Moho Resources Ltd (ASX:MOH) has developed a portfolio of strategically located rare earth element (REE) projects in Western Australia which it intends to explore, develop and capitalise on to meet a predicted global shortage of REEs.
REEs are a group of 17 elements with properties vital to advanced technological applications, including powerful magnets, batteries, lights, screens, glass, catalysts, steel alloys, computers and missile guidance systems.
Exploration for these elements has increased drastically as their uses continue to expand and their applications become vitally important to global economies.
“The company is well placed to capitalise on its strategically located projects for rare earths,” Moho Resources managing director Ralph Winter said.
“The expanding supply shortages for rare earth minerals will provide Moho with opportunities to create value for the company and its shareholders.”
Moho’s REE portfolio
MOH holds several projects with a combination of precious metals, battery metal sulphides and REE prospectivity.
Burracoppin
The Burracoppin Project in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt was originally explored for gold and silver under a joint venture (JV) with IGO Ltd.
IGO has since independently discovered the potential for REEs and specifically heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) on nearby tenure.
The discovery prompted Moho to review its substantial geochemical, geological and geophysical database on the Burracoppin Project to search for tenements that may hold REEs and other critical minerals.
The company expects to release the preliminary results of this work shortly.
Peak Charles
The Peak Charles Project is one of seven projects generated from an agreement with Whistlepipe Exploration Pty Ltd, considered prospective for nickel and associated battery and precious metals.
The Ravensthorpe-Esperance region appears to be rapidly developing an iconic clay-hosted REE province in this area, with several ASX-listed explorers taking up significant landholdings with a focus on this type of mineralisation.
Moho is particularly interested in clay-hosted REEs as they are easily explored; often close to surface and accessible with aircore drilling.
Anomalous neodymium and praseodymium have also been reported on nearby tenure by OD6 Metals Ltd.
With so many companies in the region already undertaking extensive exploration and metallurgical studies, MOH is confident it will be able to quickly leverage results to progress the project.
The project is also close to essential infrastructure, being only 70 kilometres northwest of the industrial port of Esperance.
Moho Resources has begun a review of historical data for Peak Charles, with consultant geochemist Richard Carver reviewing the limited historical soil and shallow auger results over the Peak Charles tenements.
MOH has stated its intention to continue to expand assessment of its projects for REE and battery metal potential and has already begun a review of aircore drill core samples from the Empress Springs Project.