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E-Tech Resources
Overview
E-Tech Resources (TSXV:REE, FSE:K2i) is a Halifax, Nova Scotia-based exploration company developing its high-grade Eureka rare earths project in Namibia, a top-tier and mining-friendly jurisdiction in Southern Africa. The company is focused on exploring for neodymium and praseodymium, two critical minerals necessary for the global energy transition goals.
Part of the rare earth elements (REE) family of minerals, neodymium and praseodymium are essential to high-performance magnets used for electric motors, generators and electric vehicles. As demand for REEs is expected to increase by 400 to 600 percent over the next few decades, the focus is shifting toward developing a supply chain outside of China, which has long been a dominant supplier of the world’s REE.
The company's fully owned flagship Eureka project is located in the Erongo Mining Corridor of Namibia. The Eureka project has a maiden inferred resource of 310 kt at 4.8 percent TREO with grades ranging from 1 to 16 percent. The company believes there is strong potential to increase the inferred and indicated mineral resource by at least 0.5 to 1.5 million tonnes, based on a technical scoping study.
E-Tech Resources completed a combined diamond drilling and reverse circulation drilling campaign at Eureka in 2022, with final assays indicating significant intersections of 11.2 meters at 1.2 percent TREO, 2.2 meters at 2.4 percent TREO, 8.8 meters at 1 percent TREO, and 6.3 meters at 1.9 percent TREO.
In addition, preliminary pXRF drilling results1 for the Adder Target have confirmed a discovery zone with the presence of REE mineralization identified in multiple zones in a drill hole correlating with REE mineralization identified on surface. Mineralization remains open at depth and along strike.
The results are part of the ongoing extended exploration of one of the 17 targets identified through ground radiometric and magnetic geophysical surveys and a geological mapping program completed earlier.
The Eureka project is strategically located near several mines and projects, including Rossing Uranium's Rossing Uranium mine, QKR's Navachab Gold mine, Namib Lead and Zinc Mining's Namib Lead and Zinc mine, and AfriTin's Uis mine. Eureka has excellent infrastructure and access to a major highway, a railway, roads, power, water and skilled professionals.
The company has taken steps to expand its land holdings within the Erongo Mining Corridor in Namibia, by entering into an agreement to acquire an 85-percent interest in EPL 874, which lies adjacent to and surrounds the company’s EPL 6762. The approximately 165-square-kilometer EPL 8748 contains a significant portion of the prospective Eureka Dome, the geological feature hosting mineralised REE-bearing carbonatites. Approximately a third of the Eureka Dome falls within the boundary of E-Tech Resources’ EPL 6762 and the remaining portion falls on the adjoining license EPL 8748.
E-Tech Resources is committed to maintaining the highest ESG standards to sustainably supply the green economy and adhere to the guidelines of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. E-Tech Resources plans to create a sustainability committee to guide its ESG efforts and will be conducting further environmental and social impact assessments as part of ongoing feasibility studies to maintain responsible sourcing. E-Tech Resources' Eureka project is currently expected to have no major negative socio-environmental impact on the region.
The company is exploring the potential of a feasibility study for a rare earth separation plant in Namibia. Recognizing the need for a de-risked supply chain for these strategic critical raw materials, E-Tech is collaborating with Ondoto Rare Earth, a private Namibian company developing the high-grade Ondoto bastnaesite deposit in northern Namibia, and Namibia Critical Metals (TSXV:NMI, OTCQB: NMREF), which is developing the tier-1 heavy rare earth project, Lofdal, a globally significant deposit of the heavy rare earth metals dysprosium and terbium. Together, the three companies will participate in a joint venture known as Rare Earth Alliance Namibia (REAN).
E-Tech Resources also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Novamera to evaluate the use of surgical mining and Novamera's technologies as the extraction method for the Eureka Project. The MOU sets out a series of milestones that include a conceptual surgical mining economic desktop evaluation (commencing immediately), Guidance Tool calibration activities and a bulk sample which could provide a more cost-effective and faster path to production, while also radically reducing environmental and social impact.
After evaluating the results of the current exploration program, the company engaged Gecko Namibia and Flightec Namibia to support ongoing exploration and development activities on the project. Phase 1 ultra-high resolution UAV-borne magnetic survey will be conducted by Flightec.
Company Highlights
- E-Tech Resources' fully owned flagship Eureka project is located in the Erongo Mining Corridor of Namibia and has a maiden inferred resource of 310 kilotons at 4.8 percent total rare earth oxide (TREO) with significant growth potential.
- The Eureka project is strategically located near several mines and projects, as well as excellent infrastructure, with access to a major highway, a railway, roads, power, water and skilled professionals.
- E-Tech Resources is focused on exploring for neodymium and praseodymium, critical minerals essential to permanent magnets for electric vehicles.
- Early metallurgical testing has indicated the potential to be one of the simplest REE projects to process in the world.
- Recently completed ground geophysical and exploration mapping programs at the Eureka project identified 17 robust targets for exploration drilling
- Preliminary pXRF drilling results1 for the Adder Target have confirmed a discovery zone with the presence of REE mineralization.
- E-Tech Resources is committed to maintaining the highest ESG standards in adherence to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
- E-Tech Resources is led by a highly skilled management team with a proven track record of success in the mining industry and capital markets.
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High Priority REE Targets Identified At The Company’s Critical Elements Project
HIGHLIGHTS
- High priority REE (rare earth element) targets identified by expert geophysical consultants, Southern Geoscience
- Multiple radiometric anomalies and structural zones prospective for pegmatite intrusions identified
- REE targets are located on the Company’s exploration licences E09/2354 and E09/2377 in the highly prospective Gascoyne Province, Western Australia
- Initial exploration program to commence later this month, comprising ground reconnaissance, rock chip sampling and geochemical analysis
The high priority targets sit within tenements held by Reach Resources wholly owned subsidiary, Critical Elements Pty Ltd (Critical Elements), that were acquired in November 2021. The Critical Elements Project lies in close proximity to successful explorer Kingfisher Mining (ASX:KFM) and are also only ~80km south of the Company’s Skyline tenure, which is immediately adjacent to Hastings Technology Metals Limited (ASX: HAS “Hastings”), Yangibana REE development which has a current Ore reserve of 16.7Mt at 0.95% TREO for 158Kt (Refer HAS ASX Announcement 27 July 2021). (Refer to Figure 1).
Figure 1: Reach Resources regional locations
Southern Geoscience focussed on structural interpretation and target generation based on airborne magnetic data, with additional detail derived from interpretation of radiometric data and satellite imagery. Resulting from the interpretation was the identification of six REE targets within Reach tenure. A full list of identified targets within Reach tenure is included in Table 1 and depicted in Figure 2.
All targets display geological and structural complexity combined with previously identified prospective critical metal and/or REE mineral association.
Figure 2: Targets and Magnetics
Costeaning has been undertaken previously within the project areas and returned significant results including 12.4% Ta2O5, 32.0% Nb2O5, 0.95% WO3 and 0.25% Sn, from selective rock chip samples (Refer ASX Announcement 29 November 2021). REEs were not analysed at that time however thorium anomalism, which has been shown by Kingfisher Mining and others to be associated with REE mineralisation in the region, has also been identified on Reach tenure from the radiometric data for the area interpreted by Southern Geoscience.
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This article includes content from Reach Resources Limited, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
Initial Drilling Confirms Widespread Heavy Rare Earth Mineralisation At Tanami REE Project, WA
Highlights
- Encouraging assay results received for the first 35 Reverse Circulation (RC) holes from the recently completed Phase 1 RC program.
- Drilling to date comprises 10,727m of RC drilling (7,204m at Castella and 3,523m at Watts Rise), air-core program still in progress.
- Initial assay results from Castella include:
- 22TARC002 - 2m @ 6,496 ppm TREO (296 ppm Dy2O3, 2,347 ppm Y2O3) from 3m,including 1m @ 9,530 ppm TREO from 3m.
- 22TARC005 - 4m @ 3,803 ppm TREO (210 ppm Dy2O3, 1,343 ppm Y2O3) from 2m, including 2m @ 5,202 ppm TREO from 4m.
- 22TARC015 – 1m @ 6,191 ppm TREO (251 ppm Dy2O3, 1,765 ppm Y2O3) from 12m.
- 22TARC030 - 1m @ 5,928 ppm TREO (336 ppm Dy2O3, 3,568 ppm Y2O3) from 18m.
- Further highly elevated pXRF readings from Castella awaiting assay results include:
- 22TARC053 – 1m @ 17,753 ppm Y2O31 from 2m.
- 22TARC051 – 1m @ 3,918 ppm Y2O 1 from 21m.
- RC drilling at Watts Rise has also returned elevated yttrium pXRF readings within a consistently anomalous zone of yttrium and strontium extending over 380 metres – assay results pending.
- Highly elevated pXRF readings within the anomalous zone at Watts Rise include:
- 22TARC101 – 1m @ 20,541 ppm Y2O 1 from 63m.
- 22TARC107 – 1m @ 5,182 ppm Y2O 1 from 35m.
- Gold assays pending for Watts Rise to follow up previous high-grade mineralised intersections from historic drilling.
- Regional air-core drilling is continuing to test prospective stratigraphy and structures, in an area over 4.2km in strike along the Watts Rise trend.
Figure1:RCdrillingattheTanamiHeavyREEProject,WA.
Initial results have confirmed the potential of the project to host significant rare earth mineralisation, with both shallow and deeper mineralisation encountered at both prospects tested to date (Castella and Watts Rise). Thirteen of the 35 RC holes for which assay results have been received have returned assays of 1m @ 0.15% TREO or more (see Appendix 1).
The RC component of the program is now complete with 132 holes drilled for 10,727m while regional air-core (AC) drilling is continuing with 91 holes completed so far for 2,817m. Rare earth assay results have so far been received from 35 RC holes (of 132 completed RC holes).
The RC drilling was designed to test highly elevated surface rare earth mineralisation at both the Castella and Watts Rise prospects, while the AC drilling is currently testing the broader Watts Rise – Castella regional target defined by exploration activities in 2021 and 2022.
Executive Director Mr George Bauk said:“These results confirm the presence of heavy REE mineralisation both at depth and near surface across the Tanami REE Project.
“Assay results for the first 35 holes at Castella are encouraging and, while the grade and thickness of the intercepts does not yet indicate that we have an orebody, they do show that we are exploring in the right area with excellent potential to vector into thicker and higher grade areas.
“We are also extremely encouraged by the continuity of the extensive pXRF yttrium anomaly seen at Watts Rise. The continuity of this mineralised envelope over 380m of strike which remains open down-dip is very encouraging.
“The success of the drill program to date has prompted us to accelerate exploration with a detailed ground gravity survey commencing later this month to assist in identifying the mineralisation controls at depth. Meanwhile, the regional AC drilling continues to reveal buried rare earth anomalism and pathfinder anomalism along the 18km corridor and at the two priority targets areas of Castella and Watts Rise.
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This article includes content from PVW Resources, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.