Summit Minerals rock chips sampling uncovers more niobium-bearing pegmatites
New pegmatites are parallel to known pegmatites
Sampling ongoing with surveys planned to help map prospective pegmatites
Special Report: Summit Minerals’ surface rock chip sampling continues to uncover niobium, tantalum and rare earths-rich pegmatites at its Equador project in northeastern Brazil.
Equador is one of six projects the company acquired in April, four of which – the remainder being the Juazeirinho, Aratapira, and Santa Sous projects – are located in Borborema Pegmatitic Province, which is one of the world’s most important sources of tantalum, rare earth elements, and beryllium.
These four projects cover a total area of 107.47km² across 11 granted tenements are prospective for both niobium and REEs.
Due diligence carried out by Summit Minerals (ASX:SUM) on historical exploration turned out samples containing 303,400ppm Nb205 (30.34%) and 15,130ppm partial rare earth oxide (1.513%) while multiple pegmatite bodies and many historical workings were identified during multispectral analysis work.
Assays from the first and second set of rock chip samples also returned further evidence of niobium and REE-bearing pegmatites with results such as:
53.07% niobium, 18.32% tantalum and 1956 ppm partial rare earth oxides (PREO)
42.08% niobium, 26.07% tantalum and 2780 ppm PREO; and,
40.88% niobium, 25.27% tantalum and 6367 ppm PREO.
Equador plan map showing interpreted pegmatites trends and outcropping locations. Pic: Summit Minerals
Greater prospectivity
Further rock chip samples returning assays of up to 21.22% niobium, 39.15% tantalum and 4120 ppm PREO have now discovered more pegmatites across the Equador project that sit on low laying ground close to a sealed road that transacts the tenement.
These new pegmatites run parallel to known pegmatites, indicating a much larger prospective system than previously understood is present – greatly increasing the prospectivity of the Equador project.
Additionally, the increased knowledge of the distribution, strike length and direction of the pegmatites has enabled a more detailed mapping of the interpreted pegmatite trend lines.
SUM has also identified additional artisanal, small-scale mining locations where niobium and tantalum had been mined along strike, further unlocking the project’s potential at depth.
“I am more than pleased with what our exploration team continues to discover at our Brazilian based Equador project,” chief geologist Stuart Peterson said.
“The prospectivity of the project now far exceeds my initial expectations as we uncover more and more potential across the project every day. We are now in a position to confidently commit resources and funds to further develop this exciting asset.”
Managing Director Gower He added that Equador was the gift that “keeps on giving” as it looked to be a multi-commodity project with “amazing” niobium assays along with high tantalum and REE results.
Other activity
A stream sampling program carried out in parallel with rock chip sampling has now been proven to be able to create a clean separated sample using a wet pan separation technique, much like gold panning.
Samples from this program will be sent for analysis and could lead to an expanded testing and bulk sampling program if successful.
SUM also plans to carry out expanded magnetic and LIDAR surveys to cover the remaining tenement area to assist with mapping of prospective pegmatites in the lead up to drilling, which will likely be a reverse circulation program aimed at defining a resource by targeting known high-grade areas of the pegmatite system.
Detailed next phase development program planning is also underway.
This article was developed in collaboration with Summit Minerals 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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