West Cobar Metals Limited (ASX:WC1) has obtained further promising assay results from its recent drill programme at the Salazar Clay Rare Earth Element (REE) Project, 150km NE of the town of Esperance in southern Western Australia.
The phase 1 Air Core programme, comprising 283 holes for a total of 9342m, was designed to extend and infill the existing Inferred Resource of 43.5Mt at 1192ppm total rare earths oxide (TREO) at the Newmont deposit, explore E63/1496 to the south of the Newmont deposit, and to explore part of the O’Connor prospect licence area (E63/1469).
“We are extremely pleased with the latest assay results, which demonstrate that REE mineralization extends north, south and east of the existing Inferred Newmont Resource,” Non-Executive Chairman, Rob Klug, said.
“The drilling has also validated the continuity and exploration potential of thick REE mineralization at the O’Connor prospect. These results still represent less than 60% of the total number of drill holes assayed and we look forward to receiving the remaining holes during April.”
Mr Klug said the additional REE results received from the Newmont deposit area continue to be encouraging.
The results confirm the presence of high TREO grades at Newmont, which include relatively high magnetic heavy rare earth oxide (terbium and dysprosium oxides) and locally high scandium oxide content.
The drill results received to date from the Newmont deposit all lie adjoining and outside the area of the existing Inferred Resource. The results show that REE mineralization extends north, south and east of the existing Inferred Resource.
The recent drilling has validated the continuity of the thick REE intersections and the shallow nature of the REE mineralization at the O’Connor prospect.
Results for 119 holes from the Newmont deposit area are still to be received. Once all analyses are received and processed, the final assay results will be integrated with historical data to produce an updated Inferred Resource for the Newmont deposit during the upcoming June Quarter. The exploration target covering both the Newmont and O’Connor areas will also be revised.
In addition, beneficiation studies on the Newmont deposit are progressing at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals and scouting beneficiation trials are continuing at Nagrom on the O’Connor prospect.
For further information please visit: https://www.westcobarmetals.com.au/
