American Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:ARR, OTCQB:ARRNF) is gearing up for a 23-hole drill program at its Halleck Creek project in Wyoming later this month to upgrade the deposit’s 1.43-billion-tonne JORC resource.
The exploration program will focus on the high-grade Overton Mountain sub-area of the rare earth project, comprising eight diamond core holes for 865 metres and 15 reverse circulation (RC) holes for 1,500 metres.
The company aims to test the mineralisation at the deposit to depths over 300 metres, more than twice the depths of the current resource estimate.
Adding value
“Halleck Creek was recently recognised in the Top Five rare earths projects in the world,” ARR chief executive officer Donald Swartz said.
“There is potential to significantly increase the size, quality and grade of this deposit.
“This new program is focused on adding value by targeting high-grade zones.”
Potential exploration targets
ARR’s exploration team has identified four other locations in surrounding claims that could be explored to confirm the presence of rare earth mineralisation and verify higher-grade material.
These are in the claim areas of County Line, Bluegrass and Trail Creek that were mapped during a surface sampling program over the summer period.
The results from this field reconnaissance will be announced when available, along with the exploration targets.
The summer surface sampling program in the surrounding claims.
Opportunity not to be missed
“We are in the heart of the USA, the largest economy in the world that desperately needs these rare earth elements,” Swartz said.
“With only 25% of the claims area explored and open at depth, we have an opportunity to build on the 1.43-billion-tonne JORC resource announced earlier this year.
“We are looking forward to executing this drill program and advancing Halleck Creek as the logical solution for the US Government to reduce dependency on Chinese rare earths.”