Enova Mining identifies high-grade rare earth targets at East Salinas project in Brazil

Enova Mining (ASX: ENV) has confirmed multiple high-grade rare earth element (REE) exploration targets with a successful surface sampling program at the Medina intrusion within its East Salinas granitic complex in Brazil.

The company has obtained rock-chip assays with total rare earth oxide (TREO) grades up to 1.87% that it says confirms REE enrichment across several tenements.

The sampling also returned elevated levels of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide, while the company’s identification of key heavy REEs such as terbium, dysprosium and ytterbium has helped promote Naked Hill and Bald Hill as priority targets.

Refining drill targets

Chief executive officer Eric Vesel said Enova would now focus on refining drill targets through detailed mapping, geochemical analysis and geophysical surveys to define mineralised zones.

The company has planned drilling to test potential REE mineralisation at depth and evaluate continuity, with potential for additional metals also under review.

At the same time, Enova is progressing a mineralogical and beneficiation study at CIT Senai in Belo Horizonte.

This work will assess processing pathways including gravity concentration to upgrade the ore and potentially produce a saleable concentrate supporting a low-impact, cost-effective development strategy.

Exciting prospects

“Sampling has highlighted the East Salinas project areas of Naked and Bald Hill as exciting prospects with TREO grades up to 1.87% and strong NdPr and HREO enrichment,” Mr Vesel said.

“We expect these outcrops to merge and extend in depth and width [and] are confident of this being a big system with consistency.”

“Our interest is a scalable project amenable to coarse grinding to liberate minerals that can be concentrated by spirals, jigs or flotation.”

‘Compelling’ opportunity

Mr Vesel said Enova is confident it is on the trail of a compelling rare earth opportunity in one of Brazil’s most strategically located critical minerals corridors.

“We are now focused on beneficiation and then accelerating our exploration to define the full extent of this emerging rare earth province,” he added.

The company is now progressing metallurgical test work to assess low-cost gravity concentration production potential after coarse grinding.