Eminence’s Satellite Targets Demand Ground Truthing Amid High Regional Expectations

Satellite Imagery Advances Rare Earth Exploration

Eminence Minerals Limited (ASX – EMA) has announced the completion of a comprehensive Sentinel-2 satellite multispectral analysis over its Campo Grande Rare Earth Elements (REE) Project in Bahia, Brazil. This remote sensing work has delineated multiple ranked exploration targets associated with lateritic and clay-rich weathering profiles, which are prospective for rare earth elements critical to emerging technologies.

The analysis, conducted by Dirt Exploration’s Dr Neil Pendock, utilised a mosaic of four recent Sentinel-2 scenes combining visible and shortwave infrared spectral bands. This approach allowed the identification of sixteen mineralogical endmembers, including kaolinite, halloysite, and monazite; minerals often associated with REE mineralisation. A novel Laterite Index was also generated to quantify weathering intensity, aiding in the prioritisation of target areas.

Integrated Targeting Across Three Project Blocks

The Campo Grande Project is segmented into Northern, Central, and Southern Blocks, each presenting distinct exploration rationales. In the Northern Block, high-ranked satellite targets coincide with historical drill holes and surface samples reporting elevated total rare earth oxide (TREO) values, reinforcing the prospectivity of these areas. The Central Block features broad clusters of ranked targets overlapping with known lateritic and clay-rich zones, supported by historical data, suggesting a district-scale opportunity. Meanwhile, the Southern Block represents an earlier stage of exploration, with satellite targets serving as first-pass indications requiring ground verification.

By integrating satellite-derived outputs with existing drilling and surface sampling datasets, Eminence has established a structured framework to prioritise follow-up activities. These will commence with reconnaissance mapping and surface sampling, progressing to targeted drilling contingent on initial results. This staged approach aims to efficiently allocate resources while validating the remote sensing targets on the ground.

Strategic Positioning in a Highly Prospective Region

Eminence’s Campo Grande tenements adjoin those of Brazilian Rare Earths (ASX – BRE), a company with a market capitalisation around A$1 billion and a history of high-grade REE drilling in the district. BRE’s historical Rio Tinto drill cores have reported grades up to 45.7% TREO, underscoring the potential of this rare earth corridor. Eminence’s own reconnaissance sampling has returned promising values up to 17,346 ppm TREO, further validating the project’s prospectivity.

Non-Executive Chairman Agha Shahzad Pervez emphasised the value of the satellite analysis in providing a clear and disciplined exploration roadmap. He noted that while the satellite targets require ground truthing, the integration of remote sensing with existing data allows the company to focus field efforts on the most prospective areas across all three blocks.

Looking Ahead

Although the satellite imagery analysis is preliminary and does not replace physical sampling or drilling, it represents a significant step forward in refining Eminence’s exploration strategy. The company’s next steps involve methodical field reconnaissance and geological mapping, followed by surface sampling and, if warranted, drill testing of priority clay-rich weathering profiles. This approach balances innovation in exploration technology with the rigour of traditional field verification.