Barkly Rare Earths Launches 10,000m Drilling to Expand Key Resource
Barkly Rare Earths has kicked off a 10,000-metre drilling campaign at its flagship Barkly Project, aiming to grow its 40 million tonne inferred rare earth resource. Initial assays are imminent, setting the stage for a resource update later this year.
- 10,000m Phase 1 drilling targeting shallow mineralisation
- Focus on expanding 40 Mt @ 2,100 ppm TREO resource
- Initial samples to be dispatched for assay this week
- Drilling by Indigenous-owned Colling Exploration
- Resource update and metallurgical testing planned for H2 2026
Drilling Commences to Expand Barkly Rare Earths Resource
Barkly Rare Earths Limited (ASX:BAK) has officially started its long-anticipated 10,000-metre Phase 1 drilling programme at the Barkly Project in Australia's Northern Territory. The campaign targets shallow mineralisation around the existing 40 million tonne inferred resource, which currently grades 2,100 ppm Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO). This resource contains approximately 82,000 tonnes of contained TREO, reported above a 430 ppm NdPr cut-off grade under the JORC Code (2012).
The programme aims to convert and expand the known resource, focusing on areas where mineralisation remains open in all directions. Early drilling is concentrating on shallow holes averaging 25 metres depth within the Immediate Zone, a high-priority area coinciding with the company's previously announced Exploration Target. This intensive drilling effort includes around 400 planned holes designed to increase the resource's scale and confidence.
Operational Setup and Early Progress
Drilling operations are being conducted by Colling Exploration, an Indigenous-owned contractor based in Pine Creek, Northern Territory, with geological logging and sampling supported by global specialists RSC. The first hole, a 60-metre deep drill near the southwest optimised pit shell, is intended to enhance geological understanding of basin stratigraphy and mineralisation continuity beyond the current resource boundary.
Samples are logged on-site using portable XRF instruments for qualitative field screening, with laboratory assays scheduled to begin shortly. The initial batch of samples is due for dispatch this week, with assay results to be released as they become available. This early phase is designed to optimise drilling efficiency and establish sample quality ahead of a steady campaign ramp-up.
Strategic Importance and Next Steps
Managing Director Craig Wright emphasised the campaign's significance, noting the company’s ambition to build a rare earths operation of global relevance. The drilling programme underpins this goal by targeting resource growth in a deposit that already boasts a high magnet rare-earth oxide (MREO) component, including terbium, with low uranium and thorium levels.
Beyond drilling, Barkly plans to advance rare earth concentration and extraction testing, alongside geo-metallurgical modelling through the second half of 2026. A mineral resource update is anticipated in Q4 2026, contingent on drilling and assay progress. Parallel exploration activities at the Buntine Project, targeting polymetallic mineralisation, are also ongoing, with results expected this quarter and follow-up work planned for later in the year.
This concerted exploration and development push positions Barkly Rare Earths to potentially enhance its resource base significantly, a critical factor for attracting investment and advancing towards production. The company’s approach combines technical rigour with local engagement, leveraging Indigenous partnerships and global expertise to unlock value from the Barkly region.
Bottom Line?
As drilling advances and assays arrive, Barkly Rare Earths stands at a pivotal juncture where resource expansion could redefine its market standing.
Questions in the middle?
- Will initial assay results confirm the expected shallow mineralisation continuity?
- How materially will the upcoming resource update alter Barkly’s inferred resource size and grade?
- What insights will geo-metallurgical testing provide on processing feasibility and economics?
