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- Red Mountain Mining (RMX) confirms the presence of rare earth element mineral xenotime at its Mt Mansbridge Project in WA
- Xenotime and florencite minerals were found within quartz veining and the associated wall rock alteration, with three samples reviewed
- Red Mountain Mining says the find represents an opportunity to determine whether there is an economically viable concentration of rare earth elements in the area
- The company says it plans to resuming its drill program at the end of the Kimberley wet season in early 2022
- RMX shares last traded at one cent on January 14
Red Mountain Mining (RMX) has confirmed xenotime and florencite mineralisation occurs at its Mt Mansbridge Project in Western Australia’s Eastern Kimberley region.
The company said it received petrological descriptions that confirmed the presence of the two key rare earth element (REE) minerals.
Xenotime is a REE phosphate mineral that potentially carries a high price tag due to it having high concentrations of valuable heavy rare earth elements dysprosium and terbium, while likely to be lower in processing cost per tonne of rock.
The minerals were found within quartz veining and the associated wall rock alteration. Three samples were sent for description by a Perth laboratory and reviewed using optical and scanning electron microscope techniques.
Heavy rare earths are considered rarer than light rare earths and critical for energy transformation, making up components for electric motors and power generators.
“The petrological confirmation of heavy rare earth mineral xenotime is a significant technical step in the exploration for heavy rare earths at Mt Mansbridge,” Non-Executive Chairman Troy Flannery said.
“With a similar xenotime mineralisation to the Browns Range Project along with its close proximity to Northern Minerals’ processing facility makes the Mt Mansbridge project highly prospective.”
Red Mountain Mining said the confirmation of xenotime mineralisation at Mt Mansbridge provides an opportunity to determine whether an economically viable concentration of REEs exist in the area.
It plans to resume drilling at the end of the Kimberley wet season in early 2022.
RMX shares last traded at one cent on January 14.
