Sunshine Gold (ASX: SHN) has reported ‘exceptional’ rare earths and gold grades at its Ravenswood West project in Queensland after integrating recent soil sampling results with historic stream sediment sampling from the project’s Elphinstone Creek prospect.
The results, which include ‘strong’ amounts of neodymium and praseodymium oxides, are interpreted as confirming 15 historic stream sediment samples which had earlier returned the following results:
- SRS10163: 2.28% TREO including 0.37% Nd2O3, 0.11 % Pr6O11
- SRS10149: 1.63% TREO including 0.26% Nd2O3, 0.08 % Pr6O11
- SRS10160: 1.56% TREO including 0.25% Nd2O3, 0.08 % Pr6O11
- SRS10164: 1.12% TREO including 0.19% Nd2O3, 0.05 % Pr6O11
- SRS13008: 0.94% TREO including 0.15% Nd2O3, 0.05 % Pr6O11
- SRS13012: 6.28 g/t Au & 0.83% TREO including 0.12% Nd2O3, 0.05 % Pr6O11
- SRS10165: 1.11 g/t Au & 0.29% TREO including 0.04% Nd2O3, 0.01 % Pr6O11
Importantly, results from the recent soil sampling, which delivered 11 results >1,000ppm total rare earth oxides (TREO), included a peak value of 1,327ppm.
Addressing the results, Sunshine Gold’s Managing Director, Damien Keys said: “Stream sediment sampling in 1995 and 2018 provided the first indications of REE potential associated with a regionally “unique” alkali intrusion – the ~27km2 Barrabas Adamellite. This sampling produced exceptional REE and gold results from Elphinstone Creek and its tributaries. Importantly, the REE are high in Neodymium and Praseodymium which constitute an estimated 90% of global REE value. Our recent soil sampling campaign has confirmed that the Barrabas Adamellite is a REE-enriched intrusion.
“Our recent soil sampling campaign has confirmed that the Barrabas Adamellite is a REE-enriched intrusio”
Furthermore, diamond drilling at the Bank Breccia prospect was never assayed for REE despite being hosted in the Barrabas Adamellite and containing 22.8m @ 0.6% Cu (SRD002). This core is now being prepared for REE assaying.
This is part of a 15km long corridor and we are genuinely excited about the prospectivity, both REE and Au-Cu, of the Barrabas Adamellite and immediate surrounds. We have only sampled 14% of the Barrabas Adamellite and will continue to cover the remainder of the area.”
The soil sampling program resulted in the collection of 309 specimens across the northern margin of the Barrabas Adamellite. SHN reports that sampling activity will be extended to the south during 2022 to better refine targets for preliminary drill testing.
Map displaying the Barrabas Adamellite (dashed) as a distinct feature in the potassium radiometricsMoving forward, the company has planned further soil sampling and mapping for the Barrabas Adamellite during 2022, with activity scheduled from March through until June.
Niche sampling of select mapped outcrops will focus on determining which adamellite phases are likely to be economically enriched. The Bank Breccia core will also be relogged and selectively sampled for rare earth mineralisation.
Images: Sunshine Gold Limited
