RareX (ASX:REE) has commenced its maiden reverse circulation drilling program at the Khaleesi Alkaline Intrusive Complex in Western Australia.
The maiden drilling campaign marks the first test of RareX’s geological model at Khaleesi, a project the company hopes will breathe fire into its critical minerals strategy.
The 3,500m program targets gallium, niobium, and rare earth elements (REE) across five priority targets defined through a reinterpretation of historical exploration data, combined with detailed magnetic and gravity surveys.
These targets include the Niobe gallium prospect, where surface gallium mineralisation extends across a 5km by 3km area above a coincident magnetic and gravity anomaly that remains untested at depth.
“Getting the rig turning at Khaleesi is another important step in advancing our broader exploration strategy,” Managing Director James Durrant says.
“We’re now testing five targets across a project we believe has genuine scale potential for gallium and niobium-REE, built on a strong technical foundation of geophysics, geological reinterpretation, and historical exploration data.”
The five targets comprise Niobe gallium, Niobe carbonatites, Rim, Nb, and Mag prospects across the alkaline intrusive complex.
The Niobe carbonatites prospect features coincident magnetic and gravity anomalies on the western half of Niobe that may be caused by denser and more magnetic rocks such as carbonatites.
Rim represents a coincident magnetic and gravity anomaly on the outer margin of the complex, where fractionated intrusive phases are interpreted to occur.
Nb is a priority geochemical target identified through historical drilling in a geological setting comparable to the Toongi zirconium‑hafnium‑rare earth‑niobium deposit.
Meanwhile, Mag comprises a strongly magnetic, pipe‑like body associated with major structural features.
Khaleesi targets span five priority prospects
With the drill rig now turning, the maiden program marks a significant step for RareX as it tests a district‑scale alkaline intrusive complex that has never been systematically explored for critical minerals.
“The area has a long history of exploration by major mining companies, but its REE potential has remained largely untested,” Durrant adds.
“By combining that historical work with modern datasets and a fresh geological interpretation, we’ve been able to define a compelling set of targets for this maiden program.”
RareX acquired the Khaleesi Project in May 2024 after recognising the untapped critical minerals potential within a district that had historically been explored for gold.
Historical exploration had identified anomalous gallium and rare earth geochemistry. However, the broader alkaline intrusive complex had never been systematically assessed for critical minerals.
A key tenement application has cleared native title and is expected to proceed to grant in the near term, expanding the company’s footprint across the broader Khaleesi system.
Samples will be submitted for laboratory analysis as drilling progresses, with assay results expected to be released progressively as they are received and interpreted.
RareX is an Australian critical minerals developer advancing the Cummins Range Rare Earths and Phosphate and Khaleesi projects in Western Australia, alongside the Piper Exploration Project in the Northern Territory and a portfolio of strategic investments.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: RareX
