Axel REE confirms high-grade rare earths and gallium at Caladão with latest assays

Axel REE’s (ASX: AXL) confidence that its Caladão project in Brazil will be one of the only rare earth element (REE) and gallium resources in the world has been boosted with further high-grade results in the fifth batch of assays.

The high-grade gallium results continue to occur from surface as Axel moves ahead with metallurgical and inferred mineral resource estimate (MRE) studies.

Highlighted REE mineralisation thicknesses in the latest tests included 49.92m at 5,909 parts per million total rare earth oxides from 27 metres.

High-grade mineralisation

The latest assays from Axel’s diamond and auger drill program at Caladão, located in Brazil’s Lithium Valley, have again returned consistent REE intercepts in the saprolite profile and gallium mineralisation in the lateritic soil profile at surface.

“We are pleased with the results from our phase one drilling program at the Caladão project,” managing director Dr Fernando Tallarico said.

“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.”

REE and gallium studies

Axel engaged SRK Consulting in mid-February to commence an MRE program for both REE and gallium at Caladão.

At the same time, the company contracted the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation to begin metallurgical testing for both REE and gallium aimed at optimising leach recoveries, impurity removal and precipitation testing.

The MRE at Caladão will initially cover a 35 square kilometre high-grade mineralised drilled section of Area A and will follow on with the 25 sq km mineralised zone at Area B.

Auger drilling resumed

Axel has resumed auger drilling at Caladão, where only 15% of the total project area has been drilled and is mineralised.

The MRE will support optimal high-grade step-out and infill drilling zones for further resource confidence and scale expansion.

China’s recent ban on gallium exports has made it a high-value critical metal of global strategic importance, currently priced at around $1,500 per kilogram.