Lanthanein Resources Ltd (ASX:LNR) is preparing for an upcoming drilling campaign after completing a rock chip sampling program at its Lyons project in Western Australia.
The sampling program identified additional outcropping ironstones in the western-most portion of the project, which the company believes may host rare earth mineralisation.
Rock chip samples will now be sent to ALS Laboratories in Perth for analysis, with results expected in May.
“The new discoveries are especially pleasing as they are the result of the geological team’s growing understanding of the rare earth mineralisation controls within the Gifford Creek carbonatite complex,” Lanthanein technical director Brian Thomas said.
“The upcoming field programs are extremely exciting as we position ourselves to make a breakthrough discovery that could potentially transform the company.”
Drilling work to come
An extensive 10,000-metre reverse circulation (RC) drilling program is expected to begin shortly, targeting large-scale carbonatite intrusive targets and high-grade ironstones.
To ensure the drill holes are targeted accurately, Lanthanein recently engaged independent consulting group Resource Potentials to undertake ground magnetic surveying over five separate target areas.
Though the interpretation of these results has not been completed, initial drilling work will focus on the outer rim of two major carbonatite intrusives.
This work is supported by the receipt of $200,000 in co-funding from the Department of Mines, Industry and Regulation’s Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS), which is designed to foster greenfield exploration in Western Australia.
Future field work
Though the focus is largely on the upcoming drilling program, additional drilling has also been planned — along with further rock chip sampling and satellite spectral interpretation — to evaluate targets that have not yet been followed-up.
These include thorium and magnetic anomalies throughout the Lyons project, as well as the high-priority structural target along the Bald Hill lineament, which transects both the Lyons project and Lanthanein’s nearby Edmund project to the north-west.
The Bald Hill lineament is considered to be the major structural control informing rare earth mineralisation at Hastings Technology Metals’ neighbouring Yangibana mine and represents a “very high priority target for Lanthanein”.
Written by Oliver Gray.