Applies For Strategic Land Near Project
Ionic Rare Earths Limited (ASX: IXR) has obtained promising results from the remaining assays from Phase 3 Rotary Air Blast (RAB) exploration drill programme at its 51% owned Makuutu Rare Earths Project in Uganda
These assay results are from the remaining 11 drill holes of the 67 RAB drill holes from the program that was completed during April 2021. The previously reported results, along with these results, provide significant upside for additional resource expansion at Makuutu in what has the potential to become one of the largest, if not the largest identified ionic adsorption clay (IAC) deposits outside of southern China.
Clay and saprolite mineralisation intersections above the cut-off grade of 200 ppm Total Rare Earth Oxide less cerium oxide (TREO-CeO2), consistent with the current Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) cut-off, have been achieved in 10 of the 11 holes, with notable intervals including:
▪ RRMRB062 12.0 metres at 675 ppm TREO from 4.0 metres
▪ RRMRB063 10.0 metres at 698 ppm TREO from 6.0 metres
▪ RRMRB064 8.0 metres at 512 ppm TREO from 4.0 metres
▪ RRMRB065 10.0 metres at 678 ppm TREO from 2.0 metres
Of major interest to the company is the assay results and thick clay interval in RRMRB063, more than two km north and west of the basin margin.
Given the significance of these results, the company’s 51% owned subsidiary Rwenzori Rare Metals Limited has applied (TN03573) for a 55.8 sq. km exploration licence (EL) to the north of the existing licences.
Managing Director, Tim Harrison, said the company will also progress a selection of samples from these RAB holes through salt desorption testwork to confirm the proportion of ionic adsorbed rare earth content prior to confirming a plan for further drilling these targets
“These results are very promising, indicating the potential to further expand the rare earth bearing clay mineralisation at Makuutu,” Mr Harrison said.
“We have moved swiftly to apply for the additional tenement and whilst we await the outcome of the application, we will review all of the targets and refine a longer-term plan for evaluating the growing list of newly identified resource extension potential at Makuutu.
“Right now, the focus is on the Phase 4 drilling programme to get the infill core drilling completed and the mineral resource estimate updated to support the Feasibility Study.
“We will now complete some additional work to evaluate the growing list of extensional targets at Makuutu and plan for a larger exploration program to be initiated in due course.”
Drilling Program and Targets
The Phase 3 RAB drill programme, which consisted of 67 drill holes for 1,206 metres, compromised reconnaissance exploration drilling only. The aim of the program was to test for rare earth element (REE) endowment and origin in;
• Identified exploration targets within the interpreted mineralised sedimentary basin;
• Radiometric responses outside the interpreted basin; • Previously untested or subdued radiometric targets; and
• Areas identified as potential infrastructure sites.
For further information please visit: https://ionicre.com.au/
