Galaxy Resources
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAustralian lithium mining company that developed and operated lithium assets in Australia, Argentina, and Canada before merging with Orocobre to form Allkem in 2021.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Galaxy Resources Limited was an Australian public mining company focused on lithium development and production. Its principal operating asset was the Mt Cattlin spodumene and tantalite mine near Ravensthorpe in Western Australia. The company also advanced the Sal de Vida lithium brine project in Argentina and the James Bay Lithium Pegmatite Project in Quebec, Canada. These assets gave Galaxy exposure to two major lithium-development models: hard-rock spodumene mining in Australia and brine-based lithium extraction in South America, with a further hard-rock exploration and development position in Canada. Mt Cattlin was the company's established producing asset. Mining began in 2009, but operations were suspended in 2012 and the mine was placed on care and maintenance from 2013 until 2016. Galaxy refurbished the processing plant and restarted mining in March 2016; first tantalum production from the restarted operation followed in May of that year. The mine produced spodumene concentrate as its principal lithium product and also had a tantalum stream. Mt Cattlin was important to Galaxy's transition from a project developer into a lithium producer, while its performance remained exposed to mine-plant reliability, concentrate quality, commodity prices, and the capital requirements of restarting a previously idled operation. The Sal de Vida project covered parts of the Hombre Muerto salar in Argentina's Salta and Catamarca provinces. Galaxy pursued it as a large-scale lithium brine development intended to produce lithium chemicals, particularly lithium carbonate, rather than only a mined mineral concentrate. The project was at the development stage during Galaxy's existence. In 2018, Galaxy sold a northern package of tenements on the Hombre Muerto salar to South Korean conglomerate POSCO for US$280 million. The transaction reduced Galaxy's land position while allowing it to retain its stated original proven and probable reserves of 1.14 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent. The company's reported measured and indicated resource at 2016 was 5.67 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent. Galaxy also owned the James Bay Lithium Pegmatite Project in Quebec, Canada. This project was at a development stage and represented an additional hard-rock lithium opportunity in a jurisdiction outside Australia and Argentina. Together, the three projects formed a geographically diversified portfolio, although the assets were at different points in the mining lifecycle: Mt Cattlin was operating, while Sal de Vida and James Bay required further development, permitting, investment, and technical execution. In May 2016, Galaxy announced a merger with General Mining Corporation, its joint-venture partner in the Mt Cattlin mine. The transaction consolidated the ownership and operating interests associated with the Western Australian asset. Galaxy later pursued a larger corporate combination with Orocobre, another lithium producer. The two companies completed their merger in August 2021, creating Allkem. Galaxy Resources consequently ceased to exist as a separately listed company and its projects became part of the successor group's broader lithium portfolio. The brand is therefore best understood as a defunct Australian lithium mining company whose assets and corporate legacy continued under Allkem and, subsequently, its corporate successors.
History
Galaxy Resources was an Australian public mining company built around a portfolio of lithium assets in Australia, Argentina, and Canada. Its most developed operation was Mt Cattlin, a spodumene-tantalite mine near Ravensthorpe in Western Australia. The mine began operating in 2009, making it the company's principal route into lithium production. Operations did not continue uninterrupted: mining ended in 2012, and the site was placed on care and maintenance from 2013 through 2016. This period reflected the challenges of operating and processing a relatively specialized hard-rock mineral resource in changing commodity and project conditions. Galaxy later invested in refurbishing the Mt Cattlin processing plant and restarted mining in March 2016. First tantalum production from the restarted operation was recorded in May 2016. The restart transformed Mt Cattlin from an idled asset into the producing foundation of Galaxy's business. Its principal lithium output was spodumene concentrate, while tantalum provided an additional mineral stream. In May 2016, Galaxy announced a merger with General Mining Corporation, its joint-venture partner at Mt Cattlin. The combination consolidated the interests associated with the mine and strengthened Galaxy's control over its core producing asset. Alongside Mt Cattlin, Galaxy developed the Sal de Vida lithium brine project in Argentina. The project was located on the Hombre Muerto salar across the provinces of Salta and Catamarca. Unlike Mt Cattlin, which was based on hard-rock mining and concentrate production, Sal de Vida was intended as a brine development capable of supporting lithium chemical production, particularly lithium carbonate. Galaxy's stated 2016 measured and indicated resource for the broader project was 5.67 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent, while its original proven and probable reserves were stated at 1.14 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent. Galaxy changed the composition of its Argentine land position in 2018 by selling a northern package of tenements on the Hombre Muerto salar to POSCO, a South Korean conglomerate. The sale was reported at US$280 million. According to the available account, the transaction enabled Galaxy to retain its original proven and probable reserve position while monetizing part of the broader land package. The deal illustrated Galaxy's use of asset transactions to finance and focus its lithium development portfolio. The company's third major project was the James Bay Lithium Pegmatite Project in Quebec, Canada. It was at a development stage during Galaxy's existence and gave the company exposure to another hard-rock lithium district outside Western Australia. The portfolio therefore combined an operating mine with development-stage projects in South America and North America. This geographic and geological diversification was central to Galaxy's identity as a lithium resource company, although each project carried different permitting, infrastructure, technical, and financing requirements. Galaxy's final major corporate transition was its merger with Orocobre, another lithium producer. The transaction was completed in August 2021 and created Allkem. Galaxy's separate listing and corporate identity ended as a result. Its principal assets and development projects continued within the newly formed group. Galaxy Resources is therefore a defunct brand and former public company whose historical importance lies in the development of a multi-jurisdictional lithium portfolio, the restart and operation of Mt Cattlin, the advancement and partial monetization of Sal de Vida, and its contribution to the creation of Allkem.
- 2021
Merger with Orocobre creates Allkem
[1]Galaxy merged with Orocobre in August, creating Allkem and ending Galaxy's independent corporate existence.
- 2018
Northern Hombre Muerto tenements sold to POSCO
[1]Galaxy sold a northern group of tenements on Argentina's Hombre Muerto salar to POSCO for US$280 million.
- 2016
Mt Cattlin restarts
[1]Following processing-plant refurbishment, Galaxy recommenced mining at Mt Cattlin in March and recorded first tantalum production in May.
- 2016
Merger with General Mining Corporation announced
[1]Galaxy announced a merger with its Mt Cattlin joint-venture partner, General Mining Corporation.
- 2013
Mt Cattlin enters care and maintenance
[1]The mine was placed on care and maintenance, a status it retained until its later restart.
- 2012
Mt Cattlin operations stop
[1]Mining at Mt Cattlin ceased after operating from 2009.
- 2009
Mt Cattlin begins operations
[1]The Mt Cattlin spodumene-tantalite mine in Western Australia began operating.
Products and positioning
A geographically diversified lithium resource company combining an operating Australian spodumene mine with development-stage brine and hard-rock projects in Argentina and Canada.
Lithium mineral concentrate
Spodumene concentrate
Galaxy's principal mined product came from the Mt Cattlin hard-rock operation in Western Australia. Spodumene concentrate is a lithium-bearing mineral product produced by processing pegmatite ore and is used as a feedstock for downstream lithium chemicals. Mt Cattlin was Galaxy's established producing asset after its 2016 restart.
Lithium chemical
Lithium carbonate
Lithium carbonate was the intended principal chemical product associated with the Sal de Vida brine project in Argentina. Sal de Vida was at the development stage during Galaxy's existence, so it should be treated as a planned project output rather than a confirmed historical Galaxy production line.
Specialty mineral · 2016
Tantalum
Tantalum was an associated mineral output from the Mt Cattlin mine. Following the mine restart in 2016, Galaxy reported first tantalum production in May of that year. It complemented the operation's primary lithium-focused spodumene concentrate business.
Brand decisions
2021
Merge with OrocobreM&ABackground
Galaxy and Orocobre were fellow lithium producers with complementary assets and sought to combine their businesses.
Action taken
The companies completed a merger in August 2021 and created the Allkem group.
Aftermath
Galaxy Resources ceased to operate as a separate listed company, while its assets continued within Allkem.
2018
Sell a northern Hombre Muerto tenement package to POSCOStrategyBackground
Galaxy held a broad land position on Argentina's Hombre Muerto salar through its Sal de Vida project.
Action taken
Galaxy sold tenements in the northern part of the salar to POSCO for US$280 million.
Aftermath
The transaction reduced Galaxy's land position while allowing it to maintain its stated original proven and probable reserves of 1.14 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent.
Sale consideration. US$280 million (2018)
2016
Restart Mt Cattlin after plant refurbishmentStrategyBackground
Mt Cattlin had operated from 2009 to 2012 and then remained on care and maintenance from 2013. Galaxy's Western Australian portfolio needed a producing asset to support its lithium strategy.
Action taken
Galaxy refurbished the processing plant and recommenced mining at Mt Cattlin in March 2016, with first tantalum production following in May.
Aftermath
The restart returned the mine to operation and made Mt Cattlin the company's principal producing asset.
Recent events
Sources2 sources
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