SUMMARY OF RESULTS:
ETH-029 32m @ 1633 ppm TREO (-45µm) from 0m
o including 24m @ 1966 ppm TREO (-45µm) from 4m
ETH-033 30m @ 977 ppm TREO (-45µm) from 2m
ETH-037 26m @ 866 ppm TREO (-45µm) from 2m
ETH-035 28m @ 740 ppm TREO (-45µm) from 0m
ETH-027 16m @ 951 ppm TREO (-45µm) from 0m
ETH-019 16m @ 748 ppm TREO (-45µm) from 0m
Beneficiated results continue to increase thickness and extent of REE mineralisation across the prospect
DETAILS:
iTech Minerals (ASX: ITM) has received the final batch of analytical results from resampling of historical drilling at the Ethiopia Prospect on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. The final batch reports results from beneficiated samples that concentrate the clay fraction. Unbeneficiated (bulk) results from these drill holes were previously reported in ASX Release, 13-Dec-21, Positive Results Grow Rare Earth Potential at Kaolin Project.
The beneficiated samples are the best reported to date and show an increase in thickness and extent of REE mineralisation across the prospect. In particular, the results from drill hole ETH-029 have confirmed iTech’s expectation of thick, high-grade rare earth elements (REE) at the end of a line of drilling. The rare earths in ETH-029 continue to display enrichment of neodymium and praseodymium (~24% Nd+Pr), which are critical in the production of permanent magnets for electric vehicles and renewable energy. Significantly, this drill hole also shows a greater enrichment of high value heavy rare earths (~36%). The beneficiation process of sieving the bulk sample, to obtain the -45 µm clay fraction, increases the REE grades between 153 – 311%.
iTech has now sent representative samples from Ethiopia and Salt Creek Prospects to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) to undertake scoping test work. The main objective is to assess the leachability of rare earths, under typical desorption conditions applied to ionic clay deposits (IAC), with results expected prior to the commencement of drilling, mid February.
Updates to timeframes for the commencement of drilling will be released shortly.
Prospect Location
Beneficiated Results.
“With continued good grades and thick intervals of REEs in the kaolin rich clay at Ethiopia, it is now important to determine how cost effectively the REEs can be recovered. The REE leaching test work being undertaken at ANTSO will be a good first step in determining the extent to which the REEs can be ionically leached.”