Schedule 5 Final Report: Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations Program 2024, Round 17 EL31058

Abstract

This study was co-funded under the under the 'Advancing Critical Minerals' category of NT Government's Geophysics and Drilling Collaboration Program. The study comprised rare earth element ('REE') analysis of approximately 2342 samples that had previously been collected and stored during Core Lithium's ('CXO's or 'Core's') field season in 2017 within its Barrow Creek Project in central Australia. The initial assay suite had previously targeted lithium and its associated pathfinder elements, but the recognition and rising importance of REE prospectivity in the Arunta region led to interest in carrying out this study. Anomalous REE results might indicate the presence of Niobium-Yttrium-Fluorine ('NYF') type pegmatites or carbonatite-related mineralisation within this region and lead to further evaluation of such mineral potential. The main outcomes of the study are that values of total rare earth element oxides (TREO) up to 652ppm were encountered with three distinct areas area of anomalism identified, each of which requires follow up field investigation. These results are well above background levels, and the existence of either NYF pegmatites or carbonatite related mineralisation cannot be ruled out. However, the interpretation of these results is that they relate to a regional zonation pattern in which REE are more enriched in LCT type pegmatites closer to the source granite, possibly near the roof zone. The pegmatites remain prospective for lithium mineralisation.