SAGA Metals (TSX-V:SAGA) has begun its first-ever diamond drilling campaign at the Wolverine Heavy Rare Earth Element (REE) Project in central Labrador, Canada.
Up to 5,000m of drilling is planned under the program, which will test and extend REE mineralisation identified during previous reverse circulation (RC) drilling.
The program has four main components, beginning with detailed mapping of the previously identified mineralised zone to define the volcanic stratigraphy and alteration associated with heavy rare earth mineralisation.
Grid-pattern diamond drilling will then seek to confirm and extend mineralisation within the shallowly dipping mineralised volcanic unit, while additional drilling will evaluate other high-priority prospects.
The program will also collect information on mineralised rock properties, geochemistry, and metallurgy to support the project’s progression towards an initial mineral resource estimate.
The work builds on 25 RC holes completed in 2025, which SAGA says confirmed broad, near-surface REE mineralisation across an area measuring approximately 1.7km by 1.2km.
Highlights from the previous campaign included an intercept of 48.8m grading 0.77% total rare earth oxides (TREO) from 1.5m, with a peak assay of 2.03% TREO.
First two diamond holes
SAGA has already completed the first two diamond holes under the current program.
The first was drilled to a depth of 182m and intersected 169m of what the company describes as a prospective, shallowly dipping REE-bearing volcanic ash tuff unit.
The second hole, drilled as a 200m step-out along strike, intersected the same stratigraphy and alteration markers.
Core logging has also identified what the company interprets as a second style of mineralisation within the prospective volcanic unit, comprising subvertical breccia-fracture networks.
SAGA says the structurally controlled alteration represents a new exploration target and could provide an opportunity to test the REE system at depth.
New structural target emerges
The company says drilling has so far encountered both its primary target of thick stratiform and stratabound alteration and the newly identified structurally controlled target.
Geological mapping has also identified additional altered fault zones within the prospective volcanic unit outside the current drill grid.
According to SAGA, propylitic-to-acidic hydrothermal alteration, including chlorite and pyrite, has been observed in both the stratiform-stratabound and structurally controlled settings.
The company interprets the alteration as evidence of hydrothermal fluid activity potentially capable of transporting and depositing critical metals.
SAGA says its exploration model targets REE mineralisation hosted in shallowly dipping volcanic rocks associated with peralkaline magmatic systems, which it considers a relatively underexplored deposit type.
Prospecting in the southeastern portion of Wolverine has also targeted REE-bearing pegmatites hosted in peralkaline granite, with SAGA reporting sample values of up to 21% TREO.
“It is an extraordinary thing to be on this ground, working in the well preserved Nukliavik volcanic-hydrothermal system instead of chasing isolated showings can already be described as a complete geological privilege,” Chief Geological Officer Michael Garagan says.
SAGA plans to continue step-out and down-dip diamond drilling to further define alteration within the prospective volcanic unit and associated structures.
The Wolverine Project comprises nine contiguous mineral licences covering approximately 294.5km², about 12km inland from the Labrador coast.
According to SAGA, the property lies within the Flowers River Igneous Suite, one of Labrador’s largest-known peralkaline intrusive-volcanic complexes.
SAGA Metals is a North American mining company focused on the exploration and discovery of a diversified suite of critical minerals.
Write to Jackson Chen at Mining.com.au
Image: SAGA Metals
