Krakatoa Resources Ltd (ASX:KTA) has completed 3,154 metres of resource development and step-out drilling at Tower rare earth element (REE) prospect of the Mt Clere Project in Western Australia, a vital step in producing a maiden resource estimate.
The company also collected metallurgic samples for testing, as a core signifier of value in REE mineralisation is a low impurity rate and high extraction percentage.
Krakatoa is completing the initial metallurgical leach test work at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).
The drilling program was designed to infill and expand areas that contain extensive laterite regolith cover (weathered rock cover) identified by KTA within the current Tower REE prospect exploration target.
Drilling extends prospect to the south
“This drilling has been highly successful by extending the zone of the thick saprolitic clays towards the south, in line with the area defined by the exploration target,” Krakatoa Resources CEO Mark Major said.
“Our focus is now to deliver a maiden JORC-compliant resource as well as gaining further understanding into the amenability of the REE’s extraction processes to obtain a high-level understanding of the project’s potential.”
The drilling at Tower prospect encountered thick, continuous intervals of pallid saprolitic clays (prospective for REE) between the previously drilled holes at Tower and extending to the southeast over more than 4 kilometres.
Step-out scout drilling at Tower West prospect also demonstrated a thickening of saprolitic clay toward the south of that prospect, extending 2.5 kilometres so far.
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Map showing the locations of the discovery drill holes (2021) and the recently completed drill holes, all within the area defined within the exploration target.
From here, Krakatoa intends to undertake further reconnaissance drilling of similarly prospective REE targets when a more portable drill rig becomes available, and permits are granted.
This next program will target the downslope areas of the hard-capped breakaways (upper erosional areas) between the Tower and Tower West prospects.
The company believes the mineralisation may extend below the prospects in this area and have less unmineralised cover.
Drilling will also explore the Dew area of interest, in the northeast of the Mt Clere project licences.