach below 100°C |
| • Silica-rich residue, not red mud |
| • Feed: Australian Silica Quartz Group's Darling Range bauxite |
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Why does gallium matter now?
Gallium is not rare. It sits in bauxite, but only China built the refinery circuits to catch it, and it now produces 99% of primary gallium; the United States has produced none since 1987 and is 100% import-reliant, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Gallium nitride chips power AI data centres, EVs, 5G and defence radar; Yole Group forecasts the power GaN market growing 35% a year to US$3.5 billion by 2031.
"We have long held the view that technology is the most effective way to deliver a new source of gallium supply," said Mount Ridley CEO Allister Caird.
What is the Selectro™ Process?
Selectro™ is Mount Ridley's wholly owned, closed-loop leach that recovers several critical minerals at once at low temperature. On its Grass Patch ore it recovered 91.8% of the scandium, more than triple a standard acid leach's 25%, plus 84% of the heavy rare earths and 77% of the light rare earths.
On its first third-party feed it beat the Bayer process on all three metals. A process that works on other companies' ore can be licensed: revenue with no new mine. Next: metal separation, a second bauxite test and demonstration plant design.
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Disclosure
Cashu Group is paid by Mount Ridley Mines Limited for investor awareness services and may hold MRD shares. General information only, not financial advice. Forward-looking statements involve risk. Cashu Technologies Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative (AR 001318029) of Adviser Solutions Group Pty Ltd (AFSL 485946).
A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/84ebf7f2-bccd-4789-81b9-23a9d2116944
