Core Energy Confirms Thick Near-Surface Rare Earth Mineralisation at Tunas Project

Strong Infill Drilling Validates Tunas REE Continuity

Core Energy Minerals (ASX:CR3) has delivered compelling new infill mechanised auger drilling results from its 100%-owned Tunas Rare Earth Element (REE) Project in Paraná, Brazil. The latest batch of assays confirms the continuity of thick, near-surface REE mineralisation across the project area, with standout intercepts including 12.3 metres grading 2,014.9ppm total rare earth oxides (TREO) from surface. These results reinforce Tunas as a promising ionic adsorption clay (IAC)-style REE system hosted in saprolitic clays developed over biotite gneiss.

Importantly, the mineralised zones remain open at depth, with no fresh basement encountered in any of the 19 auger holes drilled to date. This suggests the weathered profile hosting the REE mineralisation is thicker than currently tested, offering potential for resource expansion. The drilling program, conducted on a roughly 200m by 300m grid, aimed to validate lateral continuity and vertical distribution of mineralisation within the weathered regolith.

High-Grade Intercepts Highlight Project Potential

The headline intercept from hole TNTR018 returned 12.3m at 2,014.9ppm TREO and 560.8ppm magnetic rare earth oxides (MREO) starting at surface, including a higher-grade 7.3m section at 2,627.4ppm TREO. Other notable results include 3.3m at 2,261.2ppm TREO from 7m depth (TNTR017) and 8.5m at 1,567.8ppm TREO from 4m (TNTR016). The MREO fraction averaged over 26% of TREO, with peaks reaching 41%, indicating a strong magnetic rare earth component favourable for downstream processing.

Core Energy’s Managing Director Tony Greenaway emphasised the encouraging nature of these early-stage results, noting the high-grade REE mineralisation in saprolitic clays and the strong neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) content. The company has initiated leachability testwork on bulk residual samples to evaluate extraction characteristics and optimise future metallurgical programs.

Pending Assays and Next Steps in Exploration

While assays for 14 of the 19 holes remain outstanding, the current data underpin the prospectivity of the Tunas Project and support the geological model of a regolith-hosted REE deposit. The project covers 18.32 square kilometres near Tunas do Paraná, approximately 75km north of Curitiba and 162km from Paranaguá Port, positioning it well for potential development.

Following receipt and interpretation of the remaining assay results, Core Energy plans to advance leachability testing to confirm the ionic adsorption clay mineralisation model. Pending positive outcomes, further exploration could include geophysical surveys such as electric tomography to define weathering profile thickness and reverse circulation (RC) drilling to delineate mineralisation at depth.

The Tunas Project’s mineralisation is hosted within clay-rich saprolite developed from weathered biotite gneiss, with the highest grades typically found near the transition between saprolite and saprock. The persistence of mineralisation at the deepest tested levels suggests further enrichment may lie below current drill depths.