Critical minerals exploration company Lanthanein Resources (ASX:LNR) is targeting large-scale rare earth element (REE) carbonatite intrusive targets and ‘high-grade’ ironstone targets in an upcoming exploration campaign at the Lyons Rare Earth Element Project in Western Australia.
The company says these targets are located at the previously discovered Lyons 11, Lyons 12, Lyons 13, and Lyons 27 prospects. Further rock chip sampling, high-resolution satellite spectral interpretation, and drilling programs are also planned to investigate additional targets not yet followed-up.
This includes thorium, and magnetic anomalies throughout Lyons, and the ‘high-priority’ structural target along the major Bald Hill lineament which transects the Edmund and Lyons project areas.
“Not only do we have some large-scale carbonatites to test but multiple new ironstone trends under shallow cover”
Commenting on the upcoming exploration program, Lanthanein Resources Technical Director Brian Thomas said: “The upcoming field programs are extremely exciting as we position ourselves to make a breakthrough discovery that could potentially transform the company.
Not only do we have some large-scale carbonatites to test but multiple new ironstone trends under shallow cover which we have only recently identified from our review of geophysics. We are setting up a 12-man field camp in March to allow for an extensive plus 10,000m RC (reverse circulation) drill program to commence over the coming months.
We look forward to building on the discoveries made to date with the high-grade outcropping ironstones at Lyons 12, 13 and 27 which are about 2km from Hastings Technology Metals’ Fraser and Simons Find pits and updating the market as drilling progresses.”
Lanthanein reports the Bald Hill lineament is the major control on REE mineralisation at Hastings Technology Metals’ (ASX:HAS) Yangibana mine, and represents a ‘very high-priority’ target for the company. The company also says potential remains for further discoveries of ironstones and carbonatites within its tenure where no historical REE exploration has occurred.
Lanthanein recently received $200,000 in funding from the Department of Mines Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) to investigate potential for large-tonnage REE carbonatites similar to Lynas Rare Earths’ (ASX:LYC) Mount Weld deposit.
The company says carbonatites are becoming increasingly important due to the potential to host economic quantities of thorium, uranium, niobium, phosphorus, yttrium, and REEs which are important for modern technology.
Within the Lyons Block and along the Bald Hill lineament, Lanthanein says numerous carbonatite intrusions have been modelled from the airborne magnetics with a similar dimension to the Mt Weld carbonatite.
Lanthanein reports 2 drillholes to a depth of 450m are proposed to test the outer magnetic rim of 2 of the larger carbonatite intrusives including LI-03 at a diameter of 3km, and LI-04 at a diameter of 4km. The company notes fenitic alteration are found to be associated with the outer rim of these intrusive bodies.
Lanthanein Resources is a critical minerals exploration company focused on discovering REEs across its projects in South Australia and Western Australia.
These projects include the Lyons REE, Edmund REE, and Koolya Kaolin projects in Western Australia, as well as the Murraydium REE Project in South Australia.
Images: Lanthanein Resources Ltd