St George Mining (ASX: SGQ) has commenced a new phase of geophysical work at its 100%-owned Araxá niobium-REE project in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
The geophysical program is designed to identify enriched zones of mineralisation and structures that are a control on mineralisation. Results from the geophysics will assist to target high-grade mineralisation additional to the high-grade zones confirmed by historical drilling with grades up to 8% (80,000ppm) Nb2O5, 33% (330,000ppm) TREO and 32% P2O5 (using a cut-off of 1% Nb2O5 and 2% TREO).
A high-resolution magnetic survey is underway with 25m spaced lines and 270 flight kilometres planned while a horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) passive seismic survey on 50m x 50m spacing will commence in the coming weeks.
The globally significant, maiden JORC-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate for the Araxá project remains open in all directions, with less than 10% of the project area effectively drilled. A major drilling campaign comprising more than 10,000m of auger, reverse circulation and diamond drilling over approximately 16 weeks continues, with first assay results due this month.
“We are excited to kick off these advanced geophysical programs at Araxá. The tight line spacing and innovative techniques being deployed are a step-change in the resolution quality of our datasets,” executive chairman John Prineas said.
“The new surveys are designed to provide detail on the lateral and depth potential of the mineralised system. With less than 10% of the project area effectively tested by drilling and very limited drilling beyond 100m from surface, the new geophysical dataset will give invaluable information for exploration targeting and resource definition drilling.
“With JORC-defined resources for rare earths and niobium at Araxá that are already globally significant in terms of volume and grade, this modern geophysical program promises to provide the basis to further unlock substantial value at the project by identifying additional high-grade zones of mineralisation.
”We are also looking forward to starting to announce the assay results from the current drilling program.”
