RareX’s (ASX: REE) subsidiary, RareXploration, has identified a heavy-rare-earth-bearing quartz breccia vein at the Mt Mansbridge South target in Western Australia. This discovery confirms the fertility of the basement rocks and validates the project’s geological model. RareX is focused on exploration and development of rare earth elements. The company is dedicated to discovering and developing projects that will supply materials needed for future technologies.
The newly discovered 70-metre vein is the first found at the project in 50 years. This supports the company’s belief that the Mt Mansbridge project possesses the necessary geological components to host a substantial heavy rare earth element (HREE) deposit. The vein was identified using portable x-ray fluorescence techniques, and further geochemical vectoring will be conducted prior to the commencement of drilling.
Chief executive officer James Durrant stated the company has made a promising start to its search for critical minerals at Mt Mansbridge. He noted that HREEs are at the top of the critical minerals list as the energy transition accelerates and demand for consumer electronics continues to rise. The Mt Mansbridge project is one of only a few hard-rock xenotime projects in Australia, located within the Paleoproterozoic basement rocks of the Kimberley region.
RareXploration plans to assess the basement rocks for further HREE mineralisation in the coming months, with the objective of drill-testing targets later in the year. Mt Mansbridge is located 45 kilometres from Northern Minerals’ (ASX: NTU) Browns Range project, which has resources of 11.7 million tonnes grading 0.77% total rare earth oxide (TREO) for 86% HREE.
