ABx Group has kicked off a targeted rare earth drilling campaign in northern Tasmania, deploying a proprietary rapid testing technique to accelerate exploration and refine resource understanding.
- New drilling targets Deep Leads–Rubble Mound resource
- JORC resource totals 89 million tonnes at 844 ppm TREO
- High concentrations of heavy rare earths including Dy+Tb
- Proprietary rapid ionic rare earth testing guides daily drilling
- Exploration extends to additional northern Tasmanian tenements
Focused Drilling on High-Grade Rare Earth Resource
ABx Group Limited (ASX:ABX) has commenced a new rare earth exploration drilling program in northern Tasmania, initially concentrating on delineating high-quality, potentially mineable zones within its Deep Leads–Rubble Mound resource. This area is notable for producing the company’s maiden mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) samples, which have garnered positive feedback from prospective customers in Australia and North America.
The Deep Leads–Rubble Mound and Wind Break deposits collectively hold a JORC-compliant resource of 89 million tonnes averaging 844 parts per million (ppm) total rare earth oxides (TREO). Among these, dysprosium and terbium (Dy+Tb) stand out at 36 ppm, representing 4.4% of TREO, the highest concentration recorded in any Australian ionic clay deposit and competitive on a global scale. The resource is also enriched with other heavy rare earth elements subject to export restrictions by China, underscoring its strategic value.
Expanding Exploration Across Northern Tasmania
Beyond Deep Leads, ABx plans to extend its drilling efforts across newly acquired and less explored tenements EL27/2022, EL28/2022, and EL25/2022. These areas, located up to 55 kilometres east of Deep Leads, have seen limited prior drilling. The exploration program aims to assess the broader potential of ABx’s northern Tasmanian rare earth portfolio, seeking to identify additional zones of high-grade, soluble rare earth mineralisation.
Innovative Rapid Testing Accelerates Drilling Decisions
A standout feature of this campaign is ABx’s deployment of a proprietary rapid testing technique developed in-house to quickly evaluate ionic rare earth content in exploration samples. Traditional assay methods typically require weeks to deliver results, but ABx’s approach provides immediate, representative indications during leach tests conducted at its Launceston research lab. This real-time data enables the exploration team to optimise drilling daily, focusing resources on the most promising targets and enhancing program efficiency.
ABx also envisions this technology playing a critical role in future grade-control drilling during production phases, potentially streamlining operational workflows.
Strategic Positioning in Rare Earths and Beyond
Managing Director Dr Mark Cooksey emphasised the program’s role in refining understanding of the highest-quality mineralisation within the existing resource while exploring new frontiers across the tenement package. This drilling campaign complements ABx’s broader strategy, which includes advancing its clean fluorine chemical production via the ALCORE pilot plant and near-term bauxite projects in Queensland and New South Wales with partners such as Good Importing International.
While assay results and detailed drilling outcomes remain pending, the integration of rapid testing technology marks a potentially significant step in accelerating resource development. ABx’s approach could influence exploration efficiency and cost structures in the rare earth sector, where timely data is crucial for decision-making.
Bottom Line?
ABx’s new drilling and rapid testing initiative could sharpen resource targeting and hasten project advancement, but upcoming assay results will be key to validating this approach’s impact.
Questions in the middle?
- How will rapid testing results compare with traditional assays in accuracy and reliability?
- What timelines are expected for completing drilling and receiving comprehensive assay data?
- Could the rapid testing technique become a competitive advantage in commercial production phases?