iTech Minerals Ltd (ASX:ITM) has identified significant REE potential within its Franklyn Kaolin-Halloysite Prospect in the Nackara Arc in South Australia.
The company continues to receive positive drill results from the Eyre Peninsula Kaolin-REE Project as part of an ongoing programme of assessing its extensive suite of exploration tenure across South Australia.
The company has applied its exploration model of “clay hosted REEs within high purity kaolin mineralisation”, such as the very large Caralue Bluff Prospect on the Eyre Peninsula, to Franklyn.
iTech resubmitted samples from a 2019 drilling program for REE analysis and is pleased to report widespread REE mineralisation. The samples analysed were from kaolin-halloysite rich intervals identified from previous drilling.
Significant intersections include:
• FRAC19-005 – 19m @ 631 ppm TREO from 9m, Including 4m @ 1031 ppm TREO from 13m
• FRAC19-010 – 12m @ 960 ppm TREO from 3m, Including 4m @ 1505 ppm TREO from 7m
• FRAC19-011 – 7m @ 995 ppm TREO from 6m, Including 3m @ 1287 ppm TREO from 10m C
lay hosted REE mineralisation occurs within an establish kaolin-halloysite exploration target of 45Mt – 91Mt at a grade of 30 – 36% Al2O3 (-45 µm size fraction) as reported in the company’s prospectus in October 2021.
While Eyre Peninsula, and the Caralue Bluff Prospect, continue to be the focus of exploration for clay hosted REE deposits, the discovery of REE mineralisation at Franklyn expands iTech’s pipeline of projects to include a prospect with known halloysite occurrences.
“iTech has a long-term vision of becoming a low-cost producer of REEs based in the highly supportive mining jurisdiction of South Australia. The addition of the Franklyn Kaolin-Halloysite-REE Prospect to the pipeline of kaolin hosted REE projects strengthens the company’s vision for the future,” Managing Director, Michael Schwarz, said.
The Franklyn Prospect is within EL 6160 and is 100% held by SA Exploration Pty Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of iTech Minerals Ltd.
Weathering of a Delamerian granite (Bendigo Granite) has resulted in the development of a kaolinite-halloysite rich profile buried under thin Cainozoic transported sediments. In October 2021, iTech released a Kaolin Exploration Target of 45Mt – 91Mt at a grade of 30 – 36% Al2O3 (-45 µm size fraction).
The Exploration Target is calculated from the intersection of kaolin clay in historical drilling by the SA Government in its exploration for copper-gold within the Bendigo Granite. In December 2019, Archer Materials drilled 21 holes to confirm the extent of kaolin mineralisation encountered in historical drilling. The results confirm the presence and extent of kaolin mineralisation previously reported by other explorers.
Potential for Regolith Hosted REE Mineralisation
iTech is exploring for regolith hosted REE mineralisation with a focus on locations that have coincident potential for high purity kaolin. The Franklyn Kaolin-Halloysite Prospect fits this exploration model as the kaolin is developed from weathering of the Delamerian Bendigo Granite which is enriched in REEs.
In June 2022, the company submitted the kaolin rich intervals of selected drill holes from Archer’s 2019 drilling program for REE analysis. The results show that most of drill holes have significantly elevated REE’s over relatively thick intervals from as shallow as 3.0 m below surface.
For further information please visit: https://www.itechminerals.com.au/
