Kingfisher Mining Ltd (ASX:KFM) has sampled historical diamond drill core from its Mick Well prospect in WA’s Gascoyne region and found more anomalous rare earth elements (REEs).
The mineralisation was confirmed just 2.5 kilometres from Kingfisher’s discovery drill hole at the MW2 prospect, which hit 1.12% total rare earth elements (TREO) over a 12-metre intersection.
More broadly, the findings highlight the growing potential of the 54-kilometre REE target within Kingfisher’s tenure, which includes another historical diamond drill hole roughly 25 kilometres along strike from MW2 discovery hole.
Follow-up drilling at the recent MW2 discovery and other REE targets is planned to kick off this week, in conjunction with ongoing sampling programs along the 54 kilometres of strike.
Putting it all together
Speaking to the findings, Kingfisher executive director and CEO James Farrell said the latest results proved up the company’s understanding of Mick Well’s rare earth element potential.
“We are now seeing strong correlation in the geology, geochemistry and alteration across significant strike lengths which extends for 54 kilometres within Kingfisher’s 969 square kilometres of tenure in the Gascoyne Mineral Field,” he explained.
“The size of the mineralised strike creates a significant regional-scale opportunity for Kingfisher.
“Follow-up drilling at Mick Well is expected to commence this week.
“The program will include drill holes at both MW2 and the Mick Well prospect, as well as several other high priority targets.”
Turning back time
Kingfisher sampled historical diamond drill core from Mick Well from the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS).
Previously, the core hadn’t been sampled for REE mineralisation, so the company’s three samples were analysed to determine their TREO content.
Assays from the historical samples include:
- 0.20% TREO from 65.73 metres;
- 0.16% TREO from 66.63 metres; and
- 0.32% TREO from 67.53 metres.
Interestingly, inspection and re-interpretation of the historical Mick Well diamond drill core also revealed a number of key similarities with the geology from the MW2 discovery.
This isn’t the first time Kingfisher’s looked at past exploration. Recently, a historical diamond drill hole — roughly 25 kilometres from Mick Well — reported anomalous REE results, including 3.4 metres at 0.14% TREO from 2.6 metres downhole.
These findings, together with the latest historical hole, continue to broaden the REE potential along the 54 kilometres of strike within Kingfisher’s tenure.
Next chapter
Kingfisher has planned extensive and targeted exploration programs for its Gascoyne projects in 2022.
The company has designed what it considers to be cost-effective initiatives that will develop and test drill targets during ground-based work, including mapping, rock sampling and radiometric surveys.
The company also plans to simultaneously develop a pipeline of exploration opportunities by combining regional and airborne geophysical survey data with geological knowledge from its breakthrough rare earth element discovery at Mick Well.
Later this month, Kingfisher plans to release findings from its Mick Well follow up program and results from its ground-based radiometric surveys.
In May, the explorer plans to update the market on its ongoing surface mapping and rock chip sampling campaign.
