Cadoux says resampling of 21 historical Danube drill holes has extended rare earth-zircon mineralisation up to 1.4 kilometres north of its June Exploration Target and opened a southern target area. The results move the project towards planned infill drilling, a maiden Mineral Resource and a Scoping Study, but key mineralogy and access hurdles remain.
- 9 m at 1.01% zircon north of the previous envelope
- Mineralisation extends 1.4 km beyond the northern boundary
- Seven southern holes confirm laterally extensive lower-grade mineralisation
- 380 kg bulk sample ready for metallurgical testwork
- Maiden Mineral Resource now targeted for Q1 2027
Danube Mineralisation Pushes Beyond June Envelope
Cadoux Ltd (ASX:CCM) has expanded the interpreted footprint of its Danube rare earth-zircon project in Victoria after resampling historical drilling returned mineralisation beyond both ends of the June 2026 Exploration Target envelope. The strongest northern result was 9 metres at 1.01% zircon from 18 metres in hole DB0029, including 1 metre at 2.32% zircon. Cadoux said the result was comparable with intersections inside the existing envelope.
The extension is not trivial in distance. DB0033, drilled 1.4 kilometres north of the previous envelope, returned 4 metres at 0.61% zircon from 21 metres. DB0030 delivered 7 metres at 0.62% zircon from 21 metres and remained mineralised to the base of sampling, leaving that interval open at depth. The mineralisation sits deeper in the northern holes, which Cadoux said is consistent with the deposit’s interpreted gentle northerly dip.
Southern Traverse Opens Additional Target Area
The southern results are lower grade but more extensive. All seven holes resampled along a 1.9-kilometre traverse returned mineralisation, with intersections ranging from 5 to 10 metres at 0.35% to 0.57% zircon. Holes DB0066 to DB0070 each included higher-grade intervals of between 0.63% and 0.82% zircon, extending the mineralised area south of the June envelope.
Results from an east-west traverse also indicate the mineralisation is at least 750 metres wide in the north, although several holes on the northernmost traverse returned no significant results. Cadoux interprets the data as consistent with a single, shallow, sheet-like body that is typically 5 to 10 metres thick and carries zircon, monazite, xenotime and titanium minerals.
Exploration Target Remains Conceptual
The June Exploration Target covers a conceptual 50 million to 100 million tonnes grading 0.8% to 1.2% in-situ zircon and 800 to 1,200 parts per million in-situ total rare earth oxides. The new results may extend the 0.5% zircon envelope, but they do not convert that estimate into a Mineral Resource. Cadoux has not yet measured xenotime concentrations, the full rare earth distribution or TREO in the resampled intervals.
That distinction matters because the economic case depends on more than zircon widths. Composite samples from four representative holes have undergone heavy-liquid separation and heavy-mineral characterisation, while a 380-kilogram bulk sample assembled from retained drill residues is ready for metallurgical testwork. The results are intended to inform a flowsheet for wet concentration and potential downstream processing through the proposed Minhub Darwin mineral separation plant.
Resource Timing Moves to First Quarter 2027
Cadoux plans extension and infill drilling in the December quarter, subject to landholder agreements, weather, harvest timing, ground conditions and approvals. The company now expects a maiden Mineral Resource in Q1 2027, later than the Q4 2026 target outlined in its June investor presentation, because it wants to incorporate the new extension and infill drilling.
A Scoping Study remains targeted for Q2 2027, alongside process flowsheet development and bulk metallurgical work. The timetable is also exposed to laboratory turnaround, drilling rig availability, funding and testwork results. Because Danube sits on freehold farmland, Cadoux has appointed a stakeholder engagement consultant and plans to begin meetings with key stakeholders in Q4 2026.
Bottom Line?
The drilling has made Danube larger on paper, but the next value test is whether its rare earth assemblage can be characterised and processed economically before the planned 2027 studies.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the extended mineralisation support a materially larger maiden Mineral Resource?
- What xenotime, monazite and heavy rare earth distribution will the pending characterisation identify?
- Can Cadoux secure land access and funding in time to complete the planned infill drilling schedule?