Mount Ridley pushes high-grade scandium beyond Grass Patch resources
Original announcement by stockhead on
- Company
- Mount Ridley Mines
- Ticker
- MRD
- Exchange
- Unavailable
- Region
- Unavailable
- Primary commodity
- Scandium
- Secondary commodities
- Gallium, Rare earths
- Document categories
- Drill results, Resource update, Metallurgy
- Extracted
- 2026-09-23 03:03:58 UTC
Analysis by Minestarters Atlas
Atlas analysis published:
Minestarters Atlas analysis
Summary
Mount Ridley Mines has reported Phase 2 re-assay results that extend scandium mineralisation up to 8km beyond the current Grass Patch resource boundaries. The new intercepts, including up to 124.6ppm Sc2O3, sit above existing resource grades and support a broader mineralisation system. Additionally, proprietary Selectro testwork reported a 91.8% scandium recovery from a single composite.
Reasoning: Phase 2 re-assays have successfully extended the scandium footprint significantly beyond existing resource limits with high-grade intercepts.
Positive factors
- High-grade scandium intercepts extending 8km beyond current resource boundaries
- New intercepts exceed current Block 1 and Block 2 resource grades
- Strong metallurgical recovery results (91.8%) reported via proprietary Selectro process
- Significant resource scale (946Mt) provides large footprint for expansion
Negative factors
- Resource is currently 100% Inferred category
- Metallurgical results are laboratory scale and do not establish commercial economics
Facts used in scoring: 6
Classification and evidence
Step-Out Extensionpositive
Mineralization extended beyond the previously known limit.
Why it applies: Phase 2 re-assays define mineralisation up to 8km outside current resource boundaries.
Evidence · text
“Phase 2 re-assays extend high-grade scandium 8km beyond current resources”
Inferred Resourcenegative
Speculative category — limited drilling, geological continuity assumed but not confirmed. Cannot support economic studies alone.
Why it applies: The existing resource is stated to be entirely in the inferred category.
Evidence · text
“all in the inferred category”
High Recoverypositive
Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: Reported 91.8% scandium recovery via Selectro testwork.
Evidence · text
“reported 91.8% scandium recovery”
Single Domain Onlynegative
Testing limited to one composite or domain — representativeness not established.
Why it applies: only one composite was tested
Extracted facts
Stored fact records: 6. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.
Drill Results (4)
Fact 1Grass Patch · scandiumGrade: 102.09Grade Unit: ppm Sc2O3Intercept: 40 mNeeds review: drill_no_hole_idView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Grass Patch
- Commodity
- scandium
- Region
- australia
- Reported Region
- australia
- Ticker
- MRD
Geometry
- Grade
- 102.09
- Grade Unit
- ppm Sc2O3
- Intercept
- 40 m
- From
- 18 m
- To
- 58 m
- Intercept Depth
- 18 m
Classification
- Sample Type
- drill
- Group ID
- Grass_Patch:18-58
QA/QC
- QA/QC Disclosed
- Yes
- QA/QC Methods
- standards, blanks
Review
- Needs Review
- Yes
- Review Reason
- drill_no_hole_id
- Interp. Status
- scored
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 40m at 102.09ppm Sc2O3 is a strong intercept exceeding Block 1/2 averages.
Positive factors
- High grade relative to existing resource
Evidence · text
“40m at 102.09ppm Sc2O3 from 18m”
Tags used in scoring
QA/QC Disclosedpositive
Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods (blanks, standards, duplicates).
Why it applies: qaqc_disclosed is true
Cut-off Undisclosednegative
High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing.
Why it applies: no cutoff_grade was stated
Fact 2Grass Patch · scandiumGrade: 119.41Grade Unit: ppm Sc2O3Intercept: 22 mNeeds review: drill_no_hole_idView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Grass Patch
- Commodity
- scandium
- Region
- australia
- Reported Region
- australia
- Ticker
- MRD
Geometry
- Grade
- 119.41
- Grade Unit
- ppm Sc2O3
- Intercept
- 22 m
- From
- 12 m
- To
- 34 m
- Intercept Depth
- 12 m
Classification
- Sample Type
- drill
- Group ID
- Grass_Patch:12-34
QA/QC
- QA/QC Disclosed
- Yes
- QA/QC Methods
- standards, blanks
Review
- Needs Review
- Yes
- Review Reason
- drill_no_hole_id
- Interp. Status
- scored
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 22m at 119.41ppm Sc2O3 is a strong intercept.
Positive factors
- High grade relative to existing resource
Evidence · text
“22m at 119.41ppm from 12m”
Tags used in scoring
QA/QC Disclosedpositive
Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods (blanks, standards, duplicates).
Why it applies: qaqc_disclosed is true
Cut-off Undisclosednegative
High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing.
Why it applies: no cutoff_grade was stated
Fact 3Grass Patch · scandiumGrade: 113.38Grade Unit: ppm Sc2O3Intercept: 19 mNeeds review: drill_no_hole_idView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Grass Patch
- Commodity
- scandium
- Region
- australia
- Reported Region
- australia
- Ticker
- MRD
Geometry
- Grade
- 113.38
- Grade Unit
- ppm Sc2O3
- Intercept
- 19 m
- From
- 20 m
- To
- 39 m
- Intercept Depth
- 20 m
Classification
- Sample Type
- drill
- Group ID
- Grass_Patch:20-39
QA/QC
- QA/QC Disclosed
- Yes
- QA/QC Methods
- standards, blanks
Review
- Needs Review
- Yes
- Review Reason
- drill_no_hole_id
- Interp. Status
- scored
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 19m at 113.38ppm Sc2O3 is a strong intercept.
Positive factors
- High grade relative to existing resource
Evidence · text
“19m at 113.38ppm from 20m”
Tags used in scoring
QA/QC Disclosedpositive
Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods (blanks, standards, duplicates).
Why it applies: qaqc_disclosed is true
Cut-off Undisclosednegative
High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing.
Why it applies: no cutoff_grade was stated
Fact 4Grass Patch · scandiumGrade: 124.6Grade Unit: ppm Sc2O3Intercept: 13 mNeeds review: drill_no_hole_idView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Grass Patch
- Commodity
- scandium
- Region
- australia
- Reported Region
- australia
- Ticker
- MRD
Geometry
- Grade
- 124.6
- Grade Unit
- ppm Sc2O3
- Intercept
- 13 m
- From
- 16 m
- To
- 29 m
- Intercept Depth
- 16 m
Classification
- Sample Type
- drill
- Group ID
- Grass_Patch:16-29
QA/QC
- QA/QC Disclosed
- Yes
- QA/QC Methods
- standards, blanks
Review
- Needs Review
- Yes
- Review Reason
- drill_no_hole_id
- Interp. Status
- scored
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 13m at 124.6ppm Sc2O3 is a strong intercept.
Positive factors
- High grade relative to existing resource
Evidence · text
“13m at 124.6ppm from 16m”
Tags used in scoring
QA/QC Disclosedpositive
Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods (blanks, standards, duplicates).
Why it applies: qaqc_disclosed is true
Cut-off Undisclosednegative
High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing.
Why it applies: no cutoff_grade was stated
Resource Estimates (1)
inferredscandiumTonnes: 946000000Grade: 50.1Grade Unit: ppmContained Metal: 47357Contained Unit: tView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Commodity
- scandium
- Ticker
- MRD
Resource scope
- Estimate type
- resource
- Reporting standards
- jorc
- Resource group id
- resource:028f3b9cc53852f04fa0
Resource Data
- Category
- inferred
- Tonnes
- 946000000
- Grade
- 50.1
- Grade Unit
- ppm
- Contained Metal
- 47357
- Contained Unit
- t
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Existing resource is large but entirely in the inferred category.
Positive factors
- Large scale resource
Negative factors
- All inferred
Evidence · text
“946Mt at 50.1ppm scandium for 47,357t of contained scandium , all in the inferred category”
Tags used in scoring
Inferred Resourcenegative
Speculative category — limited drilling, geological continuity assumed but not confirmed. Cannot support economic studies alone.
Why it applies: category is "inferred"
Cut-off Undisclosednegative
High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing.
Why it applies: no cutoff_grade was stated
JORC Compliantpositive
Resource estimate prepared in compliance with JORC Code (Australia) — high reporting standard.
Why it applies: reporting_standards includes jorc
No QP/CP Disclosurenegative
No Qualified Person or Competent Person named — lower credibility for the estimate. A QP/CP should be a member of a recognized professional association with relevant experience.
Why it applies: no Qualified or Competent Person is named anywhere in the release
Metallurgical Results (1)
Selectro testworkscandiumRecovery: 91.8 %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Commodity
- scandium
- Ticker
- MRD
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- Selectro testwork
- Processing Route
- Selectro
- Sample
- single unbeneficiated Grass Patch composite
Recovery
- Recovery
- 91.8 %
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 91.8% recovery is strong but limited to laboratory scale testing.
Positive factors
- High recovery
Negative factors
- Laboratory scale only
Evidence · text
“Selectro testwork reported 91.8% scandium recovery from a single unbeneficiated Grass Patch composite”
How Atlas produces this analysis
Minestarters Atlas uses automated extraction to summarize mining announcements, identify reported measurements, and classify supporting evidence. Sentiment reflects the extracted narrative and classification rules; it is an interpretation, not a reported measurement. Evidence quotes and context are provided where available. Missing data, low-confidence results, and review flags indicate limitations. Check the original publisher announcement before relying on an interpretation.