ABx Group Limited (ASX: ABX) has received positive assays from most of its winter drilling campaign that expanded the lateral extent of REE mineralisation by 230% to 4.01 square km.
The Deep Leads REE mineralisation in Tasmania is enriched in the more valuable permanent magnet type of REE and includes true ionic adsorption clay zones that achieve 50% to 75% leaching extraction rates, which are high extraction rates by world standards.
New drilling technologies have been introduced at Deep Leads during this winter drilling campaign, including push tube coring which will be further developed in the next drilling campaign.
The REE mineralisation at Deep Leads is clay-hosted, often most concentrated in buried channel structures.
Deep Leads hosts the rare, true ionic adsorption clay (IAC) type of REE deposits and has excellent extraction rates of 50% to 75% of contained REE under low-cost processing. The 150 holes drilled in the winter campaign discovered REE mineralised intercepts over an area 7km x 4.6km. Further drilling is planned in coming months.
Rare earth element channels confirmed and extended 750 metres
The southwest trending channel delineated by holes DL403, DL450 and DL453 has been extended 750m westwards by hole DL520 that intersected 5m thickness of ionic adsorption clay REE mineralisation averaging 2,170 ppm TREO from 3m depth,” Managing Director and CEO, Dr Mark Cooksey, said.
“Tests on this channel mineralisation in hole DL403 confirmed that it can be easily processed at low cost with extraction rates of 50% to 75% under standard leach conditions, the same as used in similar Chinese IAC REE deposits.
“Holes DL522 and DL531 confirmed that the northwest trending channel is well mineralised and holes across the western slopes between the northwest and southwest trending channels are showing a widespread series of well mineralised smaller channels.
“Rare earth element mineralisation extends to the alluvial flats We are excited by the REE mineralisation in holes in the southern alluvial flats located south of Deep Leads line-of-lode, as exemplified by hole RM175 which contained 6m averaging 1,435ppm TREO between 4m and 10m depth.
“This is a new style of REE mineralisation which could be thick and very extensive. We also await assays from holes into the southwestern alluvial flats.
“Exploring the 6km mineralised corridor between Deep Leads and Rubble Mound Nine holes were drilled in the 6km wide mineralised corridor between Deep Leads and the Rubble Mound REE discovery.
Assays are keenly awaited. Drilling program continues ABx’s drillholes in outlying greenfield areas are subject to a Tasmanian State Government, Exploration Drilling Grant Initiative (EDGI) for co-funded exploration drilling projects.
“ABx and Tasmania’s eDrill’s improved drilling technology result in many holes now reaching target depths and collecting cores from important strata using push-tube methods. The ABx field team, led by Group General Manager Operations Nathan Towns worked closely with eDrill drilling contractors to achieve these discoveries during the harshest winter conditions in years. The drilling programme is to recommence in October.”
