Western Yilgarn NL Secures Cardea Bauxite Projects with 35%+ Alumina—Drilling Breakthroughs and Strategic Rail Access Propel High-Grade Potential
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
at
9:48 am
Western Yilgarn NL secures exploration licences for its promising Cardea 1 & 2 bauxite projects in WA's Darling Range. Strong drill results reveal high-grade bauxite with attractive alumina levels, bolstering growth potential amid record alumina and bauxite prices—an opportunity beginning traders may find compelling.
Western Yilgarn NL has secured exploration licences for the Cardea 1 and 2 Bauxite Projects, covering a total area of approximately 17.5 km² in the Darling Range Bauxite Mineral Field. The licences, granted by the Western Australia Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety on 3 April 2025, open up new prospects in an area situated north of Perth and just a short distance from major infrastructure including the Millendon Junction Railway Line. The announcement outlines that 316 vacuum drillholes have been completed in Cardea 2, with 117 holes analysed for available alumina and reactive silica. Assay results reveal high-grade bauxite mineralisation with available alumina grades exceeding 35% and reactive silica averaging about 4%, notably higher than benchmark grades such as those seen at nearby operations.
The technical data presented include detailed drill intersections with several drillholes highlighting exceptional results, for example intervals with up to 50.7% total alumina from surface intercepts and significant downhole sections demonstrating available alumina percentages often in excess of 40%. The data are supported by bomb digest assays and have been rigorously logged and validated, with drilling conducted on an 80m by 80m grid to provide representative and high-quality sampling. Historical drilling and extensive geochemical evaluation underpin the potential for enhanced tonnage and improved bauxite grade, positioning the project as a valuable asset in a period of record alumina and bauxite prices.
Senior management underscores that the Cardea projects offer significant scalability and prospects for increasing resource tonnage through further exploration – particularly toward the west and the northern limits of the current licences. The project’s location benefits from logistical ease, being accessible via the Great Northern Highway and situated near both road and rail networks, which is expected to help reduce transportation costs when compared to competing operations.
From an investor sentiment perspective, a bullish outlook is supported by the high-grade assay results which exceed those of comparable resources elsewhere; the project’s strategic location alongside established infrastructure adds considerable upside. The potential to unlock further resource expansion through additional drilling and systematic exploration targeting laterite and pisolitic gravels further enhances the positive outlook in a strong commodities environment. Conversely, a bearish sentiment might note that these promising results are still at an early exploration stage, and the transition from exploration to full-scale development carries inherent risks such as operational delays, further capital requirements, and the need for additional economic evaluations before the asset can be safely classified as a definitive resource.
In summary, Western Yilgarn NL’s technical announcement for the Cardea Projects presents promising drilling results and highlights significant potential for high-grade bauxite discovery. While the data indicate strong fundamentals and operational advantages in a robust price environment, investors must remain mindful that the project’s future growth hinges on successfully advancing further exploration and development stages.