Quantum Announces 93% Gallium Recovery

On November 13, 2025, Quantum Critical Metals announced breakthrough metallurgical test results for its NMX East Project in Québec. The company achieved a 93% recovery of gallium from mica samples. The CEO, Marcy Kiesman, stated this is a "strategically significant milestone" and the next step is to validate the process at a larger scale. The goal is to establish a domestic Canadian gallium supply for North America, reducing reliance on China.

The announcement of a 93% gallium recovery from metallurgical testing is a material positive event. For an early-stage exploration project, demonstrating a high recovery rate is a critical de-risking milestone. While finding mineralization is the first step, proving it can be extracted efficiently and potentially economically is what creates value.

This news directly follows up on the company's stated strategy. - On May 30 and July 25, 2025, Quantum announced it was prioritizing metallurgical work to "solve the processing piece first." This result validates that unconventional approach. - On September 5, 2025, the company identified mica as the key host mineral for gallium at NMX East. Today's news confirms that gallium can be effectively liberated from this host.

The result significantly advances the gallium potential of the NMX East project, which had recently seen more news flow related to its secondary nickel-PGE target (airborne surveys announced on September 22 and October 2). This news re-establishes the gallium component as a primary value driver.

However, as a critical analyst, it's crucial to note this is a lab-scale result. The CEO's own statement highlights the next major hurdle: "validate the process at scale." Scaling up metallurgical processes can introduce unforeseen complexities and economic challenges. While 93% recovery is an excellent starting point, the costs associated with achieving this at a commercial scale are still unknown.

Overall, the news is a significant step forward, confirming the company's exploration thesis and technical approach. It improves the project's fundamental value but does not eliminate future technical and economic risks.

Quantum Critical Metals Corp., formerly Durango Resources Inc. (name change effective March 17, 2025), is a Canadian junior exploration company focused on critical minerals essential for high-tech, defense, and green energy applications. The company holds a portfolio of 100% owned projects in Québec and British Columbia.

The company's flagship asset is the NMX East Project in the James Bay region of Québec. This project is notable for having two distinct exploration targets: 1. Critical Metals (Gallium, Rubidium, Cesium): Hosted in mica within pegmatite rock, as confirmed by drilling and recent metallurgical testing. This target is driven by the global need for secure, non-Chinese sources of these metals. 2. Polymetallic (Nickel-PGE): Based on geophysical surveys that have identified a magnetic anomaly similar in character to the neighboring Nisk deposit owned by Power Metallic Mines.

The company also holds several other projects, including the Discovery Project (Ga-Rb-Cs), Victory Project (Antimony), and Prophecy Project (Germanium-Gallium-Zinc).