American Rare Earths Ltd (ASX:ARR) has completed around 75% of its drill program at the Halleck Creek Rare Earths project in Albany County, Wyoming.
Geological data continues to show significant rare earth element (REE) mineralisation, with the deposit remaining open at depth and laterally.
ARR is expected to finish drilling in early December 2022, with a maiden JORC resource expected in the first quarter of 2023.
"Beyond expectations"
“We are excited by recent drilling showing rare earth mineralisation beyond our original expectations,” ARR managing director and CEO Chris Gibbs said.
“Indications show consistent rare earth mineralisation from surface to a depth of at least 150 metres.
"With the deposit remaining open laterally and at depth the expansion potential of this project is immense. We remain on track to define a significant JORC resource and advance this major project.”
Samples shipped
ARR has so far drilled 25 reverse circulation (RC) holes for 3,774 metres in the Red Mountain and Overton Mountain project areas.
Approximately 2,516 samples have been collected and shipped to ALS laboratories for analysis.
Geological data collected at site shows exceptional values for Rare Earth Oxides (REO) from surface to depth. Significant field rare earth observation samples using a handheld X-Ray Fluorescent (XRF) analyser, are shown below:
The strong XRF values observed in the drill cuttings, provide good indications that rare earth mineralisation occurs throughout the clinopyroxene quartz monzonite (CQM) geological unit. This supports the surface geochemical analysis.
What’s next
Drilling to date has reinforced the fact this is likely to be a major rare-earth deposit with grades consistent to previously published reports and, as such, geological modelling at Halleck Creek will start as soon as drilling concludes.
Grade modelling will also start as soon as assay data becomes available.
ARR plans on releasing the maiden JORC resource estimates in the first quarter of 2023.