Ausmon Begins 1,000m Aircore Drilling Across Four Tenements for Rare Earths
Ausmon Resources has initiated a focused Aircore drilling campaign across four tenements in South Australia's Limestone Coast, aiming to expand on promising rare earth element findings from prior programs.
- Commencement of 1,000m Aircore drilling targeting REEs in four tenements
- Focus on Wilkawatt and Peake adjacent to previously successful Parrakie area
- Use of on-site pXRF scanning to optimize sample selection and reduce assay costs
- Drilling conducted under environmental approvals with experienced local contractors
- Potential extension of significant rare earth mineralisation identified by Australian Rare Earths nearby
Ausmon Resources Advances Rare Earth Exploration
Ausmon Resources Limited has commenced a new phase of Aircore drilling targeting rare earth elements (REEs) within its tenements in South Australia's Limestone Coast region. The program covers four key tenements, Parrakie, Wilkawatt, Peake, and Wolseley, spanning a combined area of 2,529 square kilometres within the Murray Basin.
This drilling initiative builds on encouraging results from two previous campaigns in 2024, particularly at the Parrakie tenement, where notable total rare earth oxides (TREO) concentrations and zirconium presence were reported. The current program aims to test extensions of these mineralised zones, focusing on Wilkawatt and Peake, which lie adjacent to Parrakie, as well as exploring new ground at Wolseley.
Strategic Targeting and Cost Efficiency
The planned drilling will involve approximately 1,000 metres of shallow Aircore holes averaging 18 metres in depth. Ausmon is employing on-site Vanta portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) technology to rapidly scan samples, enabling selective submission of samples for laboratory assays at ALS Laboratory. This approach is designed to streamline the program and manage costs effectively, a prudent move in the current exploration environment.
Importantly, all drilling activities are conducted with environmental sensitivity in mind. Holes are sited along council road verges to minimise disruption to private land and local flora, with approvals secured from local councils and the South Australian Department of Energy and Mining under the Exploration Program for Environment Protection and Rehabilitation (EPEPR).
Context Within Regional Rare Earths Landscape
Ausmon's exploration occurs in a region gaining attention for its rare earth potential. Australian Rare Earths (ASX: AR3), operating just south of Ausmon’s tenements, recently announced a significant JORC 2012 resource estimate of 236 million tonnes at 748 ppm TREO. This regional success underscores the prospectivity of the Loxton/Parilla sands that Ausmon is targeting.
With experienced South Australian contractors engaged, those who successfully completed previous drilling phases, Ausmon is well-positioned to efficiently advance its exploration objectives. The company awaits assay results from this program, which will be critical in defining the scale and quality of the rare earth mineralisation and informing next steps.
Ausmon’s consultant geologist, Mr Mark Derriman, who meets the criteria of a Competent Person under the JORC Code, has overseen the technical aspects of the exploration results to date, lending credibility to the reported findings.
Bottom Line?
As Ausmon pushes deeper into South Australia’s rare earth frontier, upcoming assay results will be pivotal in shaping its resource potential and market positioning.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the new drilling confirm extensions of the high-grade rare earth zones identified at Parrakie?
- How might Ausmon’s findings influence the competitive landscape amid growing demand for rare earths?
- What are the timelines and potential scale for resource definition and development following this drilling?