Morella Corporation Limited has established a maiden Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 5.44 million tonnes at 0.16% Rb2O for the Mt Edon Critical Minerals Project in Western Australia, containing approximately 8,300 tonnes of Rb2O and 3,600 tonnes of Li2O at a 0.10% Rb2O cut-off.

The new estimate covers only the Sophie and Miles & June prospect areas across approximately 500m and 250m of strike respectively, within a much broader mineralised pegmatite system. The resource extends to a vertical depth of about 120m below surface and remains open beyond the current footprint.

Prepared by Snowden Optiro, the resource assessment attributes no economic contribution to associated lithium or tantalum under current Reasonable Prospects for Eventual Economic Extraction criteria, treating them as potential future value subject to recovery and economic assessment. The evaluation was constrained using an assumed rubidium carbonate price of US$400/kg.

Laboratory-scale metallurgical testwork conducted at Edith Cowan University's Mineral Recovery Research Centre has achieved rubidium extraction of up to 93.6% into solution.

The Mt Edon Project is held through a joint venture in which Morella holds a 51% interest and Sayona Mining Limited holds 49%.

"This maiden MRE is an important milestone for Mt Edon and establishes a substantial initial rubidium inventory of approximately 8,300 tonnes of contained Rb2O from only the Sophie and Miles & June areas.

The metallurgical results achieved to date are therefore particularly encouraging, with laboratory-scale rubidium extraction of up to 93.6% into solution. We will continue our work with Edith Cowan University as we progress extraction optimisation, purification and flowsheet development."

— James Brown, Managing Director

Morella plans to conduct further drilling and technical studies to expand the Mineral Resource Estimate, target higher-grade domains within the broader mineralised envelope, and test numerous mapped pegmatites lying outside the current resource boundaries, including areas north of Sophie.

Read the full announcement: Maiden Mt Edon Rubidium Mineral Resource