ActivEX secures exploration permit for Aramac project

ActivEX has secured an exploration permit paving the way for it to target rare earths and base metals at a site in Central Queensland. The granted permit is one of two applications lodged for EPMs for the company's Aramac project. It intends to explore for rare earth elements (REE) within the basal Lower Cretaceous Wallumbulla Formation and base metals including zinc, cobalt and manganese in the underlying Upper Jurassic/Lower Cretaceous fine-grained sediments of the Ronlow Beds. Rock samples from the site have returned a maximum TREO (total rare earth oxides) analysis of 777ppm, with four out of nine samples being greater than 250ppm TREO. Nine samples from outcropping fine-grained sediments of the underlying Ronlow Beds returned results including: zinc – eight samples greater than 200ppm to a maximum of 706ppm cobalt – two samples greater than 200ppm to a maximum of 1070ppm barium – all samples greater than 100ppm and three samples greater than 0.1 per cent to a maximum of 11.45 per cent iron – five samples greater than 30 per cent with a maximum of 45.8 per cent manganese – five samples greater than 500ppm to a maximum of 10 per cent "These are exciting results for ActivEX and indicate both REE and base metal potential along a considerable strike length at the contact of two sedimentary units," ActivEX exploration manager Mark Derriman said. "The TREO analysis of 777ppm from only a handful of samples is very encouraging along with the 2-3m thickness of the host kaolinitic sediment. "The adjacent outcropping limonite stained sediments with cobalt to 1070ppm and zinc to 706ppm are of interest in that they may be the surface expression of sulphide mineralisation at depth. "Historical exploration has only been a handful of shallow aircore drill holes targeting mineral sands with no exploration for REE or base metal mineralisation." ActivEX will conduct a review of all historical exploration and geological/regolith studies of satellite imagery to define the target stratigraphy at the Aramac project. It also plans fieldwork including the collection of pXRF readings using in-house Niton instruments, with selected rock samples to be submitted to ALS for a full suite of geochemical analyses. ActivEX said the initial phase of exploration would be followed by detailed geological/regolith mapping and soil sampling to define drilling targets. It plans broad-spaced aircore drilling traverses across the Wallumbilla Formation/Ronlow Beds contact to test rare earth and base metal targets. Image at top of page: Kaolinitic sediments of the Wallumbilla Formation exposed as a scarp at the Aramac project. You may also like: https://industryqld.com.au/great-divide-homes-in-on-lithium-ree-potential

ActivEX secures exploration permit for Aramac project

Industry Queensland

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