Harts Range Sampling Returns Up to 10.61% TREO with Strong Niobium and Tantalum
New Frontier Minerals has reported exceptional assay results from its Harts Range Project in the Northern Territory, revealing two new heavy rare earth element prospects with significant niobium and tantalum mineralisation. These findings extend a mineralised corridor over two kilometres and set the stage for upcoming drill programs.
- Discovery of Paddington and Westminster prospects with high TREO grades
- Assays show up to 10.61% TREO including valuable Dysprosium and Terbium
- Significant niobium (Nb2O5) and tantalum (Ta2O5) concentrations identified
- Extension of mineralised structural corridor to over 2 kilometres
- Plans underway for drill testing of priority targets following contractor engagement
Exploration Breakthrough at Harts Range
New Frontier Minerals Limited (ASX: NFM) has unveiled promising new assay results from its Harts Range Project, situated about 140 kilometres northeast of Alice Springs in Australia's Northern Territory. The recent field campaign, conducted in April 2025, has identified two fresh heavy rare earth element (HREE) prospects named Paddington and Westminster, both located west of the previously known Bobs Prospect.
These rock chip samples returned impressive grades, with Paddington delivering up to 10.61% total rare earth oxides (TREO), including 1.28% Dysprosium oxide (Dy2O3) and 0.22% Terbium oxide (Tb4O7). Additionally, the samples contained substantial niobium (23.56% Nb2O5) and tantalum (15.67% Ta2O5), critical elements for advanced technologies.
Extending a Mineralised Corridor
The discovery of Paddington and Westminster extends an east-west trending structural corridor that now spans over two kilometres, incorporating the Cusp and Bobs prospects. This corridor appears to control the distribution of uranium, niobium, and heavy rare earth mineralisation, highlighting the geological continuity and potential scale of the mineral system.
Notably, the high heavy rare earth oxide (HREO) to TREO ratios, up to 96.69% at Westminster, underscore the dominance of magnet rare earth elements Dysprosium and Terbium, which are highly sought after for clean energy and high-tech applications.
Strategic Implications and Next Steps
Chairman Ged Hall expressed optimism about the results, emphasizing the company's commitment to rapidly advancing exploration. The systematic approach combining geophysical targeting and geochemical sampling has validated multiple drill targets, with plans to commence drilling once suitable contractors are appointed.
New Frontier Minerals is focused on unlocking the strategic value of the Harts Range asset amid growing global demand for rare earth elements essential to clean energy technologies. The company’s methodical exploration stages have now progressed through initial mapping and sampling to target generation, setting the foundation for resource definition drilling.
While these surface sampling results are encouraging, the economic viability and resource potential remain to be confirmed through forthcoming drilling campaigns and subsequent studies.
Bottom Line?
As New Frontier prepares to drill its high-priority targets, the Harts Range Project could become a significant player in the rare earths sector—pending confirmation of resource scale and economics.
Questions in the middle?
- How soon will New Frontier appoint contractors and commence drilling at Paddington and Westminster?
- What are the expected resource sizes and grades once drilling is completed?
- How might these discoveries impact New Frontier’s positioning in the critical minerals market?
