West Cobar Metals (ASX:WC1) has substantially increased the total rare earths resource estimate for the Salazar Project in Western Australia following an aircore drilling program that was conducted in June 2024.
The estimate for the project as a whole has increased to 230 million tonnes at 1,178ppm total rare earth oxide (TREO), from 83 million tonnes at 1,117 parts per million (ppm) TREO.
Within the Salazar Project, the Newmont deposit’s resource estimate for rare earths increased by 46%, now totalling 123 million tonnes of 1,145ppm TREO.
Newmont’s titanium dioxide resource estimate also increased by 45% to 42 million tonnes of 5.2% titanium dioxide at a 2% titanium cut-off grade, while the scandium resource increased 25% to 15 million tonnes of 100ppm scandium at a 75ppm scandium cut-off grade.
The alumina resource estimate remains the same, at 4 million tonnes of 29.7% alumina oxide.
Managing Director Matt Szwedzicki says the Salazar Project contains substantial mineral resources of high-value critical minerals, including rare earths, titanium dioxide, scandium, and alumina in clays near surface.
“The recent drilling results support our understanding that the Newmont rare earths, scandium, alumina, and titanium dioxide deposit extends south beyond the current resource envelope and that there is potential for major increases in tonnages of all the reported commodities,” Szwedzicki says.
“Importantly, the revised mineral resources at the Newmont deposit include a globally significant scandium resource of 15 million tonnes at 100ppm scandium.
“In addition to our O’Connor REE deposit, also within the Salazar Project, we now have a total inferred and indicated resource of 230 million tonnes at 1,178ppm TREO.”
Since discovering and delineating major rare earths, titanium dioxide, alumina, and scandium mineral resources at Newmont and O’Connor, 471 aircore holes for 17,952m of drilling have been completed to date.
This drilling comprised the recent phase two aircore drilling program that extended the mineral resources of the Newmont deposit and explored south-south-west along the Newmont — Matilda South zone.
The Salazar Project consists of rare earths, titanium dioxide, scandium, and alumina covering 631km2 and lies 120km north-east of Esperance in Western Australia.
West Cobar Metals is a mineral explorer and developer focused on critical minerals within Australia. The company’s projects include Salazar, Fraser Range, Bulla Park, and Nantilla projects.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: West Cobar Metals
