White Cliff Minerals Limited (ASX:WCN) has kicked off air core drilling at the Hines Hill REE project in the Wheatbelt region, Western Australia.
The programme is following up on the discovery of mineralized REE clays from surface in January 2023.
The extremely positive initial success and based on results of this campaign, the intention is to deliver a maiden JORC resource. The Hines Hill REE project covers an area of ~576sq. km.
“It is great to be back on the ground at the Hines Hill REE Project, with the focus of this shallow Air Core program to define Ionic style REE Clays,” Technical Director, Ed Mead, said.
“We reviewed a number of geophysical techniques to look at better targeting drilling, and decided that drilling was the best way forward with ~90 drill holes to a depth of 20m planned.
“With this phase of drilling to cover one km of strike and with a width of 800m, we hope that the results will enable us to define a maiden JORC resource, which will form the basis for moving the project forward towards metallurgical studies.
“With the recent capital raise of up to $2.325M and sale of the Yinnetharra project for 7 million MI6 shares (~$3M at $0.44), White Cliff is now well funded to generate value from our existing assets and to also consider opportunities as they present.
“I look forward to the coming months of planned exploration activities.”
Hines Hill – REE Project
Geochemical sampling by White Cliff has initially targeted two magnetic features tentatively interpreted to be carbonatite intrusions, although they may represent differential non- carbonatite intrusives (granitoids).
Drilling of the most north-eastern magnetic feature discovered shallow REE mineralization within the clay horizon and thought to be either enriched as Ionic absorption, or a granitoid with high REE background is weathering and the resulting clays have equivalent or higher REE content due to reduction associated with weathering. Further drilling will refine the geological model.
Next Steps
Based on results from the drill programme, a maiden JORC resource will be completed.
Roadside drilling following up on REE geochemical anomalies defined over the greater Hines Hill project area is being considered.
For further information please visit: https://wcminerals.com.au/
