Sunshine Gold has identified a significant rare earths target at the Elphinstone Creek prospect within its Ravenswood West project.

Recent soil sampling at Elphinstone Creek included 11 results with greater than 1000ppm total rare earth oxides, with a peak value of 1,327ppm.

This backed up 15 historic stream sediment samples with strong neodymium and praseodymium oxides, as well as high-grade gold results.

Results included 2.28 per cent total rare earth oxides (including 0.37 per cent neodymium oxide and 0.11 per cent praseodymium oxide), and 6.28 g/t gold and 0.83 per cent total rare earth oxides (including 0.12 per cent neodymium oxide, 0.05 per cent praseodymium oxide).

Sunshine Gold managing director Damien Keys said stream sediment sampling in 1995 and 2018 had provided the first indications of REE potential associated with a regionally “unique” alkali intrusion – the Barrabas Adamellite.

“This sampling produced exceptional REE and gold results from Elphinstone Creek and its tributaries,” he said.

“Importantly, the REE are high in neodymium and praseodymium, which constitute an estimated 90 per cent of global REE value.

“Our recent soil sampling campaign has confirmed that the Barrabas Adamellite is a REE-enriched intrusion.”

He said the team was genuinely excited about the prospectivity of the Barrabas Adamellite and immediate surrounds for REE and gold-copper.

“We have only sampled 14 per cent of the Barrabas Adamellite and will continue to cover the remainder of the area,” he said.