American Rare Earths (ARR) has announced promising results from recent surface sampling at its Halleck Creek Rare Earths project in Wyoming, further demonstrating the site’s expansion potential.
The company collected 88 surface samples across previously unmapped or sparsely explored areas, including the Bluegrass, northern Overton Mountain, and Sommers Flat regions.
Surface samples from the Overton Mountain and Bluegrass areas showed Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO) values predominantly exceeding 2,770 parts per million (ppm), with some samples surpassing 4,000 ppm.
The highest TREO value recorded in these areas was 4,815 ppm.
At Sommers Flat, sampling revealed TREO values up to 5,280 ppm, with two samples from clinopyroxene quartz monzonite (CQM) dikes yielding 4,726 ppm and 5,250 ppm TREO.
The Overton Mountain and Bluegrass areas consist almost exclusively of CQM, the primary rare earth-bearing rock type within the Red Mountain Pluton.
In contrast, Sommers Flat is dominated by biotite hornblende syenite (BHS), which typically exhibits lower TREO grades.
However, the presence of high-grade CQM dikes cutting through the BHS rocks at Sommers Flat presents intriguing exploration opportunities.
Halleck Creek has been recognised as one of the world’s top 10 rare earth projects.
The project’s latest mineral resource estimate, updated in February, indicates 2.34 billion tonnes grading 3,196 ppm TREO, including valuable neodymium and praseodymium oxides.
Dwight Kinnes, ARR’s Chief Technical Officer, stated: “The recent mapping and sampling from our geologists clearly show that the Bluegrass area will be a high-priority exploration/expansion area for ARR.”
He added that the company plans to update exploration permits with relevant authorities for expanded exploration in 2024-2025.
These results underscore the significant upside potential of the Halleck Creek district.
As the United States seeks to reduce its dependence on Chinese rare earth supplies, projects like Halleck Creek could play a crucial role in establishing a domestic rare earths industry.
The company is set to continue its de-risking initiatives at Halleck Creek, with a 23-hole drilling program scheduled to begin next month in the Cowboy State Mine area.
This program aims to upgrade resources and advance mine planning work for pre-feasibility analysis.
As ARR progresses with its exploration and development efforts at Halleck Creek, the project’s potential to become a major player in the U.S. rare earths market continues to grow.
