Hi rorter,Olympic Dam is an IOCG/Uranium/REE deposit. Vulcan...

Hi rorter,

Olympic Dam is an IOCG/Uranium/REE deposit.

Vulcan shares the same geology/geophysics as Olympic Dam (OD). With the main difference being that at Vulcan the basement is much deeper (where the mineralisation is). Due this increased depth, there may be higher or lower grades of IOCG and Silver mineralisation, as well as different levels of Uranium and REE's. Due to this increased depth, there may also be entirely different and much rarer REE's than those found at OD.

In the cores of VUD015 (Vulcan North), the REE's Lanthanum (La) and Cerium (Ce) have already been found. See table on page 3:

https://www.tasmanresources.com.au/announcements/5831693dd7f4e71bf993bb8ace48c68c.pdf

Lanthanum is used in alkali-resistant glass, flints for lighters, hydrogen storage, battery-electrodes, camera and refractive telescope lenses, and as a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst.

Cerium is used as a chemical oxidizing agent, as a polishing powder, in glass and ceramics, as a catalyst for self-cleaning ovens, as a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst, and for hydrophobic coatings for turbine blades.

Commonly, rare-earth elements with atomic numbers 57 to 61 are classified as light and those with atomic numbers greater than 62 (corresponding to samarium) are classified as heavy-rare earth elements. Lanthanum and Cerium (as well as praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, and samarium) are the "light" rare earths.

The following article about REE's you might find very helpful:

"REE - Rare Earth Elements and their Uses"

https://geology.com/articles/rare-earth-elements/

Please note the opening statement in the above article: "The demand for rare earth elements has grown rapidly, but their occurrence in minable deposits is limited."

You only need to take a look at the following 1 year chart of LYNAS RARE EARTHS LIMITED (LYC) to see how important REE's have become.




Although I see Vulcan North primarily as a copper play, I would have nothing against FMG and TAS joining LYC as major supplier of REE's.

Cheers.