Kingfisher Mining Ltd (ASX:KFM) has kickstarted drilling on rare earth element (REE) targets across its project portfolio in WA’s Gascoyne Mineral Field.
The explorer began work at the MW2 target, where it recently made a rare earths discovery that returned 12 metres at 1.12% total rare earth oxides (TREO).
Kingfisher’s drill program will also hone in on the nearby MW4 and MW6 targets in the hopes of uncovering a similar discovery.
Ultimately, the campaign is designed to extend the mineralisation at MW2 and progress new targets within the 54 kilometres of potential strike across Kingfisher’s 969-square-kilometre landholding.
Testing MW2 lookalikes
Speaking to the program’s commencement, Kingfisher executive director and CEO James Farrell said: “We are pleased to have this exciting drill program underway.
“The rig is at MW2 and drilling has already commenced around our discovery hole.
“After the drilling is completed at MW2, we will be testing lookalike targets with similar electromagnetic and magnetic responses, as well as other exciting REE targets along the 54 kilometres of strike.
“These targets will include Kingfisher and Mick Well, where anomalous rare earth elements have already been confirmed from the recently announced sampling of a historical diamond drill hole.
“We anticipate the drill program will take around three weeks to complete, with results to follow as information becomes available to us.”
Turning the soil
Drilling across the Mick Well and Kingfisher prospects will involve 18 reverse circulation holes for around 2,400 metres.
The program has been designed to test seven targets, including MW2, along the REE corridor.
Resampling historical diamond drill core has already confirmed the presence of anomalous REEs at Mick Well, including 0.32% TREO, 0.20% TREO and 0.16% TREO 2.5 kilometres along strike from the discovery hole.
Maiden drilling will also take place at MW4 and MW6 —both high priority targets with similar magnetic and electromagnetic responses to the MW2 discovery.
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 explorer 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.
