Basin Energy has begun preliminary leachability and XRD studies at its Newmans rare earth discovery, with follow-up drilling assays due imminently. The early-stage program adds a recoverability test to a project already showing a 3.3 km mineralised corridor in northwest Queensland.
- ANSTO and Brisbane Metallurgical Laboratories begin preliminary testing
- Follow-up assays from 18 RC holes expected imminently
- Previous drilling returned 24m at 2,247 ppm TREO and 453 ppm MREO
- Initial leachability results targeted for Q4 2026
- Heritage surveys completed ahead of further drilling
Metallurgy adds a recoverability test
Basin Energy Limited (ASX:BSN) has moved its Newmans rare earth discovery into an early metallurgical testing phase, engaging the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and Brisbane Metallurgical Laboratories to assess how readily the mineralisation may leach. The program will also include X-ray diffraction analysis across a range of weathering domains.
That is a meaningful change in the project’s sequence. Drilling has established shallow rare earth mineralisation, but the current work begins testing a separate question: whether the minerals can potentially be recovered through leaching. Initial results are expected in the fourth quarter of 2026 and are intended to guide later metallurgical work and exploration, rather than provide an economic or recovery estimate at this stage.
Follow-up assays could test the 3.3km corridor
The company has completed 18 additional reverse circulation holes designed to test continuity along the 3.3 km mineralised corridor identified by its maiden drilling program. Assay results are expected imminently, giving Basin its next near-term read on whether the mineralisation extends between the previously tested areas and into priority targets selected from drilling, remote sensing and its weathering-profile model.
The earlier results provide the benchmark. Hole SBRC26006 returned 24 metres at 2,247 parts per million total rare earth oxides, including 453 ppm magnet rare earth oxides, from six metres. Within that interval, nine metres from 18 metres returned 2,774 ppm TREO and 596 ppm MREO, including 534 ppm NdPr oxide and 62 ppm DyTb oxide. SBRC26003 also returned 18 metres at 2,160 ppm TREO and 449 ppm MREO from surface.
Heritage clearance opens the next drilling phase
Initial cultural heritage surveys have now been completed over areas intended to support drilling east and west of the known corridor. Outcomes are expected in October. Basin said the survey program was prepared in collaboration with the Bularnu Waluwarra and Wangkayujuru Aboriginal Corporation, while access and compensation arrangements with Traditional Owners and pastoral stakeholders remain in place.
The company has outlined two further drilling campaigns for 2026. One, supported by the Queensland Government Collaborative Exploration Initiative, is designed to test heavy rare earth potential associated with phosphates near Newmans. A separate Q4 program would target step-out areas, subject to heritage clearances and the results of the work now under way. Basin says it remains funded for the targeted drilling and first-stage metallurgical assessment.
The next milestones remain unproven
Newmans is still an exploration story rather than a defined resource or development project. The coming assays may clarify the continuity of the mineralised corridor, while the leachability program should indicate whether the weathered granite model translates into a potentially useful processing response. Neither outcome is available yet, and the company has not disclosed recoveries, a mineral resource estimate or production guidance.
Bottom Line?
The next value-bearing evidence is close, but Newmans still needs both continuity in the follow-up assays and a credible leachability response before its exploration results can be judged economically.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the 18 follow-up holes confirm continuity beyond the currently defined 3.3 km corridor?
- What leachability and mineralogical results will ANSTO and Brisbane Metallurgical Laboratories report in Q4 2026?
- Can the proposed phosphate-focused drilling identify heavier rare earth mineralisation beyond the current Newmans-style targets?