Aruma Resources (#ASX:AAJ) has begun a rare earth element (REE) fieldwork program at its Saltwater Project to position itself with a first-mover advantage in an emerging REE province in Western Australia.
The company says fieldwork will consist of mapping and ‘extensive’ surface geochemical sampling over an 80km strike length of prospective stratigraphy for light and heavy REE. This work is supported by a mapped outcrop identified from a reconnaissance site visit by Aruma.
Aruma reports sampling will begin at a ‘high priority’ radiometric target with a strike length of up to 15km, located west of the Nobby’s prospect. Selected samples from this initial phase of sampling will be sent for laboratory analysis.
This round of sampling is hoped to warrant the start of a maiden REE-focused drilling program, subject to results, and is expected to progressively test the interpreted 80km strike.
The company notes it will also adopt a multi-commodity approach to its fieldwork at Saltwater and will assess the base and precious metals prospectivity in parallel with its REE focus.
Assay results from the surface sampling program are expected to be received in July and will be released to the market as they become available.
Speaking on the start of fieldwork, Aruma Resources Managing Director Glenn Grayson says: “We are excited by the REE potential of the Saltwater Project, which we are of the view represents a significant underexplored REE opportunity in what is as an emerging REE province.
“We are excited by the REE potential of the Saltwater Project, which we are of the view represents a significant underexplored REE opportunity in what is as an emerging REE province.”
We have defined an extensive interpreted strike of 80km, which will be systematically explored for its REE potential, and we believe that our ground holding is amongst the most prospective REE tenure in the region.
Given the burgeoning demand for critical rare earth elements, our fieldwork is designed to aggressively and systematically unlock the REE potential of the project.”
The company notes this program is being undertaken following the extension of the gold-mineralised footprint at its Salmon Gums Gold Project, also in Western Australia, as announced by Aruma last week (26 May 2023).
Aruma stated drilling encountered the newly defined ‘Rose’ prospect and succeeded in extending gold mineralisation at the priority Iris and Thistle prospects.
Aruma Resources is an ASX-listed minerals exploration company focused on the exploration and development of its portfolio of prospective gold and lithium projects strategically located in major, active Australian gold mineralised belts in Western Australia.
The company’s Saltwater Project is located within the Pilbara region of Western Australia and was originally pegged by Aruma in 2020 for its gold prospectivity. Exploration to date has included 2 phases of reverse circulation (RC) drilling within a targeted area of the project.
The project is also situated adjacent to Dreadnought Resources’ (ASX:DRE) Bresnahan REE Project, which has returned ‘significant’ initial heavy REE results.
Write to Adam Drought at Mining.com.au
Images: Aruma Resources Ltd
