Andromeda Metals (ASX: ADN) reports that potential JV partner Cobra Resources (LON: COBR) has uncovered rare earth mineralisation at the Clarke prospect within the Wudinna Gold Project on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula.
The discovery was identified in saprolitic clays overlying gold mineralisation, with average true width of defined Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO) mineralisation of 18.7m at an average grade of 597ppm. The highest-grade TREO 1m intercept was 9,024ppm.
The results were generated from a 14-hole, 2,144m RC drilling program undertaken in November 2021, along with reanalyses of previous drilling at Clarke.
Cobra is in the process of earning-in to a 50% equity position at the project via $2.1 million in exploration spend over 3 years. The company’s geologists, supported by CSIRO XRD analysis and evaluation, have interpreted the rare earths as being absorbed in to the saprolitic clays, a style of mineralisation known as Ionic Absorbed Clays (IAC). If the discovery is confirmed to be IAC, the grades and intercepted widths will compare ‘favourably’ to other IAC rare earth projects.
The rare earth mineralisation is open in all directions, and the continuity and consistency of mineralisation indicate that there may be ‘significant’ opportunity to increase the extent of the mineralisation’s footprint.
Similar saprolite horizons were also developed over the Barns, White Tank, and Baggy Green Deposits. Andromeda notes that targeted REE analyses of the drill samples used to define these deposits present a ‘low-cost’ exploration opportunity to define further rare earth mineralisation in the region.
Results from the 2021 RC drilling program at Clarke, plotted over total magnetic Intensity. Image: Andromeda Metals LtdIn addition, the November RC program at Clarke has extended gold mineralisation over 400m of strike, split into two lodes, and remaining open to the northwest. Significant intercepts include:
- Hole CBRC0050: 33m @ 1.03g/t Au from 65m
- Hole CBRC0043: 20m @ 1.5g/t Au from 88m
The Wudinna Gold Project is a 2,027km² land holding in the Gawler Craton and comprises a cluster of gold prospects including Barns, White Tank, and Baggy Green. Clarke is situated approximately 1.75km north of the Baggy Green Inferred Gold Resource which stands at 94,000 ounces @ 1.4g/t gold.
Moving forward, plans are underway for further RC drilling to test for both lateral and depth extensions at Clarke. The complete results from this program will form the foundation for a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate at the deposit.
