Meeka Gold Ltd (ASX:MEK) has received further encouraging rare earth oxides (REO) results for the Cascade Rare Earth Elements (REE) Project, highlighted by grades up to 633ppm TREO in auger samples taken from the depleted surface zone (depth of 1-metre).
TREO is the sum of the oxides of the heavy rare earths elements (HREO) and the light rare earths elements (LREO).
The results cover about 1,000 square kilometres of MEK’s tenure (the northern and central tenements) and point to vast areas of significant REE accumulation within the regolith, while demonstrating elevated rare earth grades in the leached and oxidised pedolith (surface horizon).
Importantly, the central area contains clusters of high-grade results (>400ppm TREO) within three close but discrete zones covering 250 square kilometres.
Auger sample grades from the central area include:
- 633ppm TREO (VKU29045);
- 599ppm TREO (VKU28980);
- 545ppm TREO (VKU29002);
- 540ppm TREO (VKU28854);
- 538ppm TREO (VKU29008);
- 526ppm TREO (VKU16688);
- 475ppm TREO (VKU28997);
- 466ppm TREO (VKU29028);
- 452ppm TREO (VKU28861);
- 450ppm TREO (VKU28872);
- 448ppm TREO (VKU28937); and
- 440ppm TREO (VKU29009).
Cascade REE Project auger sample grades (TREO ppm) and priority exploration target areas (northern target area and central target area) overlaid on satellite image.
The high-grade nature of the results and the scale of the central area, gives MEK a priority exploration target.
MEK is now planning to test the prospective regolith horizon with drilling later this year.
Underlying geology good REE source
Given the TREO results, MEK believes the underlying geology is a good source of REE and that the process of REE mobilisation and subsequent accumulation within the regolith horizon have occurred.
Importantly, the auger samples collected between 2010 and 2012 during gold exploration field work, have never been reviewed in the context of REE exploration.
Cascade REE Project auger sampling location and aircore drilling location.
In addition to the previously reported aircore drilling results covering the southern half of the Cascade Project tenure, the samples further support MEK’s view that the Cascade REE Project has the potential to host significant accumulations of REE in the shallow regolith.
“These results provide further evidence of the prospectivity and potential scale of rare earth mineralisation in this emerging mineral province,” MEK CEO Tim Davidson said.
“We control significant tenure at Cascade, in addition to our Circle Valley tenure (35 kilometres to the northeast) where drilling shows a thick clay horizon, enriched in REE, blanketing the tenement.
“We intend to commence field work at Cascade in the second half of this year, initially drilling at the central area targeting the clay horizon below the 250 square kilometres cerium surface anomaly and high-grade REE auger samples.”
Watch: Meeka Gold expands horizons to rare earth minerals following find at Circle Valley