Lodestar Minerals (ASX:LSR) has started a maiden exploration campaign at the Virgin Mountain Rare Earth Project in Arizona, US.
Geologists are mobilised at the site to begin preliminary field activities, since the company first entered an option agreement to acquire the project in September 2025.
Activities will include validating historical samples and shaft location; surface rock chip sampling; reconnaissance geological and structural mapping; integration of historical datasets; and a review of access, logistics, and permitting considerations.
Initial exploration intends to develop high-priority targets for further exploration, while also expanding the company’s footprint and impact in the rare earth element space.
Lodestar has engaged undisclosed geologists specialising in rare earth element (REE) exploration, as well as metallurgical consultants focused on mineralogy, processing, and downstream supply chains.
These specialists will assist with host geology and REE mineralisation interpretation, advising on mineralogical and metallurgical testwork programs, and provide guidance on potential downstream processing options.
Executive Director Coraline Blaud says historical rare earth results from Virgin Mountain indicate a “compelling heavy rare earth opportunity”.
“Our work now focuses on verifying this historic data, improving our geological understanding and defining priority targets for follow up exploration,” Blaud says.
Historical assays from the project returned 1.26% total rare earth oxide (TREO), 36% heavy rare earths, 20% neodymium and praseodymium; 0.72% TREO, 30% heavy rare earths, 22% neodymium and praseodymium; and 0.67% TREO, 57% heavy rare earths, 14% neodymium and praseodymium.
“We are also putting in place the technical and strategic foundations – through our consultants and upcoming government engagement – to properly evaluate any future development options should exploration success continue.”
Following this preliminary exploration campaign, Lodestar will utilise its findings to better understand geological and structural constraints on mineralisation and refine subsurface targets, before moving to mineralogical studies.
Lodestar will also conduct a generative review of potential projects surrounding Virgin Mountain.
Through the acquisition of privately held Arizona Mountain Passage Heavy Rare Earths, Lodestar earned full claims over the Virgin Mountain Project in Alaska for a total cash payment of C$750,000 ($820,882) and C$600,00 in shares, as reported by Mining.com.au.
Lodestar Minerals is a gold and base metal explorer focused on developing its portfolio of assets in Australia, Chile, and the US.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Lodestar Minerals
