Latin Resources Ltd (ASX:LRS) has released highly encouraging results from a recent rare earth element (REE) analysis at its 100%-owned Cloud Nine Halloysite-Kaolin Deposit in Western Australia.
Results confirm REE mineralisation with anomalous concentrations in 38% of the samples.
It is an important step forward as LRS looks to have an impact in the energy transition.
Cloud Nine is enriched in the high-value ‘magnet feed’ rare earths - magnetic rare earth oxides (MREO). These are a critical component of high-performance magnets used for climate economy products such as electric vehicles and wind turbines.
“The initial analyses for REEs are highly encouraging with a high proportion of magnetic rare earth oxides which are critical to the battery evolution,” Latin Resources managing director, Chris Gale said.
“In particular, these rare earth commodities are key components in the creation of permanent magnets used in wind turbines and electric vehicle motors, making them crucial for the ever-growing renewable energy transition.
“These findings warrant additional evaluations to explore the potentiality of REEs within our halloysite kaolin deposits at Cloud Nine. We see these early findings as an exciting step in further expanding Latin’s efforts to build projects to progress global efforts to net-zero emissions.”
Defining analysis
Latin Resources analysed a small random selection (one out of every 20) of existing
Results from 30 of 78 samples submitted for analysis have returned anomalous total rare earth oxide (TREO) concentrations of >1000 ppm (parts per million); five have TREO concentrations over 3500 ppm, with a maximum TREO value of 3617 ppm.
Significant results are shown below including 0.36% total rare earth oxide (TREO) in
In keeping with the company’s sustainability goals, a large proportion of the TREO encountered in analysis are the in-demand MREOs.
The key magnetic rare earth oxides are neodymium and praseodymium which form the majority of the MREO mix in the samples.
LRS is encouraged by the results which it feels warrant further analyses to identify the extent of the REE mineralisation encountered at Cloud Nine.
Location of significant REE samples from infill drilling at Cloud Nine.
Latin has engaged experienced geological consulting service company RSC to provide an independent review of the latest REE data.
What’s next?
With results showing the potential for REE at Cloud Nine, the company will now analyse additional samples to define the extent of REE mineralisation.
Leach tests (eg, weak aqua regia, ammonium sulphate) will also be done to determine whether the REE mineralisation can be classified as ionic-adsorption-type (weakly adsorbed to the surface of kaolinite and halloysite) or whether REEs are related to other mineral species in the regolith profile.
Since the geology and geometry of the kaolinite-halloysite domains and the weathering profile at Cloud Nine are well established, the resource estimate model can be rapidly updated with REE concentrations once further analyses are received.
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