ASX-listed gold, copper, and rare earth element (REE) explorer Killi Resources (ASX:KLI) has identified a yttrium-REE anomaly at the West Tanami Project in Western Australia.
The company says this anomaly was identified by a 300-sample broad soil program completed across regional trends potentially prospective for hydrothermal rare earth element (REE) systems.
The results of the soil program have established multiple anomalous yttrium (Y) values at the Fox prospect, which Killi believes is indicative of a REE mineral system at the prospect.
Commenting on the soil program results, Killi Resources Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kathryn Cutler says: “The results indicate the potential for a heavy rare earth system at the Fox prospect. These are fantastic first pass yttrium results for the project, indicating we are in the right region and we plan to develop and drill test this REE target in the coming field season.”
“These are fantastic first pass yttrium results for the project, indicating we are in the right region and we plan to develop and drill test this REE target in the coming field season”
In addition to this surface anomaly, the company reports a new REE target has been generated from the airborne magnetic and radiometric survey, and the compilation of field mapping conducted in the 2022 field season.
At Fox, Killi says there are sporadic areas of outcrop-subcrop where soils are considered the best method for this style of REE mineralisation. The soil results returned greater than 3x background yttrium values at 3 separate locations. The company also notes yttrium is associated and found in combination with REE minerals.
The anomalies extend about 1.5km along strike to the basement sediments and are between 400m to 500m wide. These anomalies are stratigraphically aligned with regional features determined from surface mapping, airborne interpretations, and downhole logging.
In addition to the anomalous yttrium, the company also notes there is associated elevation in neodymium (Nd), dysprosium (Dy), ytterbium (Yb), terbium (Tb), europium (Eu), and gadolinium (Gd). The central anomaly is anomalous for Y-Dy-Nd, and the 2 outer anomalies are anomalous for Y-Dy.
Killi says these are ‘significant’ first pass results, and plans to multi-element assay the downhole pulps from the aircore program, for holes adjacent to the REE anomalies. The composite drill pulps from the aircore drilling program have been analysed by pXRF, for a purely qualitative purpose and indicate the presence of hydrothermal alteration.
Elsewhere in the Tanami region, the company has recorded multiple occurrences of REEs in rock chips at the Killi Killi East Project, as well as total rare earth oxide (TREO) grades up to 12.45% at the Boulder Ridge Project, and 12% TREOs to the east of Killi’s tenure. The mineralisation style of both of these projects is believed to be hydrothermal and unconformity related.
Currently, there are no rock chips, soils, or drillholes at this new target location. Killi plans to ground truth the area in the first quarter of 2023.
Ground truthing allows image data to be related to real features and materials on the ground. This process enables the calibration of remote-sensing data, which aids in interpreting and analysing what is being sensed.
Killi Resource is an ASX-listed multi-commodity exploration company operating in Western Australia and Queensland. The company’s West Australian portfolio includes the West Tanami Gold-REE-Base Metal Project, and the Balfour Copper Project.
In Queensland, the company holds the Ravenswood North Copper-Gold, and the Mt Rawdon West Copper-Gold Project.
Images: Killi Resources Ltd
