iTech Minerals turns up rare earths on fourth SA prospect

iTech Minerals’ (ASX: ITM) latest drill results show that its Caralue Bluff kaolin target on the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia has rare earth elements (REE). 

Last week iTech reported it had completed all 478 drill holes at its Eyre Peninsula tenement package in South Australia, which is a significant event coming less than six months after it listed on the ASX.

A new batch of results has now come back from the laboratory showing several REE intersections at Caralue Bluff.

The company says “significant” intervals of REE mineralisation have been found in the clay rich, weathering profile at the prospect.

This makes four prospects with REE success across the Eyre Peninsula project, with the elements also detected at the Ethiopia, Bartels and Burtons prospects. 

Drilling at Caralue Bluff added REE to known kaolin

Highlight assays from Caralue Bluff were 23m at 1,016 parts per million total rare earth oxides (TREO), 8m at 768ppm TREO, 10m at 600ppm TREO, and 30m at 540ppm TREO.

All-up iTech drilled 260 holes at Caralue Bluff over an area 12km by 12km.

Managing director Mike Schwarz said the results were encouraging.

“The discovery of thick intervals of REEs in the weathering profile of Caralue Bluff, over a distance of 8km, has been the highlight of iTech’s maiden exploration program to date,” he added. 

Caralue Bluff was initially established as a high purity kaolin prospect after the identification of thick intervals of bright white kaolin, close to surface in several historical drill holes. 

However, during the maiden drilling program iTech geologists noted that the weathering profile was similar to Ethiopia, Bartels and Burtons prospects, where elevated REE were known to occur. 

The current results suggest that the mineralisation may extend over a distance of at least 8km. 

More REE hits at Burtons, too

Meanwhile, the latest batch of results also includes drilling at the Burtons prospect and further confirm REE mineralisation.

The assays include 5m at 1,552 TREO (from 10m), 5m at 1,221ppm, and 27m at 968ppm (from surface). 

iTech was formed to take over exploration projects from Adelaide-based Archer Materials (ASX: AXE), formerly an explorer but now an advanced technology player.

The company is exploring for kaolinite-halloysite, ion adsorption clay REE mineralisation and developing the Campoona Graphite Deposit in South Australia.

iTech also has extensive exploration tenure prospective for copper-gold porphyry mineralisation, iron-oxide-copper-gold mineralisation and gold mineralisation in South Australia and tin, tungsten, and polymetallic Cobar style mineralisation in New South Wales