XRF Identifies Extensive New Exploration Opportunities At Browns Range
Australian heavy rare earths producer Northern Minerals Limited (ASX: NTU) has identified highly anomalous portable XRF (pXRF) measurements of yttrium over relatively wide zones in exploration drilling at the Cyclops, Rockslider and Banshee prospects.
These three prospects are located less than 15km from the Browns Range processing plant. Reverse Circulation drilling commenced in early July 2021 at Browns Range targeting a second phase of drilling to follow up on drilling completed in late 2020.
The main target areas are within the Banshee prospect and along the SE unconformity corridor from Dazzler to Quicksilver. To date, 8,700 metres of drilling has been completed in 120 holes.
Banshee South
Preliminary field pXRF data indicates that the Banshee prospect is in fact more extensive than originally thought. Banshee, Banshee West and Banshee South prospects are all part of a much broader mineralized system.
An infill RC drill programme has been planned to test the areas between each of the prospect locations with a view to defining the combined Banshee prospects to an Inferred Mineral Resource under JORC (2012). Drilling is expected to commence around the middle of September 2021.
Rockslider
The Rockslider prospect is located immediately south of the Banshee prospect.
This is a new prospect identified from airborne radiometrics. A total of four RC holes were drilled for 444m. Three of the four holes intersected elevated pXRF Yttrium anomalism over extensive down hole intervals. Follow up RC drilling has been planned and will commence upon the completion of the drilling at Banshee.
Cyclops Prospect
The Cyclops prospect is located approximately two km to the west of Banshee. First drill tested in 2012, Cyclops covers an area of 150m x 150m and is defined by three sub horizontal, stacked mineralized lenses, each approximately 20m true thickness. HREE mineralization is associated with the mineral xenotime and occurs within a brecciated arenite unit.
A recently completed diamond drill hole BRCD0001 has confirmed a xenotime breccia and importantly will be able to provide structural measurements to verify the current geological model. Spot field pXRF measurements indicate highly anomalous Yttrium readings. The core will be geologically logged, cut and sampled and sent for assay.
Northern Minerals is one of a few producers of heavy rare earth element Dysprosium outside of China via production from the Browns Range Heavy Rare Earth pilot plant project in northern Western Australia.
The company commenced the production of heavy rare earth carbonate in late 2018 as part of pilot assessment of economic and technical feasibility of a larger scale development at Browns Range. An ore sorter was installed and commissioned during 2021 which will also be tested for its economic and technical feasibility at the front end of the pilot plant.
Through the development of its flagship project, the Browns Range Project (the Project), Northern Minerals aims to build the Western Australian operation into a significant world producer of dysprosium outside of China. The Project is 100% owned by Northern Minerals and has several deposits and prospects containing high value dysprosium and other HREs, hosted in xenotime mineralisation. Dysprosium is an essential ingredient in the production of DyNdFeB (dysprosium neodymium ironboron) magnets used in clean energy, military and high technology solutions.
For further information please visit: https://northernminerals.com.au/