Besides confirming excellent grades of total rare earth element oxides (TREO), latest assays from diamond drilling also show the possible presence of nickel-cobalt and platinum-palladium at Victory Metals’ North Stanmore project.  

Adding further interest, the infill reverse circulation program across Victory Metals’ (ASX:VTM) North Stanmore REE project near Cue, Western Australia, has confirmed that valuable heavy rare earths make up to 74% of the REE mineralisation.

Designed for the initial mineral resource estimate scheduled for release in June, the program has pulled up results with an average TREO of 101ppm and significant rare earth element oxide concentrations totalling 35%.

Stand out results and grades include 15m at 1007ppm TREO from 29m, 20m at 829ppm TREO from 18m, 8m at 1807ppm TREO from 33m, and 8m at 1533ppm TREO from 33m which VTM says confirm the continuity of the REE system, originally identified by aircore drilling.

Meanwhile, diamond drilling assays from a three-hole 1029 program conducted at the end of last year has uncovered the presence of orthomagmatic primary nickel-cobalt (nickel-cobalt) and platinum-palladium (Pt-Pd) sulphide hosted mineralisation within the North Stanmore alkaline intrusion.

Results speak for themselves

VTM’s CEO Brendan Clark says he is pleased the results continue to prove themselves with great continuity between extensive drilling programs.

“It is also very encouraging that the diamond drilling of the alkaline intrusion has identified nickel and cobalt targets which warrant further exploration,” he adds.

“The RC drilling results continue to confirm excellent grades of TREO and more importantly significant ratios of HREO being the critical and more valuable rare earth elements.

“We are excited with the progress made regarding our initial metallurgical test work.”

Metallurgical test work

In conjunction, Victory Metals has engaged Core Metallurgy in Brisbane to carry out the metallurgical test work program with preliminary results expected at the end of April.

So far, the company can confirm that the leaching processes which have been undertaken are using a combined ammonium sulphate ((NH₄)₂SO₄) and an atmospheric weak sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) leach to extract the valuable HREOs.

Both recovery methods have important economic and environmental beneficial implications compared to hydrochloric acid (HCl).

Victory’s metallurgical approach considers long term economic and environmental benefits because both ammonium sulphate (NH₄)₂SO₄ and sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) are significantly less expensive and generally more readily available than hydrochloric acid (HCl).

 

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with Victory Metals, 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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