Lanthanein Resources Ltd has extended the economic rare earths element (REE) footprint at Lyons 12 and 13 within its Lyons Rare Earths Project in Western Australia to 1.2 kilometres, facilitating the start of a maiden mineral resource estimate for the prospects.
The final assays from infill drilling to follow up on high-grade REE mineralisation discovered at Lyons 12 and 13 at the end of last year returned an impressive dataset, with mineralisation open in all directions.
Significant intersections from the latest drilling include:
- LYRC135 – 1 metre at 0.76% TREO and 1.22% niobium from 33 metres;
- LYRC138 – 2 metres at 0.57% TREO and 0.18% niobium from 14 metres;
- LYRC141 – 2 metres at 0.66% TREO and 0.49% niobium from 51 metres;
- LYRC140 – 3 metres at 0.36% TREO and 0.63% niobium from 34 metres; and
- LYRC133 – 1 metre at 0.36% TREO and 1.09% niobium from 53 metres.
Maiden program
The company completed a total of 93 reverse circulation (RC) and two diamond drill holes totalling 10,407 metres at Lyons this year to test both the known ironstones at surface as well as ironstone and carbonatite targets undercover.
An additional 36 RC drill holes for 2,791 metres were completed at Lyons 12 and 13.
Additionally, two deep holes co-funded with $200,000 from the Department of Mines Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) Exploration Incentive Scheme were drilled to a depth of 450 metres to test the rims of larger carbonatite-intrusive targets.
About 60% of the assay results have been received so far.
Map showing Lyons' prospects within close proximity of Hastings' Yangibana REE mine.
Economically-viable project
“The REE results of this current round of infill drilling of the high-grade mineralised ironstones, which outcrop over 1.2 kilometres strike at Lyons 12 and 13, demonstrates the economic potential the prospect,” Lanthanein technical director Brian Thomas said.
“This current round of drilling will now allow us to begin a maiden mineral resource estimation at Lyons 12 and 13.
“With 10,407 metres of drilling completed this year from a total of 13,917 metres completed to date, we look forward to many more new discoveries.
Exciting pipeline of targets
“Diamond drilling, co-funded by the DMIRS Exploration Incentive Scheme, of the outer magnetic rim of two large-scale ferrocarbonatite targets successfully intersected its intended magnetic source.
“Core has been logged and sampled and we are currently awaiting assay results.
“There remains an exciting pipeline of drill targets recently discovered along the Y42 Splay ironstone, where 4.19% TREO and 0.9% Nb2O5 (niobium) were assayed in outcrop rock samples.
“As well, there are numerous outcropping ironstone targets delineated from satellite imagery and geophysical targets undercover requiring additional drill testing.”