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Writer's pictureMichael Philipps

Historical analysis confirms rare earths for Regener8 Resources

Updated: Apr 17


AngloGold Ashanti historical chip trays from Regener8 Resources’ Grasshopper prospect east of Kalgoorlie. Credit: File

Regener8 Resources has confirmed rare earths at its East Ponton Future Metals project east of Kalgoorlie, after historical drill samples revealed results of up to 1698 parts per million total rare earths oxide (TREO).


The company reanalysed drill samples taken during a 2013 AngloGold Ashanti campaign at the Grasshopper prospect, in an area about 40km from known rare earths-bearing carbonatites at Ponton Dyke.


Historical drilling and assays from Ponton Dyke – most recently held by Galaxy Resources, which has since merged with Orocobre – delivered some of Australia’s best-ever rare earths intersections. Results show 16m grading 14.48 per TREO and 28m going 10.5 per cent TREO, including 6m at 20.57 per cent TREO.


Grasshopper sits immediately adjacent to the nearby Cundeelee carbonatite and Ponton Dyke in an area largely masked by shallow cover. Additional results from the reanalysis threw up some consistent figures of 896, 871, 820 and 757ppm TREO, with several assays showing the highest concentrations at the end-of-hole intervals.


AngloGold Ashanti initially tested the area while searching for gold mineralisation following the discovery of the nearby Tropicana deposit. While the gold exploration was not successful, several drill holes showed elevated rare earths values, in addition to pathfinder elements that included phosphorous, strontium and barium.


The confirmation of elevated rare earth values within an in-situ weathered context, co-incident with strong magnetic geophysical anomalies, creates very compelling targets to vector towards testing. Being in the neighbourhood of outstanding mineralised carbonatites further encourages us to advance exploration with rigour and we look forward to progressing on ground as soon as possible. Regener8 Resources managing director Stephen Foley

Earlier this month, the company picked up the Grasshopper and Seven Sisters prospects that form its East Ponton Future Metals project, through an option agreement with private company Beau Resources. The operations are also considered prospective for lithium and gold.


The prospects lie just 40km from known rare earths-bearing carbonatites, within the protected Queen Victoria Spring Nature Reserve. The three key geological features in the reserve are the Cundeelee intrusion, the Ponton intrusion and the Ponton Dyke carbonatite. Mining giant BHP previously described the Cundeelee intrusion as the “largest, effectively untested carbonatite in the world”.


Regener8 is working to build its geological understanding of its East Ponton Future Metals project and plans to investigate several exploration options in the coming months, including site inspections and target assessment. The company is also prioritising further geophysical data acquisition and analysis for future drill-testing of targets.


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