Lanthanein Resources Ltd (ASX:LNR, OTC:FRNRF) has unearthed two new rare earth element (REE) mineralised ironstones over 2-kilometre and 3-kilometre strike extents at the Lyons Rare Earths Project in Western Australia, demonstrating the prospectivity of the project for significant REE mineralisation.
The company completed 93 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes totalling 9,507 metres plus two Department of Mines Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) Exploration Incentive Scheme part-funded holes totalling 305 metres RC pre-collar and 594 metres diamond core this year.
Drilling tested for REE extensions of existing ironstones at Lyons 11, 12 and 13 as well as for new ironstone and carbonatite targets undercover.
Significant drill intersections along the 3-kilometre northeast magnetic lineament include:
- LYRC071 – 1 metre at 1.12% total rare earth oxide (TREO) + 0.17% niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) from 29 metres;
- LYRC081 – 2 metres at 0.22% TREO from 11 metres and 1 metre at 0.22% TREO from 147 metres; and
- LYRC072 – 105 metres at 0.15% TREO from 8 metres, including 1 metre at 0.21% TREO from 52 metres.
Along the 2-kilometre north-south magnetic lineament, significant intersections include:
- LYRC079 – 11 metres at 0.38% TREO from 41 metres, including 4 metres at 0.65% TREO from 44 metres and 1 metre at 0.81% TREO (0.2% neodymium and praseodymium) from 51 metres and 1 metre at 0.26% TREO from 60 metres; and
- LYRC080 – 1 metre at 0.20% TREO from 50 metres and 65 metres at 0.62% phosphorus pentoxide from 19 metres to the end of hole at a depth of 84 metres.
Extensional drilling
At Lyons 11, the company’s step-out drill program completed a total of 10 additional RC drill holes for 582 metres, extending the strike to over 1 kilometre.
Some of the best intersections include:
- LYRC102 – 1 metre at 0.66% TREO and 0.53% P2O5 from 5 metres;
- LYRC103 – 2 metres at 0.33% TREO and 0.45% P2O5 from 5 metres, including 1 metre at 0.51% TREO and 0.74% P2O5 from 6 metres;
- LYRC101 – 2 metres at 0.40% TREO and 0.44% P2O5 from 31 metres, including 1 metre at 0.64% TREO and 0.54% P2O5 from 32 metres; and
- LYRC110 – 1 metre at 0.36% TREO from 35 metres.
“Funnel-shaped” carbonatites
The company has also received assay results from the southern magnetic rim of two large 3.6-kilometre and 2.5-kilometre diameter carbonatite targets known as LI01 and LI03.
Drilling here was in part designed to test for REE mineralisation as well as to provide drill chips and drill core for testing a new model for large tonnage intrusive REE mineralised carbonatites similar in size and geophysical characteristics to the Mount Weld rare earth element carbonatite.
The WA Government co-funded two of the drill holes.
Notable intersections at LI01 included:
- LYRD002 (EIS) – 174 metres at 0.14% TREO and 1.04% P2O5 from 117 metres, including 1 metre at 0.27% TREO and 1.05% P2O5 from 197 metres; 1 metre at 0.21% TREO and 1.43% P2O5 from 238 metres; and 1 metre at 0.21% TREO and 0.88% P2O5 from 253 metres;
- LYRC066 – 1 metre at 0.19% TREO from 105 metre, 1 metre at 0.20% TREO and 0.70% P2O5 from 130 metres, 157 metres at 0.14% TREO and 0.70% P2O5 from 157 metres to end of hole; and
- LYRC068 - 131 metres at 0.13% TREO and 1% P2O5 from 76 metres to end of hole.
These results confirmed the “funnel-shaped” nature of the LI01 carbonatite.
At the LI03 carbonatite rim, highlight results include:
- LYRD001 (EIS) – 7 metres at 0.16% TREO from 71 metres; 121 metres at 0.11% TREO and 0.82% P2O5 from 105 metres; and 1 metre at 0.24% TREO and 0.95% P2O5 from 378 metres;
- LYRC054 – 53 metres at 0.14% TREO from 9 metres, including 2 metres at 0.17% TREO from 29 metres; and
- LYRC059 – 1 metre at 0.15% TREO from 191 metres; and 104 metres at 0.10% TREO and 0.86% P2O5 from 80 metres.
Lanthanein plans further exploration to locate higher-grade zones of REE in ironstones and potential higher-grade REE and niobium in weathered zones within these carbonatite targets.
The Lyons Project showing drillhole locations, carbonatite targets and ironstone prospects.
More to come
“Results from this year’s infill and exploration drilling continues to demonstrate the exciting prospectivity of the Lyons project for significant REE mineralisation,” Lanthanein technical director Brian Thomas said.
“There are numerous additional outcropping ironstone targets delineated from satellite imagery and geophysical targets undercover that are still to be drill tested.
“We are also greatly encouraged by the results of the diamond drilling of the carbonatite targets at LI01 and LI03, which confirm the REE mineralisation of the magnetic rimes of these major features.”