Rio Tinto has extracted its first primary gallium from bauxite processed in Quebec, marking a key milestone in its partnership with Indium Corporation to develop North American supply of the critical mineral.
The gallium was recovered from material produced at Rio Tinto’s alumina refinery in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean—the only such facility in Canada—and the initial extraction was carried out at Indium Corporation’s research and development facility in Rome, New York.
The companies are now entering a pilot phase to assess gallium extraction techniques at a larger scale. If successful, Rio Tinto plans to build a demonstration plant in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean with financial support from the Quebec government, which has committed up to C$7 million ($4.9 million). The proposed plant would have the capacity to produce up to 3.5 tonnes of gallium per year.
According to Rio Tinto, a future…
