Kingfisher (LON:KGF) Mining Ltd (ASX:KFM) has picked out three new carbonatite pipe targets from the recent gravity survey at Mick Well in the highly prospective Gascoyne Province of WA.
The company’s exploration is focusing on large-scale carbonatite targets along the 54-kilometre Chalba target corridor and the 30-kilometre Lockier target corridor.
Sources of high-grade REEs
The company confirmed the targets, interpreted to be sources of high-grade rare earth elements (REEs), using ground geophysics.
These add to a pipeline of drill-ready prospects, and Kingfisher is already validating the ground and preparing to drill.
The three large carbonatite pipe targets have been found below high-grade vein and dyke REE mineralisation at Mick Well.
They were generated using three-dimensional modelling of the gravity and magnetics data, with areas with more dense and more magnetic rocks identified from the geophysics.
Each of the target pipes is more than 1,000 metres in diameter and close to surface, with the depth to the top of each target being less than 50 metres below the ground surface.
Large area of carbonatites
They’re all situated in the centre of the large area of outcropping carbonatites and associated fenite alteration, as well as the vein and dyke mineralisation which envelop and radiate away from the interpreted intrusion centres.
The carbonatite exploration model looks for alteration of the host country rock into which the carbonatites intrude, with development of sodic (Na) and potassic (K) fenites around the intrusions which often host the REE mineralisation.
Each part of the carbonatite system has characteristics that can be detected by modern exploration techniques:
Thorium associated with the REE mineralisation is apparent in the radiometrics.
Potassium fenites, the alteration which forms around carbonatites intrusions, is also apparent in the radiometrics.
Ferrocarbonatites have high iron content and can appear as magnetic highs in the geophysics.
Carbonatites typically have high density and can be distinguished from the country rocks by gravity surveys.
Kingfisher executive director and CEO James Farrell said: “Our geophysical surveys have led to the identification of several compelling carbonatite pipe targets in the centre of the large-scale Mick Well project.
“These targets extend over an area of 7 kilometres by 4 kilometres and is where we have been progressively delineating high-grade REE mineralisation.
Final pieces of geological model
“There is a strong possibility that these targets put into place the final pieces of our geological discovery model and are the source of our REE mineralisation. Ground truthing and drill planning is now underway.”
The company has a busy program planned for the 2023 field season across its targets at its Gascoyne projects.