Laboratory chemical results for Globe Metals & Mining's (ASX: GBE) maiden reverse circulation drilling program at the Machinga Rare Earth Project in southern Malawi, show multiple mineralised zones containing high grades of heavy rare earth elements, and in particular the high value and much sought after element dysprosium (Dy2O3).
At least three, separate, parallel zones of NNW-striking and shallowly ENE-dipping HREO mineralisation have been intersected in the RC drilling.
Machinga is a joint venture with Resource Star Limited (ASX: RSL) in which Globe earns up to an 80% interest.
Results include:
- MARC005: 11m @ 1.0% TREO with 330ppm Dy2O3 (from 12m) including: 4m @ 1.4% TREO with 492ppm Dy2O3 (from 19m);
- MARC015: 5m @ 1.5% TREO with 596ppm Dy2O3 (from 26m) including: 1m @ 2.5% TREO with 971ppm Dy2O3 (from 27m)
There is a very high ratio of HREO:TREO with a peak of 39% and an average of 32%. There is also a very high ratio of Dy2O3:TREO with a peak 3.9% and an average of 3.3%.
Reconnaissance exploration on Lingoni and Domasi targets at Machinga is underway.
Mark Sumich, executive chairman, said the company was excited at the now demonstrated heavy rare earth potential at Machinga, and in particular, the very high grades of dysprosium that have been encountered.
Importantly, the area drilled at Machinga North is only one of at least seven separate rare earth targets on the Machinga EPL. The company has already begun initial reconnaissance work programs on the additional radiometric targets at Lingoni and Domasi.
The company’s maiden drilling program at Machinga was completed in late September 2010 and comprised 16 RC holes for a total of 1,688m. The drilling was designed to test four of at least seven parallel zones of surface REO-Nb-Ta-Zr mineralisation identified in Globe’s trenching program completed earlier this year.
From east to west, the zones are designated Zone 10 through Zone 70. Zones 10, 40, 50 and 60 were tested by the drilling. Zone 10 has the highest TREO grades and HREO:TREO ratios.
Moving to the west through zones 20-70, TREO grades progressively decrease, whilst Nb and Ta grades and ratios (to TREO) both increase, in general.
All mineralised zones strike to the north-east, with the drilling program confirming shallow dips to the north-west of 25°-35°.
The highest grades and best widths of HREO mineralisation were encountered in Zone 10. Importantly, very high grades of the much sought after element dysprosium occur in Zone 10, with grades averaging 375ppm with a peak result of 971ppm (reported as oxide).
Additionally, other heavy rare earth elements, and in particular the more obscure, but highly valuable very heavy rare earths Thulium (Tm), Ytterbium (Yb) and Lutetium (Lu) occur in high grades of up to 87ppm, 501ppm and 63ppm respectively (reported as oxides). Ratios (to TREO) of these heaviest three rare earth elements (Tm, Yb and Lu) in Zone 10 are amongst some of the highest reported in the world.
Zone 40 was intersected by drill holes MARC008, and 010-012. This zone shows generally slightly higher Nb + Ta grades and ratios to TREO, and somewhat lower TREO grades. Drilling results include:
- MARC010: 2m @ 0.6% TREO with 173ppm Dy2O5, 0.8% Nb2O5 (from 66m) Zone 50 Zone 50 was intersected only by drill hole MARC012 with drilling results listed below;
- MARC012: 3m @ 0.5% TREO with 123ppm Dy2O5, 0.3% Nb2O5 (from 11m).
Due to Zone 60 occurring on a steep slope drill-holes were not able to be sited on the optimally eastern side of the zone.
Hole MARC013 was drilled from the eastern side of the zone, and intersected thin, peripheral mineralisation of 1m @ 4.0% TREO. Globe’s geological team interprets this hole not to have intersected the main zone of mineralisation exposed in trench MACH003, which previously intersected significant REO-Nb-Ta mineralisation.
Globe’s in country exploration team has begun a program of reconnaissance ground radiometric and soil sampling to test other targets at Machinga including the Lingoni and Domasi radiometric anomalies.
This work will be conducted up to and over the wet season, in preparation for further drilling in 2011.
Globe earns staged equity into the Machinga JV through solefunding of exploration and achievement of exploration milestones. The Year 1 hurdle for Globe was to spend a total of USD$250k on exploration.
The company can report that this hurdle has been achieved following the drilling program at Machinga. Achievement of the Year 1 Earn In hurdle means the company now has a 20% interest in the Machinga JV.
A bankable feasibility study was commissioned in August 2009 and production is planned to commence in 2013 at a rate of 3,000tpa niobium metal, principally in the form of ferro-niobium.
Globe's main focus is the multi-commodity (niobium, uranium, tantalum and zircon) Kanyika Niobium Project in central Malawi.
On 15 November, the company announced a $41 million injection of capital from East China Mineral Exploration and Development Bureau will see ECE acquire 51% of Globe. The funding will de-risk the Kanyika Project, enabling it to be funded through to production.
Article highlight
The discovery is rendered more important given the high grades of heavy rare earth mineralisation discovered near surface, including the in demand dysprosium. Intriguingly, Machinga North is only one of at least seven separate rare earth targets on the Machinga EPL for Globe.