Australian heavy rare earths producer Northern Minerals (ASX: NTU) has announced assay results from recently completed diamond drilling at the Dazzler and Iceman prospects, part of the Browns Range Project in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia.
HIGHLIGHTS
· Wide high-grade rare earth intercepts from Dazzler and Iceman diamond drilling including:
· 16.59m @ 7.53% TREO from 27m
· 18.6m @ 5.83% TREO from 25.4m
· Grades up to 10x existing Total Mineral Resource grade;
· Drilling was designed to twin previous RC drilling; and
· Further drilling planned to commence in September quarter
The diamond drilling program, which comprised 3 drill holes at Dazzler and one at Iceman, was designed to twin and validate the reverse circulation (RC) drilling programs undertaken in 2018 and early 2019.
In addition, one of the diamond drill holes at Dazzler was drilled to provide samples for metallurgical test work. Final assay results from the RC drilling program completed earlier in the year are currently pending.
The grades at Dazzler and Iceman are an order of magnitude higher than the average Mineral Resource grade for Browns Range. As such, this style of prospect is an extremely attractive target for the Company.
Follow up drilling is planned to commence in September, which will include further Mineral Resource definition drilling at Dazzler.
Northern Minerals’ Managing Director and CEO, George Bauk, said “The grades returned in this program are amongst the highest we have ever seen at Browns Range.
“We have already commenced the process of acquiring and installing Steinert ore sorting technology at Browns Range, aimed at doubling the feed grade to the plant. “The extremely high grades at Dazzler and Iceman have the potential to increase the grade going into the plant even further.
“As with all resources projects, ‘grade is king’ and we look forward to increasing the value of Browns Range.”
