iTech Minerals (ASX: ITM) has reported ‘thick, high-grade’ intervals of rare earths mineralisation following a recently-completed 478 hole drilling campaign across four REE-Kaolin prospects on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.
These results have been successful in ‘significantly’ expanding the areas of mineralisation at several of these prospects, with rare earths in clay covering an area of 10km x 6km at Caralue Bluff and 1.7km x 1.3km at Ethiopia.
Key Intersections from Caralue Bluff include:
- Hole CBAC22-207: 30m @ 1,783ppm TREO from 3m
- Hole CBAC22-206: 23m @ 1,058ppm TREO from 7m
- Hole CBAC22-202: 20m @ 936ppm TREO from 8m
- Hole CBAC22-200: 5m @ 1,404ppm TREO from 11m
Further results from Ethiopia include:
- Hole ETAC22-038: 5m @ 1,315ppm TREO from 3m
- Hole ETAC22-034: 5m @ 826ppm TREO from 1m
- Hole ETAC22-027: 16m @ 758ppm TREO from 2m
- Hole ETAC22-022: 6m @ 730ppm TREO from 9m
Commenting on the results, iTech Minerals Managing Director Mike Schwarz said: “This batch of drill results at both Caralue Bluff and Ethiopia Prospects continue to show both the shallow nature and large extent of REE mineralisation hosted within the clay rich weathering horizon.
“This batch of drill results at both Caralue Bluff and Ethiopia Prospects continue to show both the shallow nature and large extent of REE mineralisation”
The Eyre Peninsula in South Australia is in a very supportive mining jurisdiction with great access to transport, electricity and water infrastructure compared to more remote parts of the world.”
The company also notes that a total area of 12km x 12km was tested via 260 drill holes within the Caralue Bluff prospect, with hopes that the results will determine the continuity of the mineralisation.
At Ethiopia, 115 drill holes were completed over the previous 3 months across a 5km x 3km area, with thick intervals of kaolin visually identified, and selected holes returning ‘positive’ REE results.
Map displaying iTech prospects on the Eyre Peninsula in South AustraliaThe Eyre Peninsula Kaolin-REE Project is located approximately 70km from the industrial mining city of Whyalla and covers a total land area of 1,445km² across six prospects.
iTech Minerals reports that it is awaiting 60 samples from the Caralue Bluff prospect which are undergoing metallurgical testwork, and will send drill results from Ethiopia for metallurgical testwork as they become available.
Images: iTech Minerals Limited
