Bubalus Resources Limited provided an update on its plans to explore for rare earth element (REE) mineralisation at its 100% owned Nolans East Project. The Company has completed the statutory notifications to stakeholders that it intends to carry out its initial exploration programme during November. Nolans East is located 15km south east of the Nolans Bore deposit owned by Arafura Resources Limited (Arafura).

A Mineral Resource of 56 million tonnes at an average grade of 2.6% total rare earth oxides (TREO) and 11% phosphate (P2O5) has been defined by Arafura at Nolans Bore. According to Arafura, neodymium-praesidium oxides (Nd2O3+Pr6O11, NdPr) make up 26% of the TREO content at Nolans Bore. Nolans Bore is a complex stockwork vein-style deposit with mineralisation occurring in two stages (1) massive to granular fluorapatite with inclusions of REE silicates, phosphates and (fluoro) carbonates, and (2) calcite-allanite with accessory REE-bearing phosphate and (fluoro) carbonate minerals that vein and brecciate the earlier stage.

Nolans Bore was discovered by mapping and sampling of these veins at surface. At Nolans East, the project area is over 90% covered with shallow sand cover with limited outcrop. The company intends to complete an orientation soil survey to determine whether the technique is effective at detecting REE anomalism to enable targeting or whether a sub surface technique such as auger is required to sample media below the transported cover.

Notifications have been sent to stakeholders in adherence with the requirements for access for exploration programmes with minimal land disturbance and geological contractors have been engaged. The target area the Company has selected for this initial survey is an area previously sampled by the Northern Territory Geological Survey (NTGS). Assays of 2 rockchip samples returned anomalous REE values, and specifically anomalous NdPr.

Values of 58ppm and 63ppm NdPr were returned from total REE oxide (TREO) values of 288ppm and 274ppm respectively. In addition to its field activities, the Company is sourcing geophysical data over the project area to aid in targeting. Mineralisation at Nolans Bore is spatially associated with major geological features including the Woolanga Lineament, a crustal-scale structure that may have influenced emplacement of alkaline rocks in the Aileron Province, as well as gravity ridges interpreted as evidence of crustal thickening.

It is anticipated detailed geophysical data will help to prioritise targets for on-ground geological and geochemical assessment.