Southern Gold Ltd (ASX:SAU) has applied for exploration licences over highly prospective ground adjacent to known rare earth element (REE) deposits in South Korea.
The company has submitted exploration licence applications over areas surrounding the two well-known and unmined REE deposits - Chungju REE Project and Jangnam REE Project.
In the field, SAU has kicked off regional exploration this week with the objective of drill testing REE targets before the end of 2023.
With a focus on identifying and developing promising REE and lithium projects, Southern Gold remains committed to uncovering additional opportunities that align with its core objectives.
Significant milestone
SAU managing director Robert Smillie said: “Lodging these exploration licence applications over highly prospective ground immediately surrounding South Korea’s only known REE deposits is a significant milestone for the company in expanding its exploration portfolio to include critical minerals.
“We are especially pleased that we have demonstrated REE prospectivity with significant TREO results from historical drilling within the Chungju Project, which will really help the team focus the exploration program going forward.
“Having the interest and potential for exploration support from government agency KOMIR as our program advances this year reflects the importance of our exploration efforts to assist South Korea in securing future new supplies of critical minerals.”
Prospective ground
Chungju REE project covers more than 68.7 square kilometres and lies 200 metres west of the Eorae San REE alkaline intrusion deposit where historical government geological maps identify potential western extensions of the deposit into SAU’s licences.
One historical drill hole within the Chungju project licence application area, about 7 kilometres northeast of the Eorae San deposit, has TREO ranging from 0.24–1.67% from aggregated core samples.
Meanwhile, the Jangnam REE project covers more than 143 square kilometres and lies one kilometre north of the Hongcheon REE carbonatite deposit.
Both projects have thorium and magnetic anomalies from historical government geophysical surveys and continuity of prospective host lithologies and faults, features which are highly prospective for REE mineralisation.
Forward plan
Fieldwork over the REE project areas will begin early this month and will comprise regional stream sediment sampling, rock chip sampling and reconnaissance geological mapping to focus towards areas for subsequent detailed exploration and target development.
Particular attention will be directed around the area with elevated TREO from historical drilling at Chungmu.
Further review and translation of key KIGAM and KETEP reports on Eoare San and Hongcheon deposits will also continue by RSC staff and SAU geologists to assist in guiding the wider SAU REE exploration program.
SAU has the intention to define and drill targets before the end of 2023.