MetalsGrove Mining (ASX:MGA) has recruited contractor Topdrill for a maiden drilling program at the Bruce Rare Earth Element (REE) prospect within the Arunta Project in the Northern Territory.
The critical metals explorer and developer reports the maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling program is designed to test several ‘high-priority’ targets, including the broad conductor and ‘large’ intrusive system at the prospect.
A recently completed aeromagnetic and surface geochemistry program at Bruce has defined a 1km-by-600m intrusive system that MetalsGrove considers to be ‘highly’ prospective for REE mineralisation, as previously reported on 13 April 2023.
Previous work completed within the broader Arunta Project area has confirmed the presence of REE anomalism associated with copper-gold and base metal mineralisation. The company says this intrusive system will be a key focus of the upcoming drill program, along with several other previously defined high-priority targets.
Commenting on the planned drilling program, MetalsGrove Managing Director Sean Sivasamy says: “We are very excited to be commencing our maiden drilling program at the Bruce prospect later this quarter.
Pre-drilling exploration work has outlined considerable mineralised potential at Bruce; in particular, comparisons of the rare earth distribution with other projects in the Arunta region, namely Brown’s Range and Nolan’s Bore, are very encouraging.
The Arunta region is a world-class mineralised province, and MGA has a clear strategy in place to systematically unlock the true underlying potential of its strategic footprint in the area. I look forward to providing the market with regular updates on our progress.”
“Pre-drilling exploration work has outlined considerable mineralised potential at Bruce”
The Bruce REE prospect is located within the Central Desert Region of the Northern Territory and covers an area of about 17,722 hectares. MetalsGrove reported on 20 July 2022 that it had identified a broad conductor along strike from the Plenty River mine, which lies adjacent to magnetic features interpreted to be components of the pegmatite intrusion.
The company says ‘significant’ rare earth occurrences have also been found in the Harts Range and Plenty River mica fields within the Irindina Province by prior explorers in the 1950s.
Additionally, the Northern Territory Geological Survey (NTGS) completed geological studies in the Arunta region in 2003 and 2004 that identified numerous pegmatites hosting rare earth occurrences, including the Plenty River mica mine area.
MetalsGrove Mining is an Australian exploration and development company focused on its portfolio of ‘high-quality’ lithium, rare earth, copper-gold, manganese, and base metal projects in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. These projects include the Upper Coondina, Bruce, Box Hole, Edwards Cree, and Woodie Woodie North projects.
Images: MetalsGrove Mining Ltd
