Cadoux (ASX:CCM) has completed its maiden drilling program at the Wimmera Mineral Sands (WMS) Project in Victoria, preparing bulk samples for metallurgical testwork.
The company drilled 101 aircore holes for 2,864m across the WMS Project tenement package during May and June, with an average depth of less than 30m reflecting the shallow nature of the targeted deposits.
A total of 1,066 samples were collected for laboratory analysis using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), with assay results anticipated in September.
Cadoux is earning a 70% interest in the WMS project through a joint venture with Rovatec Resources and Century Minerals.
The project abuts the WIM 100 and WIM 150 deposits owned by Iluka Resources (ASX:ILU) and LB Group, respectively.
CCM is compiling a bulk sample from the Danube deposit using available drill residues for metallurgical testwork. Initial testwork will incorporate gravity separation to produce heavy mineral concentrate for downstream processing.
“The program is designed to test the scale and continuity of rare earth enriched mineralisation, targeting monazite and xenotime-rich zones that host high-value rare earth elements including NdPr, terbium and dysprosium,” Managing Director Roland Hill says.
The planned bulk metallurgical testwork will inform the inclusion of a 250,000 tonnes per annum flotation circuit into the Darwin plant Feasibility Study.
The WMS Project is being advanced as a potential source of rare earth and zircon-rich heavy mineral concentrate for Cadoux’s downstream critical minerals strategy.
Assay results are expected in September, which will guide the next phase of drilling targeted for the December quarter.
Cadoux is advancing the Wimmera Mineral Sands Project in Victoria as part of its Minhub downstream critical minerals strategy.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Cadoux
