Green Technology Metals (ASX:GT1) has spiked more than +18% through Thursday morning as investors respond positively to a globally significant discovery of rubidium at its Seymour Project in Ontario.
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The discovery marks a major diversification opportunity for the lithium-focused explorer.
The company reported a maiden rubidium mineral resource of 8.3 million tonnes at 0.27% Rb₂O, containing approximately 23,000 tonnes of rubidium oxide (Rb₂O).
Notably, the resource includes a high-grade component of 3.4Mt at 0.40% Rb₂O, or 13,600 tonnes of contained Rb₂O. The resource sits entirely within the company’s 2023 North Aubry lithium deposit.
The Seymour project is one of the largest and highest-grade rubidium resources reported globally, with strong confidence in its classification (6.2Mt Indicated, 2.1Mt Inferred). Managing Director Cameron Henry described the find as “an exciting new dimension” to the company’s strategy, underscoring rubidium’s growing importance in global supply chains.
Rubidium is a high-value specialty metal used in quantum computing, defence technologies, and advanced electronics.
It is recognised as a critical mineral by both the United States and Japan and currently trades at a significant premium to lithium. High-purity rubidium is priced at approximately US$1,060 per kilogram.
The company also revealed earlier metallurgical test work uncovered rubidium grades at up to 1.3% in mica-rich waste streams, particularly muscovite mica already being separated during lithium processing. This offers an additional revenue stream without major changes to current processing circuits.
“This resource enhances project sustainability and adds strategic value to Seymour,” said Mr Henry today. “Few companies are actively integrating rubidium by-product recovery into lithium operations. We’re uniquely positioned to capitalise on limited global supply and rising demand.”
The rubidium discovery could unlock access to new strategic funding, supported by its critical mineral status and location in Canada, close to the U.S. market and within reach of Japan. Both countries are focused on supply security for critical materials.
The global rubidium market is projected to grow from US$4.6B in 2023 to US$8B by 2033, a CAGR of 5.6%, according to Green Technology.
The Australian company now plans to pursue targeted test work to optimise rubidium recovery and integrate it into the broader Seymour development pathway, alongside its core lithium operations.
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