Axel REE has found further high-grade rare earth element (REE) and gallium intercepts from phase one drilling at the Caladão project in Brazil’s Lithium Valley.
The latest batch of assays has reinforced the project’s prospects, with mineralisation extending over 60km² across Area A and Area B.
Thick REE mineralisation was confirmed, including a significant intercept of 49.92m at 5909 parts per million total rare earth oxides (TREO) from 27m in hole CLD-DDH-036.
This includes 8m at 13,604ppm TREO from 55m, with a peak assay of 1m at 22,115ppm TREO from 60m.
In addition, strong gallium results continue to be reported from surface, including 17m at 85 grams per tonne (g/t) gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) from surface in hole CLD-DDH-029, with a high-grade interval of 6m at 95g/t Ga₂O₃ from 5m.
“We are pleased with the results from our phase one drilling program at the Caladão project,” Axel REE managing director Fernando Tallarico said.
“The final set of results have again confirmed high-grade and thick gallium and REE mineralisation, which occur in the upper and lower saprolite zones, respectively.
“An important outcome of this set of assays is the extension of gallium mineralisation up to 5km beyond the Caladão granite into the leucogranite host rock, significantly expanding the mineralised area.”
The company has commenced modelling its maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) with SRK Consulting, following a site visit and dataset review.
Additionally, metallurgical testing is advancing with ANSTO.
Tallarico also noted auger drilling has resumed at both the Caladão and Caldas projects in the Poços de Caldas, with further assay results to be released as they are returned from the lab.
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