Locksley Resources further encouraged by promising Mojave REE project sample results

Locksley Resources (ASX: LKY) has successfully completed a follow-up stream sediment sampling within the North Block project area at its Mojave rare earth element (REE) project in California.

The company has been encouraged by its initial assessment of the results from a program designed to examine an area that previously returned highly-anomalous results of up to 2,600 parts per million total rare earths oxides.

Managing director Steve Woodham said these results represent additional REE potential within the North Block.

The results of the sampling program are particularly significant as the North Block abuts the giant Mountain Pass project, the US’s largest REE mine and the largest producer of high-grade rare earth materials in the western hemisphere, currently delivering approximately 15% of global supply.

“The follow-up work at the Mojave North project is encouraging,” Mr Woodham said.

“Stream sediment numbers of this magnitude are usually a good sign that we are getting close to the source.”

“We are confident that we are closing in on a geological feature with considerable REE potential,” he added.

“Locksley will be mobilising a field crew before the end of February to complete the follow-up sampling and mapping work which should provide the company with a strong foundation for a drilling campaign.”

Geological work

The Locksley team was joined by representatives of US-based MINEX Corp in conducting extensive field examination including geological mapping and sampling to further identify REE anomalism across the broader North Block.

Locksley, through its 100% owned subsidiary Enigma Strategic Minerals, collected 245 stream sediment and 27 rock-chip samples within the North Block claim.

Samples were collected from dry stream beds over a broadly-spaced area within the North Block as an early exploration tool to cover large areas of the claim with the aim of focusing in on the source of the highly-elevated REEs.

The samples were subsequently processed and assayed at the Bureau Veritas laboratory located in Sparks, Nevada.

Potential outcropping source

The recently-completed sampling program was designed to follow up the results from the North Block to narrow down the potential outcropping source.

Reconnaissance rock chip sampling was also conducted in areas where potential REE shedding/erosion was concurrent within the system.

The Mojave project is located in the Mojave Desert and consists of three areas: the North Block is comprised of 164 claims totalling 14.9 sq km, the South Block contains 32 claims totalling 3.5 sq km and El Campo Prospect consists of five claims totalling 0.34 sq km.

New appointment

Locksley recently named experienced Denver-based executive Matt Hartmann to the role of president of US operations overseeing the company’s technical and commercial activities in that country.

Mr Hartman brings more than 20 years’ experience in global mineral exploration and project development with previous roles including vice president of technical services for Sweetwater Royalties, where he ran exploration activities across 4.5 million acres of mineral tenure in the US.

He has also held senior technical leadership roles with SRK Consulting, Westwater Resources, Uranium Resources and Strathmore Minerals.