Bubalus Resources’ (ASX:BUS) 2023 exploration targeting rare earth elements (REE) mineralisation is in progress at its Nolans East Project in the Northern Territory.
The company reports that it has previously discovered anomalous REE content at surface in the targeted area.
Bubalus notes the continuation of its surface sampling program aims to test mineralisation extensions to sizeable REE anomalies that have been previously detected in the initial survey.
Additionally, infill sampling will be carried out to characterise the anomalism, as well as confirm field observations which suggest the anomalies are derived from a source near the target area.
infill sampling will be carried out to characterise the anomalism
Bubalus also notes assays from surface samples returned a ‘significant’ number of anomalous results in which 41 of 170 samples returned more than 500 parts per million (ppm) total rare earth oxides (TREO), with an aggregate strike length of almost 2km.
Arafura Resources’ (ASX:ARU) Nolans Bore deposit, which is located 15km to the southeast, has defined a mineral resource of 56 million tonnes (Mt) at an average grade of 2.6% TREO and 11% phosphate (P205).
According to the company, neodymium-prasidium oxides (NdPr) make up 26% of the TREO content at Nolans Bore.
Bubalus reports NdPr contents in the Nolans East surface samples average 22% of TREO, which is similar to the findings at Nolans Bore.
The company states that initial results from the first samples in the program are expected within 4 to 6 weeks. These results intend to provide data that will support the definition of targets for drilling in Q3 2023.
Drilling will allow Bubalus to test the relationship between the observed surface anomalies and REE contents in bedrock samples. The company’s current hypothesis is that the bedrock source for the REE anomaly is nearby, based on surface mapping and logging of the material sampled.
The Nolans East project is wholly owned by Bubalus Resources and covers an area of 380km-square within the Arunta Province and is prospective for light rare earths.
Bubalus Resources has four projects, the Amadeus Project, the Commarie Project, the Nolans East Project, and the Pargee Project which are all located in premier geological provinces in the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
Images: iStock
