Core Energy Uncovers Thick Rare Earth Zones at Brazil’s Tunas Project
Core Energy Minerals reports promising early-stage rare earth element intersections from hand-auger drilling at its Tunas Project in Brazil, confirming significant REE mineralisation and setting the stage for expanded exploration.
- Multiple thick intersections of Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO) identified in saprolite clay horizons
- Highest TREO grades up to 1,822ppm over 1m from shallow depths
- Hand-auger drilling limited by depth but confirms exploration hypothesis
- Systematic power-auger sampling and maiden drilling campaign planned
- New tenement applications lodged to extend project tenure and cover radiometric anomalies
Early Exploration Success at Tunas
Core Energy Minerals Limited (ASX, CR3) has revealed encouraging results from its initial reconnaissance hand-auger drilling program at the Tunas Rare Earth Element (REE) Project in Paraná, Brazil. The program, designed to test the presence and thickness of saprolite clay horizons known to host REE mineralisation, returned multiple thick intersections of Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO) at shallow depths. These findings validate the company’s exploration thesis and highlight the project’s potential in a region with limited prior rare earth exploration.
Significant TREO Intersections in Saprolite Clays
The hand-auger drilling, comprising 13 holes over 118 meters, identified TREO grades ranging from around 1,000ppm to as high as 1,822ppm over intervals up to 6.5 meters. Notably, hole TNTR007 intersected 6.5 meters at 1,563ppm TREO starting from just 2 meters depth, while TNTR004 returned 1 meter at 1,822ppm TREO from 1 meter depth. These grades are associated with clay-rich saprolite horizons, a geological setting analogous to several well-known Brazilian rare earth deposits.
Limitations and Next Steps
Despite these promising results, many hand-auger holes did not reach the most prospective saprolite horizons due to equipment limitations, leaving room for further discovery. Core Energy is now planning a more systematic power-auger sampling program to ensure consistent access to target horizons and to delineate zones for a maiden drilling campaign. This next phase aims to better define the extent and continuity of mineralisation.
Strategic Expansion with New Tenement Applications
Building on the early success, Core Energy has lodged new tenement applications extending the Tunas Project tenure by 8 kilometers to the southeast. These applications cover additional radiometric anomalies that may represent similar intrusive systems hosting REE mineralisation. The new area, known as the Campo Largo Project, is logistically accessible and free from settlements or nature reserves, facilitating future exploration activities.
Implications for Core Energy and the REE Sector
Core Energy’s methodical approach, starting with reconnaissance hand-auger drilling, followed by systematic power-auger sampling and targeted drilling, reflects a disciplined exploration strategy in a critical minerals sector that is gaining global attention. The Tunas Project’s proximity to infrastructure and the presence of significant TREO grades in saprolite clays position it as a potentially valuable asset in Brazil’s emerging rare earth landscape.
Bottom Line?
Core Energy’s early-stage results at Tunas open a promising chapter in Brazil’s rare earth exploration, with systematic drilling and expanded tenure poised to unlock further value.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the upcoming power-auger sampling refine the understanding of mineralisation continuity?
- What are the timelines and budget estimates for the maiden drilling campaign at Tunas?
- Could the newly applied Campo Largo tenements reveal a second major REE system nearby?
