Caprice Resources Ltd has advanced exploration of the Mukinbudin Rare Earth Element Project, located 25km northwest of Mukinbudin and 250km northeast from Perth in Western Australia.
Reconnaissance exploration continues to further enhance the understanding of the REE potential of the project. A recent sampling program tested three areas in the southern half of the tenement. The sampling delineated a significant soil anomaly on an area called QC2, which coincides with an outcropping zoned pegmatite.
The anomaly is at least 300m long with both rock chips and soil samples elevated in REEs (up to 3,761ppm REO’s) and remains open along strike. The average HREE component from the samples is over 19 per cent. Significantly, the outcrop at QC2 has a total strike length of approximately 1.5km.
Further sampling is planned to test the remaining strike length of QC2, as well as to systematically assess other areas within the project for REE bearing pegmatites. Follow up sampling is due to commence next week.
Managing Director Andrew Muir said the initial exploration work is highly encouraging and confirms the prospectivity of the project.
“Whilst the sampling only tested three specific targets, to identify elevated REEs in one of these is an excellent outcome. The results justify follow up work to further assess QC2 to delineate drill targets, as well as continue to explore other parts of the 380km2 project, with only 20 per cent of the tenement having been actively explored to date.”
The Mukinbudin Project consists of one tenement, E70/5939, and is well supported by infrastructure and access via sealed roads from Perth or Merredin. The tenement overlies freehold farming properties and access to key areas will require agreements with landholders. Interactions with local landholders to date have been positive.
Caprice has completed a series of selective reconnaissance sampling programs in three locations, QC1, QC2 & RJ with a total of 48 soil samples and 78 rock chips taken. Of note, this sampling focused on two areas of known pegmatite outcrops (QC2 & RJ) and one interpreted pegmatitic quartz core. All are located in the southern half of the tenement.
Sampling followed an approximate 20m by 20m grid over the extent of the outcrops, perpendicular to the estimated strike. Soil sampling was used whenever rockchips could not be sampled. The soil sampling used a -2mm sieve at approximate depths of 20-30cm into the B horizon.
The sampling generated a REE anomaly surrounding the outcropping QC2 prospect, up to 300m long. The anomaly coincides with a pegmatite body and is oriented in a NE-SW direction. Further sampling is planned over the QC2 outcrops, which is interpreted to have a strike of approximately 1.5km, which is well beyond the sampling area.
The results are considered highly encouraging, with exploration planned to test QC2 further, as well as the developing potential in the area.
