TUC Resources has started a diamond drilling program at its Stromberg Heavy Rare Earth Prospect in the Northern Territory. This is targeted at securing samples for continued flow sheet development and metallurgical test work and to test for extensions to new mineralization identified in this year’s reverse circulation drilling.

Geological information will also be obtained to assist in targeting at nearby prospects such as the newly discovered Scaramanga and Skyfall. TUC had ealier this month increased its Stromberg landholding to nearly 3,000 square kilometers with a binding agreement to acquire ELA28448 from Fisher Resources. This effectively secures what TUC consider to be all the major HREE indicative geophysical anomalies in the district.

Reverse circulation drilling at Stromberg this year have returned results including 8 meters at 0.72% total rare earth oxides and has continued to outline significant near surface HREE mineralization over a full 2.3 kilometer strike length of the prospect. To date, metallurgical test work has given up to 85% Total Rare Earth recoveries using a multi-stage reagent process.

This leaching process and Stromberg’s xenotime mineralogy could potentially result in a more direct processing route to a valuable REE intermediate and carbonate material with lower capital expenditure.

Source – Proactive Investors

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