Meeka Metals Ltd (ASX:MEK) has fielded the highest-grade rare earth element (REE) assays to date from the Circle Valley Project in Western Australia, as near-surface mineralised zones continue to expand with consistently high-value magnetic REEs of up to 31%.
Shallow high-grade mineralisation appears to trend northwest into an undrilled part of Circle Valley, with notable intersections from this round of drilling including:
- 12 metres at 2,690 parts per million (ppm) total rare earth oxide (TREO) (26% magnet REO) and 26 g/t scandium from 20 metres including 4 metres at 6,894 ppm TREO;
- 8 metres at 2,766 ppm TREO (27% magnet REO) and 18 g/t scandium from 28 metres including 4 metres at 5,031ppm TREO;
- 4 metres at 1,940 ppm TREO (20% magnet REO) and 3 g/t scandium from 12 metres;
- 8 metres at 1,433 ppm TREO (26% magnet REO) and 21 g/t scandium from 16 metres;
- 8 metres at 1,102 ppm TREO (22% magnet REO) and 15 g/t scandium from 12 metres;
- 6 metres at 1,069 ppm TREO (15% magnet REO) and 13 g/t scandium from 16 metres; and
- 4 metres at 938 ppm TREO (30% magnet REO) and 8 g/t scandium from 12 metres.
High-grade scandium of up to 54 g/t was noted in the current batch of results.
North-western area showing consistent thick, high-grade rare earths with a high proportion of NdPr elements
Initial MRE on track
Meeka managing director Tim Davidson said: “Results continue to show a shallowing cover profile to the northwest at Circle Valley, corresponding with a +1,000 ppm high-grade component of the rare earth mineralisation, rich in NdPr magnet rare earth elements.
"This shallow high-grade mineralisation appears to trend northwest into an undrilled part of Circle Valley, which will be a focus for mineral resource infill drilling commencing in early 2023.
“Delivery of an initial mineral resource remains on track for the June 2023 quarter.
"Good progress is also being made on the metallurgical front where we are working to establish methods to upgrade prior to recovery and to optimise the recovery conditions.”
Resource definition drilling at Circle Valley is set to commence in January 2023 following an expanded drilling campaign at St Anne’s within the Murchison Gold Project.