iTech Minerals Ltd. completed a 478-hole drill program, in April 2022, across four prospects on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. The aim of the program was to test the potential for regolith hosted ion adsorption clay (IAC) REEs and high purity kaolin mineralisation. The fifth batch of drill results, from Caralue Bluff, continue to show that significant intersections of REEs occur within the kaolin (clay) rich weathered horizon over larger areas (Figures
1 & 2). Metallurgical work, at a commercial laboratory, on 60 mineralised samples from Caralue Bluff are currently undergoing leaching test work with results due in the coming weeks. Delays in commercial geochemical analysis have delayed the metallurgical results beyond what was expected but is now progressing rapidly. An additional 60 samples have recently been sent to ANSTO from across projects at Caralue Bluff, Ethiopia, Burtons and Franklyn.
Caralue Bluff Prospect: The Caralue Bluff Prospect was initially established as a high purity kaolin prospect with the identification of thick intervals of bright white kaolin, close to surface, in several historical drill holes. Having identified significant REEs in the kaolin rich intervals at Ethiopia, Burtons and Bartels Prospects, iTech geologists suspected that Caralue Bluff might also be prospective for regolith hosted REE mineralisation. The latest results extend and infill the areas of thick, high-grade REEs, particularly in the south-east of the prospect area. A total area of 12 km x 12 km was tested by drilling of 260 holes, the results of which will determine the continuity of mineralisation within this already extensive area. Caralue Bluff Significant Intersections: The final 109 drill holes are reported, of which 52 contained significant intervals of REEs above 350 ppm TREO. A further 33 holes were either not able to penetrate a hard silcrete/ferricrete surface layer or did not contain enough significant kaolin to warrant analysis. The remaining 24 drill holes did not have significant intervals of REEs above the cut-off grade of 350
ppm. Next Steps: Results from 60 samples from Caralue Bluff are currently undergoing metallurgical test work. Progress has been delayed due to hold-ups at the commercial geochemical laboratories, however, rapid progress is now being made on results. Samples are being tested for their easily leachable REE component with a straight acid leach at pH 1-2 and then for the ionic component with a leaching solution at pH 4 and 0.5M ammonium sulphate.
An additional 60 samples have recently been sent to ANSTO from across projects at Caralue Bluff, Ethiopia, Burtons and Franklyn. For all potential IAC REE projects, samples are being selected to be representative of the entire
range of geological environments within the prospect, not only laterally (east-west and north-south), but also at various levels within the weathering profile (vertically).