European Resources (ASX: ERE) has reported a standout rare earth intersection from diamond drill hole KR-316 at its 100%-owned Korsnäs rare earth element (REE) project in Finland.
The hole returned 31.5 metres at 4,902 parts per million total rare earth oxides (TREO) from 98.5m, including 8.5m at 10,414ppm TREO and 4.5m at 14,003ppm TREO.
The intercept also contained neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) enrichment of as much as 30%.
The result confirms a significant southern target zone associated with coincident gravity and horizontal vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) passive seismic anomalies, reinforcing the project’s focus on high-value NdPr-enriched mineralisation.
Southern Target Validated
KR-316 intersected strongly NdPr-enriched apatite/monazite mineralisation, including additional intervals of 5.0m at 5,707ppm TREO from 55.0m and 2.6m at 9,983ppm TREO from 114.0m.
The mineralisation is characterised by good widths above 1% TREO and is considered the more metallurgically amenable apatite/monazite style.
The company regards the intersection as validation of HVSR passive seismic as an effective targeting tool for REE-bearing carbonatite and skarn mineralisation at Korsnäs.
An orientation passive seismic survey has already identified an additional target, with further seismic work and follow-up drilling in the Southern Zone planned.
Additional Results from West-1 Zone
European has also received assays for hole KR-315, which intersected REE mineralisation in the West-1 zone.
KR-315 returned 6.0m at 5,149ppm TREO from 75.0m, including 1.0m at 11,062ppm TREO.
All reported intervals are down-hole widths based on length-weighted composites using a 1,000ppm TREO lower cut-off, with no top cuts applied.
Retained half HQ core from KR-316 will support advanced metallurgical testing, while results from the current drilling program are expected to underpin future Mineral Resource Estimate upgrade work.
Best Intersection Returned
“KR-316 is a breakthrough result for this program,” managing director Jason Beckton said.
“It is not only the best intersection we have returned so far, but it also validates our targeting approach and opens a new southern growth zone associated with a strong gravity and passive seismic anomaly.
“This is particularly encouraging because the southern target hosts thick zones of the more metallurgically amenable apatite/monazite style of REE mineralisation, which is highly relevant to downstream processing pathways being considered in Europe.
“In that context, KR-316 reinforces the emerging scale and potential of Korsnäs as a European rare earth project, while also highlighting the value of geophysics-led targeting in accelerating discovery and growth,” he added.
“Further drilling is a must to test continuity and define the broader extent of this exciting southern target.”
