Voltaic Strategic Resources Limited (ASX:VSR) has confirmed the presence of a large REE-enriched clay system at the Neo prospect, Paddy’s Well Project in Western Australia.
Works commenced earlier this year to test the upper clay zone and determine the basement depth within an area where historical drilling identified REEs.
The drilling has confirmed the continuity of clay-hosted REE mineralisation and scale potential of the project with intersections of almost 80m identified from surface, which the company believes, is the largest clay-hosted REE intersection reported in Australia to date (to the best of its knowledge).
This programme comprised 14 RB holes for 710m at Neo, and eight holes for 405m at Link, with assays for all remaining holes pending. Sighter metallurgical testwork is also underway to determine the extractability of the REE-enriched clay zone identified at Neo and establish whether it may be characterised as ion-adsorption (IAD) type. No further clay-focused drilling is planned until these results are received, which the Company believes is the most prudent use of capital going forward.
Concurrently, exploration targeting is underway focusing on the company’s several primary carbonatite REE targets within Paddys Well. Primary REE mineralisation was previously identified in historical hole GAD0043 and mineralogical characterisation of these zones will soon commence.
The results provide unequivocal evidence for the presence of a large REE clay system at Neo, with individual metre values up to 1% TREO, high tenor ‘magnet REE’ percentages up to 30%, and very large, mineralised intercepts up to 78m in width,” CEO, Michael Walshe, said.
“We are now eagerly awaiting the results of the metallurgical testing on the clays to determine their preliminary economic viability. Halloysite has already been identified4 from scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis which is a kaolinitic clay mineral commonly found in true IADs,” Mr Walshe said.
“Most IADs have the REEs contained predominantly within the ultrafine fraction (i.e. <45μm portion containing the majority of the valuable ‘magnet REE’ mass). Hence, we will undertake ‘size by assay’ analysis upfront to determine REE deportment by particle size and will likely only undertake leaching on the fraction that contains the majority of the REE mass. This is considered the most logical approach as it should minimise the amount of reagents required, maximise the ‘magnet REE’ head grade, and is analogous to how a full-scale plant would likely be designed to operate in practice,” he said.
“Simultaneously, in the field our focus is now on primary carbonatite targets. We will soon undertake several field surveys including: airborne magnetics / radiometrics, photogrammetry, and soil sampling. These programs will increase our pool of priority targets and ensure several months of highly active and material news flow over the remainder of 2023,” Mr Walshe said.
