iTech Minerals hits ASX boards with REE discovery in historical samples at Eyre Peninsula kaolin project
iTech Minerals’ review of historical data revealed a rock chip grading 5.2% TREO near to the Ethiopia prospect, while old drill core from the prospect has been resubmitted for analysis after elevated cerium was identified.
Ahead of its ASX listing later this morning, iTech Minerals (ASX: ITM) has revealed even more potential within its portfolio, with the company identifying critical rare earth elements (REE) in multiple historical samples at its Ethiopia prospect, within the Eyre Peninsular Kaolin project in South Australia.
iTech managing director Mike Schwarz said previous explorers in the region had focused on uranium and “overlooked” REE indicators at the Ethiopia prospect.
“Joining the dots and uncovering the potential of the area to host high-purity kaolin and rare earth element mineralisation is an exciting development and well worth following up,” Mr Schwarz added.
Historic exploration at Ethiopia
Adelaide Exploration originally investigated the prospect in 2007 where it drilled 41 aircore holes over a 1km by 1km area to test a radiometric anomaly.
The samples were previously analysed for uranium, thorium and cerium and returned “significantly elevated” cerium grades.
Cerium is one of 17 REE, and the drilling samples have now been submitted for reanalysis of the complete REE suite.
Results are expected next month.
Additionally, a further review of historical data revealed a rock chip grading 5.2% total rare earth element oxides (TREO) about 6.5km to the east of Ethiopia.
Assessments of the tenement have also noted the presence of monzonite nearby, which iTech says also signals REE potential.
Outcropping REE bearing host rock has been mapped over an area of 5.7km by 2.5km in the region.
Ion adsorption clay REE mineralisation
The elevated cerium indicates the potential for Ethiopia to host ion adsorption clay (IAC)-style REE mineralisation.
IAC-style REE mineralisation occurs primarily in China but has been identified globally and is sometimes referred to as a laterite deposit.
This style of mineralisation is usually found in soils after weathering of granitic and/or REE enriched source rocks.
It is often adsorbed to kaolinite, halloysite and other clay minerals, with Ethiopia also deemed prospective for kaolin.
iTech noted IAC REE mineralisation can be “highly profitable” due to low extraction costs because it is leached from clays with a simple ammonium sulphate at room temperature.
Emerging REE region
South Australia’s prospectivity for REE is under the global spotlight after Australian Rare Earths (ASX: AR3) joined ASX ranks on the 1 July with its flagship Koppamurra project which crosses into Victoria.
Koppamurra is currently Australia’s largest prospective ionic clay hosted REE deposit.
It already has a JORC resource of 39.9Mt at 725ppm TREO.
Australian Rare Earths’ granted tenements across South Australia and Victoria span 2,136 square kilometres, with a further 1,911sq km of contiguous land under application.
At the time of writing, Australian Rare Earths was trading at $0.895 – a substantial premium to its $0.30 IPO price.
Kaolin potential
While discovering REE potential at Ethiopia, iTech is still focused on unlocking the kaolin prospectivity at the prospect.
Test work of historical drilling has identified thick intervals of high purity kaolin at surface within Adelaide’s 2007 aircore holes.
Highlight results from the iTech’s subsampling of 10 holes were 6m at 39% (-45 micrometres), 0.55% iron, 32.12% aluminium, and 0.94% titanium; 24m at 33% (-45μm), 0.88% iron, 31.9% aluminium, and 0.59% titanium; and 18m at 47% (-45μm), 0.83% iron, 31.9% aluminium, and 0.69% titanium.
iTech has resubmitted the samples for reflectance and XRD kaolinite and halloysite analysis.
The results are due next month.
ASX debut and initial exploration
iTech hits the ASX boards today after raising $7 million in a heavily oversubscribed IPO.
The company was incorporated to acquire Archer Minerals’ (ASX: AXE) numerous critical and battery mineral exploration assets due to its change in direction from mineral exploration to advanced technology.
iTech brings to market more than 21 projects that are prospective for an array of commodities.
As well as its plans for Ethiopia, iTech will be advancing its other halloysite, kaolin and graphite targets in South Australia.
Mr Schwarz previously told Small Caps, that in addition to the high-quality ground iTech had acquired, the portfolio had more than 10 years’ worth of exploration data.
In early November, iTech plans to begin its own mapping and sampling programs at Ethiopia for both kaolin and REE.
Tenement access negotiations with landowners are underway with drilling to begin once targets have been selected and all regulatory requirements are at hand.
iTech will also undertake detailed reviews at its other priority projects Franklyn (kaolin-halloysite), and Campoona (graphite).