Ionic Rare Earths Limited (ASX: IXR) has obtained positive assay results for Tranche 4 of the 8,220m Phase 4 drill programme completed in October 2021 at the Makuutu Rare Earths Project in Uganda.
Drilling results to date confirm that Makuutu is a large scale, ionic adsorption clay (IAC) hosted rare earth element (REE) project, with extension potential identified east and to the northwest. The Project is well supported by existing infrastructure and is one of a few confirmed IAC deposits identified globally, outside of China.
Drill assay results have been received for a further 75 drill holes making up the Tranche 4 submission. The results are for holes drilled within the existing inferred and indicated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) at the Makuutu Central Zone, resource areas G and H, and to evaluate Exploration Target C, that was excluded from the 2021 MRE due to limited drill hole density.
All 75 holes reported in this announcement have delivered clay and saprolite mineralisation intersections above the cut-off grade of 200 ppm Total Rare Earth Oxide less CeO2 (TREO-CeO2), consistent with the initial drilling phases (2019 and H1 2020) and the current MRE.
Notable thick, high-grade and near surface intervals reported from the tranche 4 assay results include:
▪ RRMDD539 8.9 metres at 1,476 ppm TREO from 4.3 metres
▪ RRMDD477 13.5 metres at 1,432 ppm TREO from 3.5 metres
▪ RRMDD518 16.5 metres at 1,424 ppm TREO from 5.4 metres
▪ RRMDD514 8.7 metres at 1,336 ppm TREO from 12.3 metres
▪ RRMDD533 9.6 metres at 1,296 ppm TREO from 3.1 metres
▪ RRMDD520 28.5 metres at 1,250 ppm TREO from 2.9 metres
▪ RRMDD523 16.4 metres at 1,229 ppm TREO from 4.1 metres
▪ RRMDD521 18.6 metres at 1,200 ppm TREO from 4.7 metres
▪ RRMDD534 13.8 metres at 1,185 ppm TREO from 3.0 metres
▪ RRMDD517 15.1 metres at 1,175 ppm TREO from 5.4 metres
▪ RRMDD535 15.2 metres at 1,171 ppm TREO from 4.3 metres
▪ RRMDD513 16.3 metres at 1,126 ppm TREO from 2.9 metres ▪ RRMDD532 15.3 metres at 1,105 ppm TREO from 4.2 metres
▪ RRMDD488 22.1 metres at 1,080 ppm TREO from 4.9 metres
▪ RRMDD467 20.1 metres at 1,077 ppm TREO from 5.8 metres
▪ RRMDD546 10.3 metres at 1,076 ppm TREO from 3.9 metres
Managing Director Tim Harrison said the latest set of assays is another fantastic result from the Phase 4 drill programme at Makuutu.
“The infill drill holes across the Makuutu Central Zone confirmed near surface, thick REE bearing clays, and continues to validate the Makuutu deposit. Thickness of mineralised clay and minimal cover is crucial to minimising the opex cost, and Makuutu continues to deliver with results from this batch reporting approximately 25% of the intercepts within the Makuutu Central Zone exceeding 20m thick, and over 85% greater than 10 metres thick.
“The extension holes in Areas G and H we expect will deliver new resource potential at Makuutu, and additionally, the results from area C are again very pleasing in providing greater confidence across this area to convert the considerable existing exploration target of 14 to 27 million tonnes to a resource in the next update.
“The 100% strike rate in these results bodes well for what we think will be a very positive year ahead for Makuutu as we advance towards a considerable increase in resource confidence over the next few months and drive Makuutu towards a completion of the feasibility study and a mining licence application by October 2022.”
For further information please visit: https://ionicre.com.au/
