Big Bodies: Olympio is about to drill these potentially monstrous rare earths-niobium carbonatite targets for the first time

• Detailed aerial magnetic survey identifies numerous rare earths targets at Olympio’s Walloway prospect
• Majority of targets have robust magnetic models suggestive of shallow carbonatite intrusives
• Several targets go to depths of >500m that could point to the presence of large, blind intrusive bodies
• Aircore drilling to test shallow targets will begin November

Olympio has zeroed in on drill targets in its hunt for carbonatite-hosted rare earths at Walloway, part of the Eurelia project in South Australia.

Walloway caught the company’s eye for its potential to host carbonatite-hosted rare earth elements (REEs) – an intrusive hosted mineralisation style known for its high grades.

High profile carbonatite REE projects include Hasting Technology Metals’ Yangibana and Lynas’ Mt Weld, while niobium is the star in more recent finds such as WA1 Resources (ASX:WA1) shock high-grade Luni discovery in WA’s West Arunta region.

Olympio Metals’ (ASX:OLY) Eurelia project occurs on the continental scale G2  structural corridor, a major control on mineral systems across Australia..

While historical exploration focused predominantly on diamonds and copper, limited rock chip sampling has delineated a +10km trend of coincident elevated niobium and REEs with up to 819 parts per million (ppm) niobium and 1.02% total rare earth oxides (TREO).

Subsequent drill testing confirmed REE enrichment, including:

• 9m @ 1,647ppm TREO from 7m (ORRK7-AC01)
• 9m @ 1,189 ppm TREO from 2m (EAC01)
• 4m @ 1,819 ppm TREO from 5m (EAC02)
• 4m @ 1,656 ppm TREO from 9m (EAC04)
• 2m @ 3,288 ppm TREO from 26m (EAC04)

Soil sampling carried out by the company in August 2023 returned numerous areas of elevated TREO (>400ppm) that are coincident with magnetic targets – particularly W6 and W3.

Aerial magnetic survey maps out priority targets

A recently completed detailed drone aerial magnetic survey has now identified numerous discrete magnetic targets highly characteristic of carbonatite bodies.

These targets have a close association with the Curdimurka Breccia.

The breccias at Walloway may have focused ascending carbonatite intrusive magmas, the company says, providing further discrimination criteria to rank drill targets.

Magnetic modelling of the targets has revealed robust magnetic models suggestive of carbonatite intrusives with typically shallow depth to source (<50m).

Additionally, magnetic models reveal significant depth extents to some of the targets, extending to >500m below surface, particularly at target W3, which is suggestive of a large blind intrusive body. Target W3 will require further magnetic modelling and a gravity survey for a comprehensive assessment.

“The quality of the magnetic targets identified by the recent survey has been outstanding. We have numerous magnetic targets that are very similar to the Walloway Carbonatite, based on geophysical characteristics and geological context,” managing director Sean Delaney said.

“We look forward to testing the shallow extents of a number of these newly defined magnetic targets at Walloway with an aircore drill program which will commence next month.”

Aircore drilling to test several targets

Olympio is currently modifying received regulatory approval to drill targets W1, W2 and W3.

It has also submitted a further Exploration Program for Environment Protection and Rehabilitation (EPEPR) to drill targets W4, W5, W6, W7, W8 and W9 to the South Australian Department of Energy and Mining.

The company’s planned aircore drilling program in November will more efficiently test many shallow targets such as W2, W4, W5, W6, W8 and W9.

Deeper targets such as W1, W3 and W7 will be subject to a gravity survey planned for late 2023 before they are tested with reverse circulation drilling in 2024.

This article was developed in collaboration with Olympio Metals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

The post Big Bodies: Olympio is about to drill these potentially monstrous rare earths-niobium carbonatite targets for the first time appeared first on Stockhead.

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