Locksley Resources has confirmed the presence of high-grade rare earth element mineralisation at its El Campo prospect within the Mojave Project in California, following the completion of an initial diamond drilling programme.
The results represent a significant step forward for the company as it seeks to establish a foothold in one of the most strategically important mineral districts in the United States.
El Campo sits approximately 5.5 kilometres south-east of Mountain Pass Mine, operated by MP Materials and currently the only active rare earth mine in the country.
The proximity to Mountain Pass lends considerable geological significance to Locksley’s findings, with drilling results supporting the interpretation that a larger carbonatite system (analogous in character to the Mountain Pass-style mineralisation) may exist at depth beneath the El Campo corridor.
Assay results from the diamond drill programme returned substantial total rare earth oxide intercepts across multiple holes.
Drill-hole ECDD0002 produced a peak value of 6.03 per cent TREO over 0.7 metres, as well as a broader intersection of 7.20 metres at 2.93 per cent TREO, which included a higher-grade sub-interval of 3.75 metres at 4.45 per cent TREO.
A separate hole, ECDD0004, returned 0.90 metres at 1.09 per cent TREO.
Of particular note is the composition of the mineralisation.
Neodymium and praseodymium (collectively referred to as NdPr) account for approximately 25 per cent of the total rare earth oxide content across key intercepts.
NdPr oxides are among the most commercially sought-after rare earths, serving as essential inputs for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, defence systems, and a broad range of advanced technologies.
Their elevated proportion within the El Campo mineralisation materially enhances the project’s potential economic significance.
Drilling has confirmed that rare earth mineralisation extends below the current surface exposures and remains open both at depth and along strike within the wider El Campo corridor, indicating meaningful scope for resource expansion through further work.
Beyond El Campo, Locksley also reported final assay results from its maiden drilling programme at the Desert Antimony Mine, also within the Mojave Project.
Two of the eight drill-holes intersected antimony mineralisation beyond the extent of historical underground workings.
Peak values reached 6.44 per cent antimony over 0.3 metres and 2.90 per cent antimony over 0.3 metres in drill-hole DADD0007, with results demonstrating continuity of stibnite mineralisation to the south of previous workings.
With both drilling programmes now complete, exploration at the Mojave Project has advanced to regional targeting and assessment.
Current activities include evaluation of recently acquired radiometric data, alongside plans for a high-resolution ground scintillometer survey across the full permit footprint at El Campo.
The survey is intended to refine the spatial extent and structural controls on the rare earth mineralisation and inform future drill targeting.
The El Campo results arrive as the United States intensifies efforts to develop domestic rare earth supply chains, reducing dependence on overseas sources for materials critical to clean energy and national security applications.
A confirmed rare earth discovery in the Mountain Pass district, backed by carbonatite geology and NdPr-enriched grades, positions Locksley as a company warranting close attention from investors and policymakers alike.
Separately, Locksley recently executed a binding option agreement with Balmain Minerals, a subsidiary of Sky Metals, to acquire a full interest in the Iron Duke Copper and Gold Project in New South Wales, Australia, broadening the company’s portfolio beyond its California operations.
