HRE Secures Heritage Clearance to Unlock South Ridge Tin Drilling

Heritage Clearance Secures Drill Access at South Ridge

Heavy Rare Earths Limited (ASX:HRE) has clinched heritage clearance from the Dieri Aboriginal Corporation, a critical milestone unlocking its maiden drilling program at the South Ridge tin prospect within the Prospect Hill Project. The clearance followed a May survey involving HRE’s Exploration Manager Joseph Ogierman, an anthropologist, and Dieri representatives, confirming no cultural impediments to the planned 25-hole, 2,500-metre drill campaign.

This collaboration underscores HRE’s ongoing respectful engagement with traditional owners, building on earlier heritage surveys conducted in 2017. The use of a helicopter to access the site, necessitated by the region’s once-in-a-generation rainfall, ensured the survey could proceed despite challenging conditions that have also delayed road access and drilling timelines.

Historic High-Grade Tin Data Fuels Resource Ambitions

South Ridge is South Australia’s largest tin prospect, boasting historic drill results that include standout intersections such as 3 metres grading 4.85% tin (Sn). These grades fuel expectations that the upcoming drilling program could define a maiden resource estimate, a key valuation inflection point for HRE as it advances from exploration to resource delineation.

Pending environmental approvals and remediation of damaged roads, currently hampered by record rainfall, the company has engaged a South Australian-based drilling contractor to execute the program. The environmental submission, lodged with the Department for Energy and Mining, reflects HRE’s commitment to sustainable exploration practices in this sensitive region.

Weather Challenges and Operational Readiness

The unprecedented rainfall in early 2026 doubled the region’s average annual precipitation within two months, severely impacting road access and forcing HRE to adapt logistics, including helicopter site visits for heritage surveys. The company is actively working with local contractors to repair roads to enable safe transport of drilling equipment, a necessary step before drilling can commence.

The timing of the drill program remains contingent on these access improvements and final regulatory approvals. This delay follows a series of operational updates, including a recent environmental program submission and heritage clearance confirmation, which together set the stage for drilling to begin once conditions permit. These developments build on HRE’s previous announcements about the South Ridge project’s potential and exploration plans, reflecting a steady progression toward resource definition maiden drilling campaign and environmental approvals lodged.

Strategic Positioning in South Australia’s Curnamona Craton

South Ridge sits within the Curnamona Craton, a geologically prospective region for critical minerals and base metals. HRE’s broader strategy includes advancing multiple projects rich in uranium and rare earth elements, as seen with its Radium Hill discoveries earlier this year. The company’s focus on tin at Prospect Hill complements its portfolio, potentially positioning HRE to benefit from tightening global tin markets amid supply challenges.

While the maiden drill program at South Ridge is a pivotal step, it also highlights the operational complexities of exploration in remote, weather-impacted terrain. The interplay between heritage obligations, environmental stewardship, and logistical hurdles will shape the pace and success of HRE’s resource ambitions in this emerging tin province.