Miramar Resources Ltd (ASX:M2R) has enhanced the multi-element potential of Lang Well Project in the Murchison region of Western Australia through the identification of multiple large rare earth element (REE) targets.
A substantial number of pegmatite occurrences were previously identified by Miramar that had not been analysed for lithium or REE.
A limited number of rock chip samples were taken in the northern part of the project and analysed; however, the company recently identified the potential for multiple additional outcropping and/or buried pegmatites and/or for shallow clay-hosted REE mineralisation.
Minimal REE exploration
Previous explorers identified several large auger anomalies in 2009 with samarium the only REE analysed.
Limited aircore drilling in 2010 identified highly anomalous lanthanum and cerium results in several holes, including BADAC33, with anomalous lanthanum and cerium in holes 50 metres either side.
Combination “significant”
Miramar’s executive chairman Allan Kelly said that the combination of multiple potential pegmatites and strongly anomalous but poorly tested shallow REE anomalism was significant.
“Our limited previous rock chip sampling focused on the areas of historically recorded outcropping pegmatites in the north of the project,” he said.
Re-analysis of the anomalous interval in BADAC33 for a full REE suite returned 4 metres at 1,500ppm total rare earth oxides (TREO) from 28-32 metres with a high proportion of light rare earth oxides (LREO).
There is no drilling north or south of this single line for more than 5 kilometres and the drilling did not effectively test the multiple large auger samarium anomalies.
Two other holes, BADAC01 and BADAC13, also intersected anomalous lanthanum and cerium which remains open in several directions.
Points to clay-hosted REE
“The regional radiometric data suggests the potential presence of multiple rare-element pegmatites which are commonly found in gneissic terrains, such as Lang Well, whilst the historical aircore result and the auger REE anomalism is suggestive of shallow clay-hosted REE mineralisation,” Kelly said.
The company has an approved program of work enabling aircore drilling in this area and applied for a new exploration licence, E59/2718, to cover the full extent of the auger samarium anomalies.
A review of regional radiometric data, including the potassium channel, has identified multiple linear anomalies which crosscut both the regional geology and topography. Most of these anomalies have not been previously sampled or drilled.
The linear K anomalies are interpreted to represent thin pegmatite dykes, either outcropping or beneath shallow cover.
Follow-up work
“We will shortly complete a systematic geochemical sampling campaign focusing on the areas with overlapping radiometric anomalies and REE anomalism in the south-eastern part of the project, including in the areas covered by the new application,” Kelly added.
Pending the results of the sampling, aircore drilling is planned.