Maiden drilling at Voltaic’s WA prospect flags shallow rare earth mineralisation

The maiden drilling program at Voltaic Strategic Resources’ Neo prospect at the Paddy’s Well Rare Earth Elements (REE) project in WA has found ‘significant and widespread’ REE-enriched zones.

The program consisted of 14 RB holes for 710m, and 14 AV holes for 159m within the prospective Chalba Shear Zone (CSZ) 1 corridor with both primary carbonatite and clay hosted REE potential.

Preliminary pXRF results from five RB drillholes has identified widespread REE-enriched zones with mineralisation remaining open at depth and along strike.

The peak pXRF assay was 9,000ppm Total Rare Earth Element Oxide (TREO) from 55m (NEORB002) and the peak intercept was 27m at > 1,000ppm TREO from 45m (NEORB002).

Regional scale opportunity

Voltaic Strategic Resources (ASX:VSR) CEO Michael Walshe said results were highly encouraging at such an early stage of the project’s life cycle.

“Assays of the initial AV drill samples, and preliminary pXRF analysis of the RB drill samples indicate multiple REE intercepts of up to 30m true width from near surface, with individual metre values up to 9000ppm TREO,” he said.

“Each of the first five RB drill holes processed have at least four REE stacked zones with potential for significant intercept width increase.

“Soil pXRF surveys indicate that the size of the mineralised strike is at least 6km x 2km creating a regional-scale opportunity for the company.”

Carbonatites comparable to REE peers

Notably, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis identified carbonatite indicator minerals or monazite and rhabdophane – which are both associated with carbonatite REE deposits.

“Anomalies of >1,000ppm TREO have been identified at surface which is highly significant when compared to established peers like Australian Rare Earths (ASX:AR3), OD6 (ASX:OD6), or Ionic Rare Earths (ASX:IXR)” Walshe said.

“The identification of monazite and associated rhabdophane, both REE-bearing phosphate minerals commonly associated with carbonatite REE deposits, is also a highly significant development in the discovery journey.

“Monazite and rhabdophane are found at Hastings (ASX:HAS) Yangibana Project, which is currently under construction ~100km northeast of Paddy’s Well, at Lynas’ Mt Weld carbonatite, as well as Dreadnought Resources’ (ASX:DRE) Yin ferrocarbonatite deposit.”

This article was developed in collaboration with Voltaic Strategic Resources Limited, 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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