Special Report: Review of 65,000m of gold-focused historical aircore drilling data has uncovered niobium enrichment up to 1,000ppm at Rare X’s Khaleesi project.
RareX’s (ASX:REE) acquired the 966km2 Khaleesi project in WA’s eastern Yilgarn region in late May after identifying the opportunity for a district-scale niobium project.
Located along strike from the highly endowed Ponton Dyke, which has returned some of Australia’s best rare earth (REE) intersections, as well as the largest carbonatite pipe in the country (Cundeelee), the Khaleesi project was historically explored for gold-nickel-copper.
Previous explorers including Anglo Gold Ashanti, Fortescue and IGO which completed a number of multi-element 4-Acid digest assays for elements such as niobium, yttrium and europium and confirmed large areas of elevated niobium in saprock.
These assays highlighted niobium in fresh rock up to 30 times the background values of 20ppm over multiple locations, suggesting enormous opportunities to discover niobium and REE mineralisation.
Historical data review sheds light on niobium potential
RareX is now in the process of compiling data from over 65,000m of historical gold-focused air core drilling on the tenement package.
So far, this work has revealed a never-before alkaline intrusion complex about 20km in diameter as well as several areas for targeted exploration.
Several gravity highs have been identified at variable localities across the Khaleesi Alkaline Intrustion Complex (KAIC), ranging in size from 1km to 4km.
Some of the gravity highs are coincident magnetic highs, however a majority of the gravity highs are in magnetic low areas similar to WA1 Resources’ (ASX:WA1) world-class Luni niobium deposit in the West Arunta region.
Based on the region’s strong prospectivity, REE acquired an additional 336km2 in tenement E39/2504, adjoining the Khaleesi project to the north.
REE says this tenement captures additional areas that are likely alkaline intrusion complexes and may have potential for niobium-rare earth mineralising systems.
Native title agreement in the works
“Our growing understanding of the geology and geophysics at the Khaleesi project continues to support our growing excitement for this region,” REE CEO James Durrant says.
“We’ve expanded our exploration footprint as drill targets emerge and we’re looking forward to re-assay some of the historical gold-focused drilling for niobium and rare earths mineralisation.
“We have also begun working with Central Desert Native Title Services, as the native title service provider for the Upurli Upurli Nguratja Aboriginal Corporation and look forward to securing an agreement to manage native title heritage over the Khaleesi Project area.”
What else is coming up?
On completion, the drill database, geological and geochemical data can be added to the geophysical surveys and a geological model can be formed to prioritise exploration areas.
Initial priority areas will be in the granted tenement E39/2409 and an update on this area will be provided in coming weeks.
This article was developed in collaboration with RareX , a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
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