Australian mineral exploration company Lanthanein Resources (ASX:LNR) has discovered new ironstones through recently conducted fieldwork at the Lyons Rare Earth Element (REE) Project in Western Australia.
The company reports follow-up work of Worldview satellite targets at the project has uncovered anomalous carbonatite signature mineralisation that demonstrates potential for both ‘high-grade’ REE mineralisation, and larger tonnage REE and niobium (Nb2O3) within the main LI01-01 carbonatite target areas.
Anomalous carbonatite indicator minerals from 4 newly discovered ironstones within the LI01-01 carbonatite target include WVLY07 1,400m long (LNR3430) with 0.25% Nb2O3 and 0.25% zirconium (ZrO2); and LNR3431 with 0.25% total rare earth oxides (TREO), 0.22% Nb2O3, and 0.72% ZrO2.
Other indicator minerals include WVLY31 (LNR3435) with 0.33% TREO, and 0.3% phosphorus (P2O5); WVLY32 (LNR3436) with 0.4% TREO; and WVLY42 (LNR3432) with 0.12% Nb2O3.
Commenting on the results, Lanthanein Resources Technical Director Brian Thomas says: “The Lyons rare earths project has proven rare earth mineralisation within ironstones within 1.4km of the Hastings Technology Metals (ASX:HAS) proposed open cuts.
Continuing exploration has shown the occurrence of carbonatite mineralisation within our main carbonatite target at LI01-01. Together with the financial support of the WA Government, 2 of our carbonatite targets will be tested with deep diamond drillholes along their magnetic altered margins to better define the geology in an area that remarkably has no historical exploration.
“Lanthanein will continue with an extensive +10,000m RC (reverse circulation) drilling program to test for rare earth elements associated with extensive ironstone targets”
Following the drilling of the carbonatite targets, Lanthanein will continue with an extensive +10,000m RC (reverse circulation) drilling program to test for rare earth elements associated with extensive ironstone targets defined by both geophysics and the high-resolution Worldview satellite imagery.”
Lanthanein reports carbonatite targets LI01-01 and LI03-01 are planned to be drill tested in April, which will be co-funded by the Western Australian Government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS). This program will consist of over 10,000m of drilling to test satellite and geophysical targets of ironstone trends and carbonatites under a thin cover.
The company says carbonatites are becoming increasingly important due to their potential to host economic quantities of thorium (Th), uranium (U), niobium (Nb), phosphorus (P), yttrium (Y), and REEs which are considered important for modern technology.
Lanthanein also notes this drilling will be ‘critical’ to understand the mineralisation potential of the modelled carbonatites, to determine width, grade, and continuity at depth and along the modelled outer magnetic rim.
Within the Lyons Block and along the Bald Hill Lineament, numerous carbonatite intrusions have been modelled from the airborne magnetics with a similar dimension to the Mt Weld carbonatite.
Worldview-3 satellite imagery was acquired to help delineate ironstone outcrops. The company reports follow-up rock chip sampling of these targets identified a number of ironstone outcrops extending to over 1,400m in length at WVLY07 within the carbonatite complex LI01-01. With geological information gained from the ground-truthing, re-interpretation identified 25 ‘high-priority’ outcrop ironstone targets.
The Worldview satellite ironstone target WLY021 occurs as a 2,000m long east-west feature, extending into the magnetic lineament ironstone target for an additional 800m west. A number of similar magnetic lineaments along the western boundary occur as splays off the northeast trending magnetic lineament and host Dreadnought Resources’ (ASX:DRE) Y42 ironstone.
Lanthanein reports fieldwork to ground check and sample this and other outcropping targets is planned to begin later this month.
Lanthanein Resources is an Australian mineral exploration company focused on discovering REEs in Western Australia and South Australia. The company’s portfolio includes the Edmund and Lyons projects in the Gascoyne region, and the Murraydium Project in Western Australia, as well as the Koolya Kaolin and Halloysite Project in South Australia.
Images: Lanthanein Resources Ltd & iStock
