Over 1,000 Holes Planned in Lion Rock’s Minta Est Drilling Program
Lion Rock Minerals has kicked off a large-scale infill drilling program at its Minta Est project in Cameroon, focusing on high-value minerals including rutile, zircon, and rare-earth elements monazite and xenotime. This move builds on recent discoveries and a strategic partnership with Tronox Holdings.
- Over 1,000-hole infill drilling program commenced across 250km at Minta Est
- Focus on monazite-enriched granite identified via thorium radiometric surveys
- Targets high-value minerals, rutile, zircon, monazite, and xenotime rare earths
- Strategic partnership with Tronox Holdings supports fully funded exploration
- Operational expansion includes new Yaoundé laboratory and increased staffing
Exploration Accelerates at Minta Est
Lion Rock Minerals Ltd (ASX – LRM) has initiated a significant infill drilling campaign at its Minta Est project in Cameroon, aiming to unlock the potential of a rare monazite-enriched granite formation. This extensive program, comprising over 1,000 holes across an initial 250 square kilometres, targets a valuable mix of minerals including rutile, zircon, and rare-earth elements such as monazite and xenotime.
The drilling is strategically focused on zones identified through detailed field truthing and remote sensing, particularly thorium radiometric surveys that revealed the presence of monazite-enriched granite. This geological feature is notable for its concentration of heavy rare-earth elements like dysprosium and terbium, which are critical for high-tech and clean energy applications.
Strategic Partnership and Funding
This exploration phase is underpinned by Lion Rock’s recent strategic partnership and placement with Tronox Holdings plc, a global leader in rare-earth and titanium minerals. The collaboration not only provides financial backing but also positions Lion Rock to leverage Tronox’s expertise and market reach. CEO Casper Adson highlighted that the company is fully funded for all planned activities through 2026, enabling a rapid and well-resourced advancement of the project.
Alongside the drilling, Lion Rock is expanding its operational footprint in Cameroon. The company is increasing field staff numbers, recruiting laboratory personnel, and nearing completion of a new laboratory facility in Yaoundé. This infrastructure will accelerate sample processing and data turnaround, critical for timely decision-making as exploration progresses.
Broader Project Context and Next Steps
The Minta Project encompasses a large landholding of approximately 8,800 square kilometres in a historically under-explored region known for rutile mineralisation. Previous sampling has confirmed the presence of high-grade rutile, zircon, gold, and rare-earth minerals, with recent discoveries of large rutile nuggets and high-grade monazite zones adding to the project's appeal.
Looking ahead, Lion Rock plans to continue infill drilling on the monazite-enriched granite while also targeting alluvial deposits during the dry season. The company is actively securing additional tenements contiguous to current holdings to expand its exploration footprint. With assay results from recent sampling pending, the market will be watching closely for confirmation of the project's high-value mineral potential.
Bottom Line?
As Lion Rock scales up exploration and infrastructure at Minta Est, the coming months will be pivotal in defining the project's rare-earth and rutile resource potential.
Questions in the middle?
- What will the upcoming assay results reveal about the grade and distribution of rare-earth elements?
- How will the partnership with Tronox influence Lion Rock’s development timeline and market positioning?
- Can the new Yaoundé laboratory accelerate sample processing enough to maintain exploration momentum?
