Indiana Resources (ASX:IDA) reports that further ‘significant’ rare earth elements (REE) mineralisation has been returned from its 100% owned Central Gawler Project in South Australia, with the company planning to start drilling priority targets.
The assay results relate to samples from 36 aircore (AC) holes that were previously assayed for gold during 2021 have now been re-assayed for the full suite of light and heavy REE.
These holes were drilled along an 8km strike within an identified prospective 10km strike extent of the Lake Labyrinth Shear Zone (LLSZ) with REE mineralisation remaining open in all directions.
Assays highlight a high proportion of ‘high-value’ Magnet Rare Earth Oxides (MREOs), and they continue to confirm the widespread REE mineralisation, returning up to 5,230ppm TREO and 2,775ppm MREO.
Intersections up to 76m thick were recorded with high proportions of the valuable magnetic REEs.
Significant intersections (≥500ppm TREO grade) include:
- 33m @ 1,218ppm TREO from 44m (LLAC047), including 8m @ 3,202ppm TREO from 56m, including 4m @ 5,290ppm TREO and 2,775ppm MREO from 56m.
- 19m @ 2,166ppm TREO from 36m (LLAC043), including 4m @ 4,334ppm TREO and 1,058ppm MREO from 68m.
- 76m @ 740ppm TREO from 28m (LLAC051), including 4m @ 1,018ppm TREO from 64m, including 4m @ 1,523ppm TREO from 100m.
- 56m @ 940ppm TREO from 32m (LLAC053), including 28m @ 1,150ppm TREO from 64m, including 1,244m TREO from 84m.
Indiana Technical Director Felicity Repacholi-Muir said these outstanding results confirm a large-scale ‘high-grade’ REE discovery within the Central Gawler Project.
“Given Indiana’s extensive 100% owned land package, we have immense scope to immediately expand a targeted REE program to thoroughly assess the potential over the remainder of our extensive holding.
“we have immense scope to immediately expand a targeted REE program to thoroughly assess the potential over the remainder of our extensive holding”
“Planning has commenced to undertake regional aircore drilling to further assess the regional distribution of REE mineralisation.
All approvals are in place to complete this program and we are currently establishing rig availability.
We will be undertaking this in conjunction with our already planned gold exploration activities in the Central Gawler Craton, providing cost economies and work efficiencies which will ensure a strong news flow program for the remainder of the year.
In addition we are currently investigating the most appropriate mineralogical and metallurgical test work to characterise the style of REEs from the host material.
I look forward to providing regular updates on progress as we advance this exciting opportunity for Indiana.”
Preliminary assessment of the historical geological logging indicates that REE mineralisation generally occurs from surface to 100m vertical depth, with the host lithology varying between upper kaolinitic clays to lower zones of weathered granitic bedrock (saprolite).
The samples assayed so far have returned ‘highly positive’ REE results, including a significant percentage of high-value MREOs.
The MREOs are predominantly terbium (Tb) and dysprosium (Dy) which are ‘heavy’ REEs, and neodymium (Nd) and praseodymium (Pr) which are light REEs.
The REE results returned to date have given Indiana confidence to commit to a specific REE focused drilling campaign.
It is continuing to review the data to better characterise the mineralogy of the REE mineralisation and to gain further understanding of the vertical zonation and clay hosts as well as the areal extent of the REE mineralisation discovered to date.
A rare earth metallurgical test work program to determine the optimal extraction options to produce a commercial product is being examined.
Significant intersections previously reported (≥500ppm TREO grade) include:
- 20m @ 4,021ppm TREO from 24m (LLAC012), including 16m @ 4,830ppm TREO from 24m, including 4m @ 15,486ppm (1.55%) TREO and 7,403ppm MREO from 28m
- 37m @ 1,687ppm TREO from 32m (LLAC006), including 17m @ 2,640ppm TREO from 52m, including 4m @ 7,039ppm TREO and 2,003ppm MREO from 52m
- 20m @ 2,242ppm TREO from 32m (LLAC010), including 12m @ 3,236ppm TREO from 32m
- 30m @ 1,095ppm TREO from 20m (LLAC016)
- 54m @ 747pm TREO from 0m (LLAC027), including 8m @ 1,649ppm TREO from 4m
- 45m @ 751ppm TREO from 24m (LLAC015), including 12m @ 1,276 TREO from 28m
Indiana carried out gold reconnaissance drilling along the LLSZ during 2021, and this program comprised of 79 AC holes, and the 4m composite pulp samples from the drillholes were submitted to the laboratory for re-assaying for the full suite of REEs using a near complete digestion (Lithium Borate Fusion method).
Insufficient work has been undertaken to categorise the Central Gawler REE mineralisation.
Indiana Resources Limited is an Australian-based gold exploration company focused on advancing its portfolio of exploration tenements in the highly prospective Central Gawler Craton Gold Province in South Australia.
Indiana’s ground position in the Gawler Craton covers 5,090km-square with its tenement strategically located between the historic gold mining centres of Tunkillia and Tarcoola.
Indiana is also the major shareholder of Ntaka Nickel Holdings Ltd, and Nachingwea UK Ltd which historically held the licences for the Ntaka Hill Nickel Project through its 100% owned subsidiary Nachingwea Nickel.
Images: Indiana Resources Ltd & iStock
