Materials

RareX uncovers a surprise phosphorus discovery

By Market Index
Mon 14 Feb 22, 5:51pm (AEDT)
Mining - Two workers in hard hats and high vis walking through a mine site

Key Points

  • RareX (ASX: REE) opened 11.61% higher today
  • Materials sector weaknesses saw the stock fall back to match yesterday's closing price
  • The company discovered maiden phosphate mineralisation
  • RareX have also intercepted multiple high-grade rare earth zones

RareX (ASX: REE) opened 11.61% higher today after posting two announcements related to the Cummins Range rare earths project in the Kimberly region of WA.

However, an overall weakness in the materials sector (down -0.4%) weighed on the stock. By the end of today’s trading, the company had fallen back to match yesterday’s closing price.

A surprise discovery

In the first of today’s announcements, the company reported broad intercepts of 74m grading 15% phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) north of the previously identified main rare earth zone. 

The company appeared surprised by the result. 

Phosphate mineralisation has never previously been discovered at Cummins Range, and the drilling program that unearthed the phosphate was intended to test for rare earth elements. 

However, RareX believes this new Northern Phosphate Zone represents a potential fresh growth opportunity. The company has cited the future-facing nature of this commodity, and the important role that phosphate plays in fertiliser production and food security.

Managing director Jeremy Robinson commented:

“Because of its strategic location immediately adjacent to the main rare earths zone – which is not uncommon with large carbonatite systems – this is a discovery of considerable importance to the Company which we intend to follow up and pursue this year as part our expanded drilling campaign at Cummins Range.”

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RareX intercepts multiple high-grade rare earth zones

Along with the surprise phosphate news, the company has reported assays from the best primary hole drilled at Cummins Range. 

The company described the results as “exceptional,” with the main hole intersecting a total of 51m at 2.5% total rare earth oxides (TREO). With these results, primary mineralisation has now been extended to 240m below the surface. 

RareX says the company now has the geological confidence to form an exploration target for the primary zone in the coming weeks. 

This exploration target will be in addition to the current mineral resource of 18.8Mt at 1.15% TREO + 0.14% niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5).

“This is without doubt a breakthrough result for RareX and the Cummins Range Project,” says Robinson. “In addition to being our best-ever hole on a value basis, this hole is strategically important as it confirms that the high-grade primary zone continues to a significant depth.”

“If we are able to convert a significant proportion of this Exploration Target into JORC resources, it will rapidly elevate Cummins Range as one of the largest carbonatite-hosted rare earth deposits in Australia.”

The company plans to resume exploration in March or early April.

RareX stock price over the past year
RareX stock price over the past year

 

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