ASX-listed heavy rare earths producer, Northern Minerals, has started exploration drilling at its Browns Range project in the Kimberley region of WA to follow up recent successes at the emerging high-grade Dazzler prospect.
The company will carry out a reverse circulation program totalling 3,000m at the Dazzler and Iceman prospects and a further 1,500m at a range of other prospects including Banshee South, Cyclops, Longshot and Rogue.
First assay results from this campaign are expected in October.
Earlier this month, Northern reported that it had intersected its widest ore intersection to date at Dazzler with the drill bit returning an intersection of 52 metres grading 4.15% total rare earth oxides, or “TREO”, from only 20m down-hole.
Managing Director George Bauk said: “Following the recent success at Dazzler, which resulted in the best ever intercept at Browns Range, we are pleased to have the team back on the ground testing new targets.”
“We have set the exploration team the challenge of making discoveries that will increase the life of the full-scale Browns Range development out to twenty years.”
“The new exploration model and high-quality targets that have yet to be fully assessed present us with excellent opportunities to increase the value of the project.”
The company first identified the Dazzler and Iceman prospects about a year ago and have since defined a maiden resource estimate for Dazzler of 144,000 tonnes grading 2.23% TREO, which is three times the average mined grade for the Browns Range operation.
As with Browns Range, both prospects also contain significant quantities of the sought-after element dysprosium, which is a key material utilised in making permanent industrial magnets used in the motors of electric vehicles.
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By Matt Birney
