No Copper Found, But Rare Earths Boost West Cobar’s Fraser Range Prospects
West Cobar Metals’ recent drilling at the Fraser Range Project reveals significant rare earth elements, titanium dioxide, and scandium, expanding the potential of its adjoining Salazar Critical Minerals Project.
- 1,958m reverse circulation drilling completed across five prospects
- No significant copper or gold found, but strong rare earth and titanium results
- High-grade TREO, TiO2, and scandium assays in near-surface saprolite
- Drilling funded by Minrex Resources under farmout agreement
- Results bolster resource base of Salazar Critical Minerals Project
Exploration Shift, From Copper-Gold to Critical Minerals
West Cobar Metals Limited (ASX, WC1) has announced the completion of a 1,958-metre reverse circulation drilling campaign at its 100%-owned Fraser Range Project in Western Australia. Initially targeting copper-gold and base metals typical of Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) and Broken Hill Type (BHT) deposits, the drilling did not intersect significant copper or gold mineralisation. Instead, the assays revealed compelling concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs), titanium dioxide (TiO2), and scandium in near-surface saprolite layers.
Significant Assay Highlights and Prospectivity
The drilling tested five prospects, Talisker, Glenmorangie, Oban, Benriach, and Glendronach, within a structurally complex zone contiguous with the Salazar Critical Minerals Project. Noteworthy assay results include 27 metres at 718 ppm total rare earth oxides (TREO) from 27 metres depth at Talisker, and 117 metres at 3.31% TiO2 with 47 ppm scandium at Oban. These results confirm the tenements’ potential to expand the already substantial mineral resource base of the adjoining Salazar Project, which hosts one of Australia’s premier clay-hosted deposits of REEs, titanium, scandium, and alumina.
Strategic Location and Funding Partnership
Located approximately 120 kilometres northeast of Esperance, the project benefits from proximity to key infrastructure including roads, rail, and port facilities. The drilling program was fully funded by Minrex Resources Limited under a farmout option agreement, reflecting growing investor confidence in the critical minerals sector amid rising global demand driven by geopolitical factors.
Implications for Critical Minerals Supply
West Cobar’s Managing Director, Matt Szwedzicki, highlighted the significance of these findings in an underexplored terrain, noting the exceptional scale potential for clay-hosted REEs, TiO2, and scandium. With the global rare earth sector gaining momentum due to supply chain security concerns, projects like Fraser Range and Salazar are well positioned to contribute to Australia’s critical minerals portfolio. Advanced metallurgical testwork at Salazar further supports the economic extraction potential of these minerals.
Next Steps and Market Outlook
While the absence of copper and gold mineralisation may temper expectations for those commodities, the focus is now on expanding and infilling the critical minerals resource through further drilling. Planned air core drilling programs aim to delineate the lateral and depth extensions of the high-grade REE, TiO2, and scandium zones identified. Investors will be watching closely as West Cobar advances this strategically important project amid a tightening global supply landscape for critical minerals.
Bottom Line?
West Cobar’s pivot to critical minerals at Fraser Range could reshape its growth trajectory amid surging global demand.
Questions in the middle?
- Will further drilling confirm economic-scale resources of rare earths and titanium?
- How will metallurgical processing advances impact project viability and timelines?
- What role will Minrex Resources play in advancing the Fraser Range project?
