Harena Resources identifies high grade zones at the Ampasindava rare earths project
Harena Resources () has identified significant high grade rare earth zones at its Ampasindava project in Madagascar.
This follows a detailed review of historic exploration data that formed the basis for the current resources estimate of 698.5 million tonnes measured, indicated and inferred.
The existing resource supports a potential mine life of over one hundred years, a longevity which creates flexibility in mine planning and the opportunity to target high grade zones during critical start up years.
Accordingly, the company's technical team has reviewed all available historic exploration data from trenching, sinking vertical pits, and 277 diamond drill holes. This work confirms the potential for early stage high-grade mining operations and mine plan optimisation.
Additionally, the advanced level of exploration and feasibility work already completed on the project, presents further opportunities for to optimise mine planning.
"This review highlights the value of acquiring a mature project with substantial historic exploration and development spend,” said Joe Belladonna, Harena’s managing director.
“I am particularly pleased that the team is identifying project optimization potential from day one - particularly through high-grade zones. The impact of high grading in the early years is forecast to drive robust economics especially in the early years of production."
Among the highlights from pitting was 14,999 parts per million (ppm) total rare earth oxides (TREO) in the pedolith ore and 39,098 ppm TREO in the saprolith. Meanwhile, trenching work showed elevated tantalum, niobium and TREO grades, with the highest grade TREO ringing in at over 3,600 ppm.
View from Vox
It’s a good start from Harena, following its reversal into the listed entity still known, for a little while longer, as Citius. The project is already well advanced, and the identification of high grade zones will allow for a focus on maximising cash flow in the early years of production.
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