30 niobium targets, already? Summit makes a solid start to exploration at Equador project

Multispectral analysis targeting niobium mineralisation at Equador project in Brazil has identified 30 targets
Fieldwork has established that the Sentinel 2 and ultraviolet spectral data sets broadly correlate to areas of identified tourmaline pegmatite
A drilling campaign is planned for later in the year

Special report: Summit Minerals has identified 30 targets via multispectral analysis targeting niobium at its newly acquired Equador project in Brazil.

Summit Minerals (ASX:SUM) entered into a binding deal to acquire the Juazeirinho, Equador, Aratapira, Santa Sousa, and Herecules North and South projects in the mining friendly and commodity-rich states of Minas Gerais and Praiba last month.

The niobium and rare earth element (REE) tenement package (Juazeirinho, Equador, Aratapira, and Santa Sous) cover a combined area of 107.47km2 across 11 granted tenements in Brazil’s Borborema Pegmatitic Province (BPP), Paraiba state.

SUM says the province is one of the world’s most important sources of tantalum, rare earth elements (REEs), and beryllium and produces significant quantities of gemstones.

Since acquisition, the company has wasted little time getting off the mark with activities which included due diligence on historical results at both Juazeirinho and Equador.

At Ecuador, a stand-out sample contained 303,400ppm Nb2O5 (30.34%) and 15,130ppm pREO (1.513%).

Just nine of the 17 rare earth elements were analysed at Ecuador and Juazerinho by previous owners, suggesting actual concentrations could be higher.

30 florescent targets require follow-up investigation

Multispectral analysis targeting niobium mineralisation at Equador has identified 30 florescent targets that require priority field confirmation and follow up.

SUM engaged image processing specialist Dr Neil Pendock of Dirt Exploration to evaluate the prospectivity of the Equador project via Sentinel-2 visible/near-infrared (VNIR), shortwave infrared (SWIR]) and ALOS AVNIR-2 satellite imagery.

REE metals have many diagnostic spectral features in the VNIR, while some important minerals (such as lepidolite, diamonds, fluorite, niobium, erbium, ytterbium, and neodymium) fluoresce, allowing for their detection.

Tantalite and niobium potential confirmed

“The Equador projects already showing its potential, with the identification of several pegmatite bodies and many historical workings where tantalite and niobium have been found,” SUM managing director Gower He says.

Interpreted niobium targets. Pic: Summit Minerals

“Dr Neil Pendock of Dirt Exploration’s multispectral review has quickly identified further potential areas of pegmatite and niobium mineralisation and will be invaluable in guiding our early exploration work.”

Drilling campaign targeted for later in the year

The fieldwork has established that the Sentinel 2 and ultraviolet spectral data sets broadly correlate to areas of identified tourmaline pegmatite, which has been sampled for lithium, REE, niobium, and tantalum mineralisation.

Dr Pendock continues to examine similar multispectral data for the company’s Minas Gerais portfolio.

Meanwhile, Summit’s early exploration plans for Equador include a comprehensive project review and drone aeromagnetic survey in the lead-up to selecting exploration contractors for a drilling campaign planned to commence later in the year.

This article was developed in collaboration with Summit Minerals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.