White Cliff Minerals (ASX:WCN) reports that it has encountered ‘highly anomalous’ rare earth grades from reconnaissance soil sampling at its Hines Hill Project in Western Australia.
The results come from a first-pass field trip which saw the company identify 11 ‘highly anomalous’ samples from a total of 81 collected, including a peak value of 550ppm total rare earth oxide (TREO).
Commenting on the field trip, White Cliff Minerals Technical Director Ed Mead said: “Clearly, we have work to do, as it is still unclear the precise source of the exciting REE results. Australian Rare Earths (ASX:AR3) recently signed a JV at Woolgangie 200km to east of us, specifically targeting clay hosted REE sourced from the underlying rocks and supergene enriched by the lateritic process. The early indications from Hines Hill may indicate similar geological conditions and sources for the rare earths.
“Clearly, we have work to do, as it is still unclear the precise source of the exciting REE results”
This also bodes well for the potential of our Diemals project area of 2,427km2, where we are targeting similar deposit styles. The team will fast-track a follow-up geochemical program for Hines Hill, which will include gaining all approvals for a maiden aircore drill program to test subsurface REE grades.”
The work was carried out along roadsides within the project that traverse magnetic features tentatively interpreted as non-outcropping carbonatite intrusives, situated lower in the topography.
White Cliff notes that the elevated TREO results correspond ‘precisely’ with these magnetic features in the northeast and southwest of the project, creating a strong link between the features. Additional sampling work will however be required for verification.
Soil sampling locations at Hines Hill with magnetic data. Image: White Cliff Minerals LimitedThe secondary source target is clay-hosted rare earth elements from supergene enrichment, within the higher lateritic profile over granite.
The 128km² Hines Hill Project encompasses a single tenement within Western Australia’s wheatbelt region, approximately 200km east of Perth.
Moving forward, an expanded geochemical sampling program is scheduled along with approval applciation work for maiden drilling.
