Bayan Mining and Minerals has locked in a reverse circulation drill rig with Alaska Midnight Sun Drilling for its first-ever drilling at the Desert Star rare earth project in California, targeting up to 1,000 metres from June 2026. The fully permitted program aims to test high-grade surface mineralisation and geophysical targets near the Mountain Pass mine.
- Maiden drilling set for June 2026 with up to 1,000m RC drilling
- Project fully permitted including depth increase to 300m
- High-grade surface rare earth assays up to 6.68% TREO
- Experienced North American contractor engaged
- Strategic proximity to Mountain Pass rare earth mine
Drilling Milestone at Desert Star
Bayan Mining and Minerals Ltd (ASX:BMM) has secured a reverse circulation (RC) drill rig from Alaska Midnight Sun Drilling Inc. for its maiden drilling program at the 100% owned Desert Star rare earth project in California. This marks a critical shift from surface exploration to subsurface testing, with mobilisation targeted for June 2026 and up to 1,000 metres of drilling planned.
The Desert Star project is strategically positioned just 4.5 kilometres from MP Materials’ Mountain Pass rare earth mine, one of the world’s largest and highest-grade rare earth operations. Bayan’s CEO Nathan Kong emphasised the significance of this step, highlighting the combination of high-grade surface mineralisation and robust geophysical data as compelling drill targets. The company is confident the program will deliver insights into the scale and continuity of the mineralisation.
Permitting and Operational Readiness
All necessary approvals are in place, including a recent variation to the Plan of Operations that permits drilling to depths of up to 300 metres to test a low-susceptibility, high-density body identified through detailed 3D geophysical modelling. This regulatory milestone, covered in a prior announcement, allowed Bayan to expand its drilling depth beyond initial limits, enhancing the program’s potential to delineate mineralisation at depth.
Site inspections with Midnight Sun Drilling have confirmed the suitability of drill pad locations, access routes, and logistics. Health, safety, and environmental arrangements meet the company’s standards, and preparations such as earthworks and water supply are advancing to support a smooth mobilisation.
Targeting High-Grade Rare Earths
Surface sampling has revealed rare earth element (REE) grades up to 6.68% total rare earth oxides (TREO), with selective samples showing approximately 94% light rare earth elements (LREE), including significant neodymium-praseodymium (Nd-Pr) content, key magnets in renewable energy technologies. The maiden drilling will test the downdip extensions of these mineralised units where surface geochemistry coincides with favourable radiometric, magnetic, and gravity survey responses.
This approach follows Bayan’s recent confirmation of monazite-hosted REE mineralisation at Desert Star, which verified a phosphate-rich hard-rock system dominated by LREEs. That earlier work, which included detailed petrography and XRD analysis, laid the groundwork for the current drill targeting strategy and is detailed in their recent update on the project’s mineralogy and readiness for drilling.
Strategic Partnerships and Regional Context
Bayan’s choice of Alaska Midnight Sun Drilling, a contractor with over 50 years of experience across North America, underlines the company’s focus on operational excellence and safety. The Desert Star project also benefits from robust infrastructure, including road, power, and rail access within 25 kilometres, facilitating future development potential.
Geologically, Desert Star lies within a Paleoproterozoic basement corridor intruded by Mesoproterozoic alkaline and carbonatite bodies, similar to the Mountain Pass district. Nearby mineral operations like Dateline Resources’ Colosseum Gold Mine further underscore the region’s prospectivity, although Bayan cautions that similarities do not guarantee exploration success.
Bottom Line?
With drilling set for mid-2026, Bayan’s Desert Star moves from promise to proof-of-concept phase, but assay results will be crucial to validate the project’s rare earth potential.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the maiden drilling confirm the lateral and vertical continuity of high-grade rare earth mineralisation at Desert Star?
- How will Bayan leverage its proximity to Mountain Pass to attract strategic partnerships or funding?
- What operational challenges might emerge during the first drilling campaign in this relatively remote California location?