- XRD confirms rare earth element bearing minerals in high-grade Desert Star samples
- High value REE monazite identified in all three analysed high-grade samples
- Desert Star strategically located just 4.5 km northeast of MP Materials’ world class Mountain Pass REE mine
Bayan Mining and Minerals (ASX: BMM) is preparing to test the rare earth element (REE) potential identified in mineralogy and petrographic analysis conducted on samples from the Desert Star project in California, USA.
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The analysis of three high-grade samples used X-ray diffraction (XRD) together with petrographic analysis to characterise the mineral phases hosting REE mineralisation.
The results provided the first mineralogical confirmation of the principal crystalline REE-bearing phases associated with high-grade surface samples at Desert Star.
CEO Nathan Kong said surface sample 19583 provided the clearest current evidence of hard-rock REE mineralisation, while the heavy mineral concentrate (HMC) samples are interpreted to represent material derived from nearby REE-bearing source rocks, providing important vectors for exploration ahead of the company’s maiden drill program.
“Mineralogy and petrography test work at Desert Star confirms that monazite, allanite, and xenotime, are the principal hosts of the high‐grade TREO results returned from our surface sampling program,” Mr Kong said.
“This mineral assemblage is consistent with a light rare earth element (LREE) dominant system enriched in neodymium and praseodymium.”
Those elements are critical inputs for high performance magnets used in electric vehicles, renewable energy system and advanced defence technologies.
“Importantly, these results further refine our geological model at Desert Star and increase our confidence in the style and distribution of mineralisation ahead of our maiden drilling program,” Mr Kong said.
“With drilling approvals now secured, we look forward to testing the subsurface extent of this mineral system within one of the world’s most significant rare earth districts.”
The company’s maiden drill program is designed as a first-pass vectoring campaign and to test the subsurface expression of the interpreted monazite-bearing REE system in the southeastern Desert Star target area and the upper expression of the modelled 3D low-susceptibility, high-density geophysical target interpreted to commence at approximately 100m below surface and strengthen around 300m depth.
BMM is up 8.99% to 9.7¢. Mkt cap $12.05M
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