Northern Minerals Ltd's (ASX:NTU) (OTCMKTS:NOURF) (FRA:NUN) final results from its 2020 rare earth exploration and resource definition drilling campaign at the Browns Range Project in Western Australia support the potential for growth in resources.
Assays from the remaining 72 holes drilled in the 2020 program have been received from Area 5 (18 holes), Banshee South (11 holes), Banshee West (eight holes), Dazzler/Iceman (25 holes), Toad (three holes) and regional exploration (seven holes).
These results, including highlights of 14 metres at 0.76% total rare earth oxides (TREO) and 6 metres at 1.41% TREO, indicate the potential for resource growth near the Banshee and Area 5 deposits and have confirmed the existing resource and growth potential at the Dazzler deposit.
The company is confident that intersections near the Banshee and Area 5 deposits as well as at the new Toad prospect warrant further investigation and follow-up in second phase drilling in 2021.
Second phase of drilling
The company plans to begin the second phase of drilling at the project following the end of the wet season in the Kimberley region.
Northern Minerals chief executive officer Mark Tory said: “With final assay results now received for the remaining holes drilled at the end of 2020, we can now finalise our planning for the second phase of drilling we have committed to before the end of June.
“I look forward to further drilling to follow-up the encouraging results at Banshee, Area 5 and the new Toad prospect as well as several exciting new untested targets, to potentially contribute to future resource growth.”
Dazzler/Iceman area drill hole location plan.
Dazzler/Iceman deposit
Infill and extension drilling was completed in the Dazzler/Iceman area and confirmed the mineralisation to the southeast of the main high-grade zone at Dazzler and indicated the potential to increase the existing Dazzler Mineral Resource.
A total of 25 holes for 2,142 metres were drilled in the program with best results including:
- 14 metres at 0.76% TREO from 25 metres;
- 6 metres at 1.41% TREO from 12 metres;
- 11 metres at 0.74% TREO from 26 metres; and
- 12 metres at 0.69% TREO from 14 metres.
Banshee area
At Banshee West eight holes for 614 metres were drilled with widespread low-grade mineralisation was intersected in several of the holes including:
- 12 metres at 0.43% TREO from 34 metres;
- 13 metres at 0.43% TREO from 23 metres; and
- 4 metres at 0.63% TREO from 41 metres.
At Banshee South 11 holes for 613 metres were drilled with six holes with the best being 19 metres at 0.33% TREO from 11 metres – suggesting a mineralised system in this area.
Toad prospect
Eight RC holes for 580 metres were completed at the Toad prospect around 250 metres southeast of Banshee with the first five holes returning strong assay results.
A further three holes were drilled to follow-up on the anomalous portable XRF readings in the initial five holes with best results of 6 metres at 0.78% TREO from 49 metres.
Toad and Banshee drill hole location plan.
Area 5
The drilling program at Area 5 tested three targets, the first target followed up on significant results from drilling in 2013, whilst the other two targets were untested geochemical surface anomalies located to the west and northwest of the Area 5 deposit.
A total of 18 holes for 1250 metres were drilled, with widespread low-grade mineralisation intersected with a best result of 6 metres at 0.44% TREO from 7 metres.
Low-grade mineralisation was also intersected in each of the five holes drilled at the geochemical anomaly 500 metres to the northwest of Area 5 with a best result of 2 metres at 0.69% TREO from 48 metres.