Volta extends Springer rare earth system 275m below pit

Volta Metals (CSE:VLTA) has extended rare earth and gallium mineralisation 275m below its modelled open pit at the Springer deposit in Ontario.

Hole SL26‑37 returned continuous mineralisation over 414m, averaging 0.41% total rare earth oxide (TREO) and 35 grams per tonne gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) from 6m to 420m. The lower 105.65m interval averaged 0.63% TREO and 33.7g/t Ga₂O₃.

The hole delivered the ‘third highest‑grade’ assay of the 2026 winter program, with 5% TREO and 41.5g/t Ga₂O₃ over 1m from 406–407m. This interval contains 0.65% neodymium oxide and 0.16% praseodymium oxide, key magnet rare earths.

Infill hole SL26‑39 confirmed near‑surface mineralisation within the current mineral resource shell, averaging 0.42% TREO and 38.4g/t Ga₂O₃ over 417.5m from 5.5m to 423m.

“These two holes demonstrate the scale and continuity of the Springer system from surface to depth. SL26-37 extends the system to more than 400m downhole, with some of the strongest rare earth grades occurring near the bottom of the hole,” CEO Kerem Usenmez says.

Volta’s current mineral resource estimate (MRE) comprises 56.6 million tonnes (Mt) indicated @ 0.7% TREO and 119.5Mt inferred at 0.58% TREO, placing Springer among the top 10 largest rare earth deposits in North America.

Assays remain pending for six of the company’s 13‑hole, 5,452m winter drill program. Volta targets completion of an updated MRE for rare earths and an initial gallium resource by late 2026.

Volta Metals is a Canadian critical minerals exploration company focused on advancing a portfolio of rare earth, gallium, lithium, cesium, and tantalum projects across Ontario.

Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au

Images: Unsplash