Green Critical Minerals Ltd (ASX:GCM) has confirmed a very large and shallow rare earth elements (REE) trend spanning 160 kilometres during a soil sampling program on its North Barkly Project in the Northern Territory.
A total of 65 samples were collected in October over the most south-easterly 30 kilometres of the rare earths uranium trend detected by Geoscience Australia at the project.
The original plan was to conduct widely spaced soil sampling over 70 kilometres of the south-eastern portion of the trend but unusually early and heavy rainfall created boggy conditions and restricted sampling.
However, samples were able to be taken from near-surface clay in all cases, with a small proportion of iron lag grains.
The laterite soil profile suggests magnetic iron oxide copper gold (IOCG) ore deposits lie within the peak REE and metal trend at shallow depths, most likely less than 30 metres.
Rare earth and multielement trends on North Barkly Project 200 m depth magnetics.
Next steps
GCM plans to extend the soil sampling program to the northwest early in the next dry season, where more detailed sampling will be undertaken over the modelled IOCG targets.
This extended coverage will include areas in the company’s current exploration licence applications, which should be granted by that time.
GCM intends to drill the targets, initially testing the laterite soil profile for clay-hosted ionic rare earths but also for deeper base metals and gold.
The timing of the program will depend upon access agreements, weather and suitable rig availability.
North Barkly Project.
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