Mineral exploration company Lanthanein Resources (ASX:LNR) has commenced an air core (AC) drilling program at the Murraydium Rare Earths Project, located in South Australia.
The company reports the initial program is planned for up to 307 holes to be drilled, with the purpose of targeting rare earth elements (REE) in the shallow Loxton-Parilla Sands.
Commenting on the drill program, Lanthanein Resources Technical Director, Brian Thomas, says: “With the extensive community relations exercise finally complete, we are now able to thoroughly investigate the exciting exploration opportunity in a region that is highly prospective for ionic clay hosted rare earth deposits.
Previous work done in the region by AR3 has outlined an extensive mineralised system where shallow near surface exploration has the potential to delineate significant JORC Resources of REEs.”
“Previous work done in the region by AR3 has outlined an extensive mineralised system…”
The Murraydium Project is located in the south-eastern region of South Australia, with an exploration licence (EL6717) covering an area of 872km-square of the Murray Basin.
The project area forms part of an ‘extensive’ tertiary strand plain, encompassing a series of sandstone dominant fluvial and beach-dune strand complexes. The sand units commonly form undulating sand ridges scattered with low-lying areas of clay, mud, and sand.
Additionally, the Loxton-Parilla Sand is exposed at surface within the Bordertown Block where it typically forms rolling terrain of low sandy hills and ridges.
Lanthanein reports the region is seeing continuous activity in the exploration for REE minerals, specifically with the success of Australian Rare Earths (ASX:AR3) at their wholly-owned Koppamurra Project, host to a total mineral resource of 81.4 million-tonnes (Mt) @ 785 parts per million (ppm) total rare earth oxide (TREO).
The company reports that EL6717 shares the same formation that hosts REEs in Australia Rare Earths Koppamurra Resource, as well as their ‘exciting’ Frances prospect.
Additionally, Lanthanein states that further work is required to better define metallurgical recoveries, process flow sheets, affecting mining methods, and project economics.
Lanthanein Resources focuses on the discovery of critical minerals of REEs in Tier one mining jurisdictions of Western Australia and South Australia. The company’s portfolio consists of the Gascoyne and Murraydium projects in South Australia, and the Mt Clere and Koolya projects in Western Australia.
Images: Lanthanein Resources Ltd
