With global interest in rare earth elements soaring and exploration activity growing in close proximity to its project areas, Moho is putting its Burracoppin project under the lens.

While the company had first farmed into the project back in 2015 and identified significant gold and silver mineralisation at the Crossroads prospect, project partner IGO’s (30%) recent move to snap up ground in the Central Wheatbelt has been intriguing to say the least.

IGO had earlier this year applied for 10 exploration licences and acquired 11 privately owned licences and applications – collectively known as the Lake Champion project – after identifying the area as having high prospectivity for REEs, in particular some valuable, heavy REEs.

The major miner has flagged that it will use an in-house model for paleochannel-hosted HREE concentration in the Lake Campion area to drive exploration and plans to apply very low impact passive seismic to map the near surface regolith and to then target specific areas for sampling and possible drilling.

This activity close to its project has led Moho Resources (ASX:MOH) to task its consultant geochemist Richard Carver to review its available (and substantial) geochemical database to identify areas within its Burracoppin tenements that may host REEs and other critical minerals.

Results from this preliminary work are expected to be released soon.

“The company is well placed to capitalise on its strategically located projects for rare earths,” managing director Ralph Winter said.

“The expanding supply shortages for rare earth minerals will provide Moho with opportunities to create value for the company and its shareholders.”

More than one tilt at REEs

Burracoppin is far from the company’s only project with potential to host REEs.

Moho has also noted that an ionic adsorption clay-hosted REE province has been rapidly expanding in the Ravensthorpe-Esperance region with several explorers taking up significant landholdings.

IAC mineralisation is typically cheaper to process while hosting large quantities of highly sought after magnet REEs.

Its shallow nature also makes it easy to explore for, with the company noting that the flat lying clays close to surface can be tested with aircore drilling.

Moho added that with neighbouring companies undertaking extensive exploration and commencing metallurgical studies, it leverages these results to quickly assess and progress the scope, scale and nature of the REE mineralisation on its own tenements at the Peak Charles project about 70km northwest of Esperance.

Peak Charles, one of seven exploration projects arising from the agreement with Whistlepipe Exploration in October last year, was initially considered to be prospective for nickel and associated battery and precious metals.

It benefits from its proximity to essential infrastructure such as rail, port and air services and is well serviced with a readily available skilled local workforce in nearby Esperance and other towns in WA’s Great Southern region.

The company is currently reviewing historical data prior to embarking on a field program.

It also plans to expand its assessment of the potential for battery metal elements and REE to all its exploration projects with Carver currently reviewing REE assay data from bottom of hole samples collected from aircore drill holes at the Empress Springs Project in 2018-19.

 

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Moho 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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