お知らせ • Oct 28
WA1 Resources Ltd Announces West Arunta Project - Discovery of Niobium-REE Mineralised Carbonatite System
WA1 Resources Ltd. announced the first results from its maiden West Arunta Project drilling program undertaken in July. The drill program comprised seven holes for a total of 1,745 metres. Drilling provided an initial test of two target zones at the Pachpadra Prospect (P1 and P2) and the one target zone at the Sambhar Prospect (Luni). The results provided in this announcement relate to the single reverse circulation (RC) hole drilled to 216 metres at P2 (PARC003). This hole was co-funded by the Western Australian Department of Mines, Industry Regulation & Safety (DMIRS) under the Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS). P2 is located along a major north-east trending shear and is characterised by a gravity anomaly high which is approximately 3km in length and coincides with varying levels of magnetic anomalism. Geophysical modelling suggested a northerly dip, resulting in the decision to drill the hole with a -60 degree dip to the south. Orientation of the mineralisation (true and apparent width) is not able to be determined at this stage. PARC003 collared into ferruginous and mottled clays with saprock occurring from 74m. Drilling intersected a distinct carbonate rich intrusive rock from 84m, coarse grained in texture with apatite visible in hand specimen. Hematite/goethite alteration occurred for 20m from 106m. Significant mineralisation has now been confirmed in the first P2 drillhole (PARC003) via 4m composite assays. The hole intersected elevated niobium, rare earth elements and phosphorus throughout the entire assayed portion, including: 54m at 0.62% Nb2O5, 0.18% TREO (comprising 21% Nd2O3+Pr6O11), 3.85% P2O5 within an overall interval of 142m at 0.31% Nb2O5, 0.17% TREO, 3.94% P2O5 from 74m to 216m (EOH) and ending in 2m at 1.22% Nb2O5, 0.22% TREO, 5.73% P2O5. Assay values peaked at 1.22% Nb2O5 (216m EOH), 0.43% TREO (106-110m) and 8.75% P2O5 (90-94m) at varying intervals throughout the assayed section of the hole. Anomalous zinc and lead values were also noted in select intervals. Geochemical analysis was completed by ALS Laboratories in Perth. Assay values peaked at 1.22% Nb2O5 (216m EOH), 0.43% TREO (106-110m) and 8.75% P2O5 (90-94m) at varying intervals throughout the assayed section of the hole. Anomalous zinc and lead values were also noted in select intervals. Geochemical analysis was completed by ALS Laboratories in Perth. Carbonatites are a type of igneous rock defined by their composition being rich in carbonate minerals, typically calcite or dolomite. They often occur as plugs within alkali intrusive complexes, or as dykes, sills, breccias or veins. They are generally associated with major crustal scale features in rift-related tectonic settings. Carbonatites may be mineralised with rare earth elements, niobium, phosphorus, tantalum, uranium, thorium, copper, iron, titanium, vanadium, barium, fluorine and zirconium. The identification of a mineralised carbonatite intrusion is a significant finding for the West Arunta region, and given other intrusive bodies within the region enhances the potential for further discovery with future exploration efforts. Carbonatite deposits are an important source of REE and niobium production. This includes the world's largest REE mine, Bayan Oho in Inner Mongolia, Lynas Rare Earths' Mt Weld deposit and the world's three major operating niobium mines. Niobium (Nb) is a transitional metal used as a micro alloy with iron. Niobium is primarily used in the steel industry as the addition of small amounts of niobium (<1%) significantly increases the strength, decreases the weight, reduces corrosion and improves the heat resistance of steel products. Niobium is a superconductor at very low temperatures, and as an alloy with titanium (NbTi) or tin (Nb3Sn) it produces superconducting magnets used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) equipment and particle accelerators such as the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. Niobium is essential for advanced technology with additional uses in gas and wind turbines, space travel, and in the manufacture of rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles. The metal has been identified by the Australian Government and many other countries as a critical mineral, due to the concentration of supply from Brazil. There are currently three niobium producers globally: CBMM, Araxa, Brazil (66ktpa production, +500Mt at 2.5% Nb2O5 resource, cost <$10/kg Nb), China Molybdenum Co., Catalao, Brazil (10ktpa production, +50Mt at 1% Nb2O5 resource, cost <$10/kg Nb)4 and Magris Resources Inc., Niobec, Canada (7ktpa production5, +75Mt at 0.56% Nb2O5 resource, cost <$19/kg Nb). The main niobium product sold is in the form of ferroniobium (~65% Nb) which makes up approximately 90% of the market. Niobium prices range from USD 45,000/t3 per tonne for standard ferroniobium metal and over USD 50,000/t3 per tonne for niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5). The West Arunta Project is located approximately 490km south of Halls Creek in WA. It comprises the Pachpadra, Sambhar and Urmia prospect areas, which are contained within a granted Exploration Licence. Prior to WA1 acquiring the West Arunta Project in 2021, the tenement had extremely limited historical exploration for gold and copper largely in the form of reconnaissance airborne geophysics, limited ground geophysical surveys, and surface sampling. Drilling on the West Arunta Project tenement was limited to a single historic diamond hole drilled in 2010.