DevEx Resources (ASX: DEV) has intersected extensive zones of shallow REE mineralization, supported by preliminary leach test work, in the maiden drill programme at its wholly-owned Kennedy Rare Earth Project, located south of Mount Garnet in northern Queensland.
Eleven broad-spaced reconnaissance RAB holes (800m to 1,300m spacings) tested the northern portion of the prospective Tertiary Clays (Target Regolith) with nine of these holes encountering significant clay-hosted TREO in the top 2m of each hole, including: 2.0m @1,895 ppm TREO from surface (Hole 4); 2.0m @1,728 ppm TREO from surface (Hole 8); and 2.0m @1,529 ppm TREO from surface (Hole 3).
These shallow TREO assay results include important rare earth elements such as Praseodymium (Pr), Neodymium (Nd), Dysprosium (Dy) and Terbium (Tb) which are essential in the manufacture of permanent rare earth magnets used in electric vehicles and numerous other renewable energy applications.
Ionic Clay REE deposits are emerging as a credible source of highly sought-after REE, especially those used in the energy transition sector.
Following a review of global deposit characteristics, DevEx targeted the Tertiary Clays at Kennedy for this style of deposit.
RAB Drilling at Kennedy was designed to be a “proof of concept” test of the Target Regolith for elevated TREO in surficial clays. The RAB holes were designed to test the Target Regolith at very broad spacings of 800m to 1,300m apart. All holes tested to a vertical depth of 15m remained in clay dominated unconsolidated sediments.
The full extent of the Target Regolith remains untested over the broader project area and DevEx is currently seeking land access over these areas.
Apart from two RAB holes (Holes 5 and 11), which were sited in a drainage low beneath the Target Regolith, all RAB holes drilled as part of this programme intersected significant TREO grades in the top 2m.
Reported intercepts are from 2m composite samples and, although the assay results suggest consistency of TREO grades between the drill-holes, the distances between each hole remain very broad and a variability in thickness may occur.
Next Steps
DevEx has engaged rare earth processing experts at ANSTO to carry out further metallurgical test work. The aim of this work will be to review the amenability of the important REE to be quickly recovered using an optimal low-cost leach.
Drilling has encountered these REE clays from surface on very broad drill-hole spacings (~one km). Further drilling, both in-fill and step-out, is required to test the full potential of the project. Planning for this drilling will be progressed as priority.
The company is also moving forward to gain additional land access over the broader tenement area.
For further information please visit: https://www.devexresources.com.au/
