PVW Resources (ASX:PVW) reports that heavy rare earth elements have been identified at its Tanami HRE Project following mineralogy work carried out by an independent laboratory.
The results come from detailed mineralogical studies on a series of seven rock chip samples that were taken from the Watts Rise and Killi Killi East prospects in August, with analysis indicating the presence of xenotime in six of the samples, all of which showed grades in excess of 1% TREO. The company notes that the seventh sample (TARK0004) was chosen for its elevated gold mineralisation.
Addressing the results, PVW Resources Executive Director George Bauk said: “This is a significant step in the development of the Tanami Heavy Rare Earth Project. We have engaged Independent Metallurgical Operations Pty Ltd (IMO), a very experienced metallurgical group with significant relevant experience in rare earths and in particular xenotime mineralisation, to undertake a sighter test work program on a 100kg bulk sample taken from a number of locations along the 1.8km Killi Killi corridor.
“This early metallurgical test work will provide valuable knowledge to the company as we develop our strategy to advance this project”
This early metallurgical test work will provide valuable knowledge to the company as we develop our strategy to advance this project. As I have said previously, 2022 will be largely focused on exploration activities as we can leverage off the great work done at Northern Minerals in relation to the metallurgy and flow sheet development based on the xenotime mineralisation.
The exploration team guided by Robin Wilson, who led the team that discovered the Browns Range Heavy Rare Earth deposits at Northern Minerals, is pulling all the data together that has been captured over the past four months on the project, including geological mapping, ground radiometric surveys, rock chip and soil sampling, coupled with the review/interpretation of the airborne surveys completed by PVW and the historical surveys. All of this data will be used to design a drill program for 2022 following the northern wet season.”
The mineralogy study was undertaken by Dr. Roger Townend from Diamantina Laboratories, with results concluding that the heavy rare earths are predominantly associated with the phosphate mineral xenotime. Work included SEM analysis of samples along with polarising light microscopy studies of polished thin sections.
The findings also indicate that light rare earths identified are predominantly attributed to the phosphate minerals goyazite and florencite.
PVW notes that this form of rare earth mineral assemblage bares ‘strong similarity’ with several deposits at the nearby Northern Minerals Browns Range Project.
In a further important development for PVW, Mains Road WA has announced that it is working on plans to upgrade and seal the Tanami Road, which runs parallel to the Tanami Project from the Great Northern Highway to the Northern Territory border.
The company believes that this will provide an ‘enormous contribution’ to future project development plans.
