Power Minerals hits the ground running with sampling program at Gamma REE-uranium project

• First pass geological reconnaissance rock and stream sampling complete at Gamma project
• Field work highlighted good site access and identified 15 of 18 historical drilling sites
• Project previously produced results of up to 20,233 parts per million total rare earth oxides and 15,150ppm uranium

Special Report: Power Minerals has put boots on the ground, launching the first modern exploration campaign on the Gamma rare earths and uranium project in California.

Rock and sediment stream sampling has begun at the site, where high grades of rare earths and uranium oxide have been identified in the historical record.

The reconnaissance programs form part of Power Minerals’ (ASX:PNN) ongoing due diligence work, as the company executes an option to acquire Gamma, some 190km southwest of the Mountain Pass rare earth element mine.

MP Materials’ Mountain Pass mine has drawn high levels of attention in recent months as the only producing REE mine in the US. 

The mine has attracted investment of more than US$1 billion from the US Department of Defense and tech giant Apple.

PNN managing director Mena Habib said the company was energised by its initial site visit.

“Our team made an immediate start to field work, conducting a first-phase grab rock and stream sediment sampling program as part of due diligence for our option to acquire the project, and we look forward to receiving results from that work next month,” he said.

“The site visit confirmed that access to the project is very good, with tracks readily accessible and requiring only minor upgrades to facilitate future drilling and other exploration.”

Previous exploration at the Gamma project

The most recent exploration and drilling activity at the Gamma project was completed in 1976, almost fifty years ago.

PNN has successfully identified the locations of 15 of the 18 holes drilled by French American Metals Company (FRAMCO), but was unable to locate the remaining three.

Power Minerals is targeting areas of high-grade rare earth mineralisation at Gamma, following up on historical rock chip results.

Those results peaked at 20,233 parts per million total rare earth oxides, including 10,709ppm heavy rare earth oxides.

The project also holds uranium prospectivity, with historical rock chips of up to 15,150ppm uranium and drilling results of up to 6.25m at 1.3% uranium from 24.08m of depth.

PNN has submitted its new batch of samples to the lab and expects to receive results sometime in December.

This article was developed in collaboration with Power 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.