The company is investigating the projects’ potential to host an ionic clay deposit. Pic: via: Getty Images.
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Lanthanein Resources has applied for additional tenure at its Murraydium project in South Australia after roadside drilling hit a highlight 1m at 2,420ppm TREO (Total Rare Earth Oxide) last month.
This drill program targeted ionic clay hosted rare earths within the Loxton-Parilla Sands unit which is present throughout the Murray Basin in South Australia and Victoria.
Ionic clay hosted deposits are highly sought after, as they typically contain a higher proportion of magnet earths, the type critical for use in wind turbines and electric vehicles.
Clay hosted deposits are also ostensibly easier to explore, drill and mine than their hard rock counterparts.
Loxton Parilla Sands are the same formation that hosts Australian Rare Earths’ (ASX:AR3) advanced Koppamurra resource of 186Mt at 712 ppm TREO.
Lanthanein Resources’ (ASX:LNR) maiden drilling confirmed the Murraydium project’s prospectivity last month, returning assays of 2m at 1,560ppm TREO (including 1m at 2,420ppm) from 19m, and 2m at 808ppm TREO (including 1m at 1264ppm) from 14m.
Both hits included a combined +20% neodymium/praseodymium and ~2% dysprosium – high values REEs used in the manufacture of permanent magnets.
The new Exploration licence application is immediately adjacent to the two drill holes and covers further projected occurrences of the Loxton Parilla Sands to the north and east.
“As a result of the significant assay results received from the roadside drilling program immediately adjacent to the eastern boundary of the Bordertown Block at the Murraydium project in the South East of South Australia, we have applied for tenure to the east and north of those drill hits,” LNR technical director Brian Thomas said.
“These significant results once again confirm the exciting exploration opportunity in the region for ionic clay hosted rare earth deposits as evidenced by AR3 who have outlined an extensive mineralised system at Koppamurra where shallow near surface exploration has delineated a recently upgraded JORC Resource of REEs.”
The initial exploration on the new tenement will consist of reconnaissance air core drilling on the roadside verges controlled by the local government authorities in locations that are not covered by exempt land provisions such as being 400m from a residence or 150m from a dam, spring or reservoir.
Should the reconnaissance roadside drilling encounter significant REE occurrences the company will then commence negotiations with the adjacent private land holder to gain access to their paddocks to enable the conduct more systematic exploration.
In the meantime, metallurgical test work testing desorption and leach responses on the intersections to date will be carried out to confirm that — as is the case at Koppamurra — the REE mineralisation in the Loxton Parilla Sands at Murraydium are in fact ionic clay deposits.
This article was developed in collaboration with Lanthanein Resources, 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.
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