American Rare Earths Ltd’s (ASX:ARR) recent trenching results have further supported plans to begin drilling at the La Paz Rare Earth Project northeast of Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
The trenching program, which is a follow-up to an initial round of surface outcrop sampling, encountered Upper Plate Red Beds containing between 168 and 355 ppm total rare earth metals and 5.7 to 14.6 ppm scandium.
Results have enabled a more targeted drilling program to test continuity of the original resource and the identified extension areas to be developed.
Follow-up program to target favourable rare earths
A follow-up drilling program will target the intersecting of the favourable rare earths and scandium enriched host rocks (gneisses) that occur stratigraphically beneath the tertiary sediments and red beds.
Significantly the southern trench exposed silicified gneiss which assayed the highest grades of rare earths and scandium.
Fieldwork to begin this month
The La Paz Rare Earth Trenching Program is within Federal Lode mining claims that have already been claim staked.
ARR’s technical team identified favourable opportunities to expand on the Federal Lode mining claims currently held, with fieldwork being undertaken in September 2020.
A total of 17 samples were taken from 15 trenches – two samples (5 and 6) were taken from one trench because two different rock types were encountered and at one site no trench was dug because there was exposed outcrop all along the proposed trench trace.
Results and next steps
The trenching exposed extensive areas of silicification, younger Tertiary sediments, and red beds.
Only the most southern trench exposed silicified gneiss which passed the highest grades of rare earths and scandium.
The remainder of the silicified rock contained only minimal values of rare earths and scandium.
It is concluded that a follow-up drilling program will be necessary to intersect the favourable rare earths and scandium enriched host rocks (gneisses) that occur stratigraphically beneath the tertiary sediments and red beds.
Plans are underway to implement this drilling program in the near-term.