Taiton Resources has kicked off an UltraFine (UF) soils survey at its Highway rare earths project in the Gawler Craton of South Australia to bolster its upcoming drill program.

UF soil geochemistry is a method developed by the CSIRO to help see through shallow to moderate cover, and targets the <2 μm size fraction within the same soil horizon as conventional soil sampling, at a nominal sample depth of 25cm.

This method has been used in South Australia by multiple exploration companies and the Geological Survey of South Australia where its indications are positive in target generation.

The company says the survey will help it better understand the geological nature of the project, and to uncover the geochemical signatures of prospective targets in a cost-effective manner over a large area.

The scale of the potential hydrothermal system in place requires the company to look at all potential styles of mineralisation in the region, with the plan to analyse for the full suite of elements including molybdenum, base metals, and rare earth elements.

 

More data to double down on drill targets

“The company has been looking toward the geochemical collection phase as the first path towards discovery for the company,” Taiton Resources (ASX:T88) managing director Noel Ong said.

“The potential of a large discovery is still in front of us, but this is still an exciting time because we have been working hard to get to this phase since December 2022.

“The soil collection will complement the upcoming drilling program as the findings of the soil survey will be able to help the exploration team in vectoring targets.

“The company has always been upfront in our belief that the drilling may possibly open this part of the Gawler Craton as a new mineral province in South Australia.”

 

Tapping into the region’s REE potential

The program will be completed across a 5km-by-5km area covering the alteration on the surface based on geophysical and geological data collection and interpretation.

Notably, zircon geochronological work conducted at the project has indicated the company is tapping into the same mineralisation of the Olympic Dam IOCG belt.

And the company believes there is also great potential for the discovery of rare earth mineralisation – especially considering neighbour Indiana Resources (ASX:IDA), which abuts Taiton’s tenements, has recently extended its REE target zone at the Minos prospect within the Central Gawler Craton Exploration Project (CGCP).

 

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Taiton 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.

Read MoreRare Earths

Featured Companies

You might be interested in