Kingfisher (LON:KGF) Mining Ltd (ASX:KFM) has defined several “exciting” carbonatite targets at the large-scale LK1 rare earth elements (REE) target in the highly prospective Gascoyne Province of Western Australia.
The anomalies at LK1 were defined from a surface geochemistry survey, with a peak light rare earth oxides (LREO) value of 0.21%.
These anomalies coincide with the new carbonatite pipe targets, identified during the recently completed ground gravity survey and airborne magnetics at the prospect.
While being largely undercover, the LK1 target shares many similarities with Kingfisher’s large high-grade carbonatite discovery at Mick Well, 30 kilometres to the east.
Planning is now underway for maiden drilling at LK1 when the 2024 field season commences, as part of a broader drilling program which includes Mick Well.
“A very large and exciting target”
Kingfisher executive director and CEO James Farrell said: “Our early-stage exploration at LK1 is progressively revealing another area of extensive carbonatite targets; a very large and exciting target that is 30 kilometres west of our well-defined high-grade Mick Well Project and has all the right credentials to add a new area of discoveries to the company’s REE portfolio.
'All of our experience with ongoing discoveries at Mick Well has been put into action at LK1.
“As we successfully applied at Mick Well, we have used the geophysics to identify dense, magnetic pipe-like features which appear very much like carbonatite intrusion centres.
"We have also completed a soil geochemistry survey to help us target below the thin surficial cover that is present across the LK1 area. The soil geochemistry has revealed several REE anomalies, including a large anomaly with an outstanding peak value of 0.21% LREO that is coincident with one of our high-priority radiometric targets”.
LK1 carbonatite pipe targets
Kingfisher has identified four large carbonatite pipe targets at the LK1 prospect. The two larger pipe targets are each more than 1,000 metres in diameter and extend from the near-surface to depths of more than 1,000 metres below surface.
Surface mapping around the targets confirmed the presence of ironstones, which have returned anomalous rock chip results of 0.12% and 0.10% TREO. The mapping, geophysics and geochemistry also indicate there are other rock types under cover which are yet to be fully identified.
The company notes that the geophysics modelling is the same method that the company applied in identifying the carbonatite pipe targets at the Mick Well project, where the discovery of high-grade REEs is continuing.
LK1 soil geochemistry survey
Results from the soil geochemistry survey highlighted several areas with highly anomalous REEs, including a large area with a diameter which extends for more than 2-kilometres.
The high magnitude surface geochemistry results which include a peak value of 0.21% TREO are spatially associated with the carbonatite pipe targets identified from the LK1 geophysical surveys.
A broad soil anomaly in the northeast of the target area is also coincident with a circular radiometric feature. This is a highly significant occurrence and one of the key features recognised during the early-stage target identification at LK1.
The carbonatite pipe targets were generated through three-dimensional modelling of the gravity and magnetics data, with areas with more dense and more magnetic rocks identified from the geophysics.
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