- Askari Metals’ (AS2) latest rock sampling work reveals rare earth element potential at its Barrow Creek lithium project in the Northern Territory
- The program targeted previously untested pegmatites for lithium mineralisation but returned total rare earth oxide (TREO) assays of up to 4553 parts per million
- Askari says the potential represented by the total rare earth oxide results is very exciting and will be followed up shortly
- While the company maintains a lithium focus at Barrow Creek, it will now widen its radar to include rare earth elements as well
- Askari Metals is down 0.76 per cent, trading at 65 cents at 3:57 pm AEDT
Askari Metals’ (AS2) latest rock sampling work has revealed rare earth element potential at its Barrow Creek lithium project in the Northern Territory.
The program targeted untested pegmatites in the south-central part of the project with lithologies comparable to pegmatites in the north-west and south-east area of Barrow Creek.
The company identified fertile lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites in these areas stretching over 4.8 kilometres by 3.8 kilometres.
Results from the program displayed prospectivity for rare earth elements (REE), with total rare earth oxide (TREO) results of up to 4553 parts per million.
Given rare earth elements were not the target of the work being conducted, the company’s Vice President of Exploration and Geology, Johan Lambrechts, said the results were “very exciting” with follow up work to be undertaken “as soon as possible”.
“One regularly reads about results in the one to two thousand parts per million TREO range, but to have one result at 4553 parts per million TREO and another at 2143 parts per million TREO is extraordinary,” Mr Lambrechts said.
While the Barrow Creek project still has a lithium focus, the company will now widen its radar to include rare earth elements as well.
Askari Metals was down 0.76 per cent, trading at 65 cents at 3:57 pm AEDT.