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Highlights
- Rimfire has commenced a seismic survey across the Fifield district in central NSW.
- The company recently moved to secure a 60% interest in the Avondale Project.
- Metallurgical studies are underway at the Murga Scandium Deposit.
- Shares of Rimfire have gained 20% over the past five days.
- Rimfire's Fifield district assets host a global scandium resource inventory of 10.6kt, positioning the company within a developing Australian scandium region.
Shares of Rimfire Pacific Mining (ASX:RIM) have gained around 20% over the past five days, as at 22 June 2026, as the company continues to advance multiple initiatives across its Fifield district assets in New South Wales. With seismic surveys underway, metallurgical studies progressing and ownership of the Avondale Project set to increase, Rimfire is expanding its footprint in a region that hosts several scandium deposits and has emerged as a key part of Australia's critical minerals landscape.
Seismic Survey to Support Future Drilling
Rimfire has commenced a 2D seismic survey across the central portion of its Fifield and Avondale projects. The nine-kilometre traverse is aimed at improving understanding of the geological setting surrounding the Murga Intrusive Complex, which hosts the Murga Scandium Deposit, and several structures associated with gold mineralisation, including the Sorpresa Gold Silver Deposit.
Results from the survey, which is being conducted by Velseis Pty Ltd, are expected in early July and will be used to support upcoming drilling programs.
Increasing Ownership of Avondale Project
Earlier this month, Rimfire announced that it will secure a 60% interest in the Avondale Project after partner Golden Plains Resources elected to vest its 40% stake under the earn-in agreement.
The project hosts the Melrose and Currajong scandium deposits, the Kars and Forest View scandium prospects, and the Kara Kara gold-copper prospect. Part of the Murga Scandium Deposit also lies within the project area, adding to Rimfire's resource base in the district.
Murga studies seek simpler processing routes
Metallurgical work is also underway at the Murga Scandium Deposit. Bottle-roll leach testing is being conducted to evaluate whether low-iron scandium mineralisation can be processed using atmospheric pressure techniques.
Initial findings are expected later this month. If successful, these methods could offer a less complex and less capital-intensive alternative to more complex extraction methods typically associated with scandium projects.
Why scandium is attracting attention
Scandium is considered a high-value critical mineral with applications spanning solid oxide fuel cells, advanced aerospace alloys and next-generation semiconductor technologies.
The metal is used to improve the efficiency and durability of solid oxide fuel cells, which are expected to play a role in powering AI data centres. Scandium-aluminium alloys are valued in the aerospace industry because they can reduce weight while maintaining strength, while aluminium-scandium-nitride materials are being explored for advanced communications and semiconductor applications.
Industry supply remains constrained, with refining capacity concentrated in a limited number of jurisdictions. Australia, and particularly New South Wales, is expected to play an important role in establishing alternative sources of supply.
Positioned in Australia's scandium hub
Rimfire's global scandium resource inventory at Fifield currently stands at 10.6Kt of scandium. The district is home to assets held by larger industry participants including Rio Tinto and Sunrise Energy Metals, highlighting its significance within Australia's scandium sector.
As exploration, metallurgical studies and project ownership continue to evolve, upcoming survey results and test work may provide further insights into the development potential of Rimfire's scandium portfolio within a market where future supply remains limited.
