Australian mineral exploration company Tempest Minerals (ASX:TEM) has uncovered a 2km long rare earth element (REE) anomaly at the Outlaw Target, located within the Meleya Project in Western Australia.
The company reports the Meleya Project area has a multitude of prospective targets including the Outlaw Target, which is a magnetic anomaly associated with north-south structures cross cutting the recently identified Remorse Target anomaly.
The elevated light rare earth element (LREE) geochemical signature at Outlaw identified by 50 geochemical samples appears to occur within structure zones visible within geophysical and remote sensing datasets. Tempest interprets these flanking structures to converge at the southwestern extent of the Remorse anomaly, and notes it has a similar orientation to the large-scale structure which offsets the Remorse geology which may also represent a feeder system.
Tempest reports values of up to 105 parts per million (ppm) thorium, 67ppm lithium, and 91ppm lead are reflected in the assays with a dispersion pattern that aligns with the LREEs. These geochemical anomalies spread over at least 2km, increase in concentration away from the volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) prospect, and are predicted to continue beyond the edge of the sample grid.
Given its structural orientation, the company interprets the Remorse anomaly as the footwall with the LREE elevated porphyritic granite as the hanging wall. The fault may have acted as a pathway for LREE dispersion away from the Remorse VMS target, and across the greenstone-granite contact, however Tempest says further work must be conducted to understand the full extent of the mineral system.
Tempest also reports geochemical sampling conducted in Q4 2022 at Meleya East has uncovered up to 929ppm cerium and 457ppm lanthanum. Sampling highlights include an outcrop rock sample with 0.9% nickel and 0.15% chromium, as well as soil samples up to 0.5% nickel and 0.14% chromium.
geochemical sampling conducted in Q4 2022 at Meleya East has uncovered up to 929ppm cerium and 457ppm lanthanum
This initial broad 45km-square soil sampling and mapping campaign of over 1,000 samples was incrementally completed to ground-truth and develop a broad preliminary understanding of the region’s geochemistry and stratigraphy.
Tempest reports all samples were assayed with Ultrafine+ and results included 0,15% rare earth oxides (REO) (929ppm Ce, 457ppm La, and 82ppm Yttrium), as well as 0.12% REO (799ppm Ce, 321ppm La, and 46ppm Y).
The Ultrafine analysis also recorded an outcrop rock sample with 0.9% nickel and 0.15% chromium, as well as soil samples with up to 0.5% nickel and 0,14% chromium.
Alternatively, the company says there may be further geochemical ‘layering’ as part of a larger mineralised system which includes the Remorse and Outlaw targets, and suggests it is being fed by major regional structures.
Tempest reports ‘extensive’ follow-up is required to develop a clear understanding of this feature.
The company says further remaining assays are pending, and further sampling in new tenement areas are to be completed, while approvals and planning for drilling, along with further exploration work at other projects is in progress.
Tempest Minerals is an Australian mineral exploration company with a diversified portfolio of projects in Western Australia considered ‘highly’ prospective for precious base, and energy metals. These projects include the Rocky Hill, Messenger, Meleya, War West, Euro, and Range projects in Western Australia.
The company also holds lithium exposure projects in the US, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, as well as development and exploration projects in Papua New Guinea.
Images: Tempest Minerals Ltd
