Minerals explorer Aruma Resources (ASX:AAJ) has unearthed ‘significant’ rare earth elements (REEs) and cobalt following initial reconnaissance fieldwork at its Saltwater Project in Western Australia.
The company says results are ‘highly encouraging’ and have been generated from its first phase of surface sampling at the project. These results are interpreted to share similarities to those seen at Dreadnought Resources’ (ASX:DRE) neighbouring Bresnahan REE Project.
Results also demonstrate the presence of anomalous lead-zinc in conjunction with the already identified commodities, reaffirming the project’s potential to host unconformity heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) and base metal deposits.
Aruma reports these results, paired with elevations of phosphorus, strontium, and thorium, as well as with the presence of ‘significant’ barium and manganese, offer initial encouragement for the potential of Saltwater to host a VMS or MVT-style mineralisation system.
As a result, mapping and infill surface sampling at priority areas is expected to begin this month to develop drill targets in conjunction with ongoing systematic sampling.
Current sampling is targeting the interpreted 80km strike of favourable stratigraphy at Saltwater and is working to define additional areas of interest.
Key results include hole AR12232 with 1158 parts per million (ppm) total rare earth oxide (TREO); 25% neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr)/TREO and 21% heavy rare earth oxide (HREO)/TREO; and hole AR12291 with 1022ppm TREO; 25% NdPr/TREO and 27% HREO/TREO.
Commenting on the results, Aruma Resources Managing Director Glenn Grayson says: “We are delighted with the initial results from our first phase of REE-focused field work at Saltwater. The sampling program represents our first stage of on-ground REE work at the project, and the results have exceeded expectations, reaffirming our view of Saltwater’s potential for hosting unconformity HREEs.
“We are delighted with the initial results from our first phase of REE-focused field work at Saltwater”
These initial results constitute a resounding success for our exploration approach thus far. Furthermore, the grades of the surface samples for base metals are exciting and provide an additional exploration focus at the Saltwater Project. This potential will be further investigated in the company’s ongoing fieldwork at Saltwater.”
Aruma Resources is an ASX-listed mineral explorer focused on the exploration and development of a portfolio of prospective gold and lithium projects strategically located in major active mineralised belts in Western Australia.
The company’s Saltwater Project is located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia and was originally pegged by Aruma in 2020 for its gold prospectivity but is also considered prospective for REE mineralisation.
Aruma Resources had $2.46 million cash at hand and no debt as of 31 March 2023, as stated in its latest quarterly report.
Write to Adam Drought at Mining.com.au
Images: Aruma Resources Ltd
