Western Australian (WA) focused mineral explorer Norwest Minerals (ASX:NWM) reports it has mobilised a reverse circulation (RC) drill rig to test for high priority rare earth element (REE) targets at its 100% owned Arunta West Copper-Gold-REE-Lithium Project in WA.
The 20 RC drillhole campaign will commence with a goal of targeting a REE anomaly, as well as associated copper-gold (Cu-Au) and base metals identified from geochemical sampling across the company’s 100% owned tenement in February this year.
It is reported that this REE anomaly shares similarities with the ‘high-grade’ Dazzler and Iceman REE deposits at the Browns Range REE Project while the presence of elevated Cu-Au and base metals shows potential for an IOCG and/or base metals system to exist.
The REE anomaly is defined by coincident cerium (Ce), lanthanum (La) and yttrium (Y), extends along a 3km section of the geological contact between the Mount Webb granite and Bitter Springs Group sediments and remains open to the west.
Phase one RC drilling campaign is scheduled to commence in 1 week, with the mobilisation and drilling costs reported to be co-funded up to $180,000 by the WA Government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS).
Addressing the drill rig mobilisation, Norwest Minerals’ CEO, Charles Schaus said: “Norwest is happy to be drilling these exciting geochemical targets prior to the end of this year and we certainly appreciate the recognition and support received from the WA Government via its $180k EIS grant.
“Norwest is happy to be drilling these exciting geochemical targets prior to the end of this year”
The Norwest drilling follows the announcement by explorer WA1 Resources (ASX:WA1) of the REE discovery on its West Arunta project located nearby. Norwest expects the drilling to commence in circa one week.”
The company also notes that the geological contact between the Bitter Springs sediments and Mount Webb granite is supported by geophysical evidence including radiometric and magnetic surveys, which have defined a major northeast-southwest trending structure.
It is believed that this structure is a focus for the REE elements Ce, La and Y.
In addition, the tenor of the coincident Ce and La surface samples over the Arunta West anomaly have returned more than double that of the same ‘high-grade’ elements used to identify the Dazzler and Iceman prospects in 2013-14.
Norwest Minerals’ Arunta West project is located 600km west of the city of Alice Springs near the WA-NT (Northern Territory) border and comprises a total land area of 840km-square along the Arunta belt with land access agreements in good standings for all project tenements. The project has undergone limited modern exploration over this highly prospective region.
With drilling set to commence in 1 week, Norwest Minerals announces it has received assay results from infill soil sampling of the lithium zone along the flanks of the REE anomaly and are being analysed to refine future RC drill targets in the area.
Images: Norwest Minerals Ltd & iStock
