IMC Rare Earths has reported yttrium-rich drilling results from two areas of its Itarantim ionic adsorption clay project in Brazil.
The intersections include 7 metres (m) at Block H and 13m at Block D. Both are exploration-stage findings. Further drilling and metallurgical work are needed to establish the zones’ extent and commercial potential.
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At Block D, hole AD-00403 intersected 13m grading 1,287 parts per million (ppm) yttrium oxide (Y2O3) from a depth of 14m. That included 3m at 2,464 ppm. The hole ended at 27m while still in mineralisation.
The Block D interval also contained 1,457ppm magnet rare earth oxides. Within it, 9m averaged 982ppm Y2O3, with estimated yttrium extraction of 84%.
IMC Rare Earths CEO and chair Frank Scolaro said: “Yttrium accounts for more than a third of the rare earth oxides in the Block H interval. This discovery could shape the product we ultimately seek to produce, adding yttrium to the group of rare-earth metals at Itarantim, alongside dysprosium and terbium.
“Yttrium is used in semiconductor equipment, aerospace components, lasers and advanced ceramics, making these discoveries relevant to efforts to diversify critical-mineral supply chains.”
Hole AD-00555 at Block H returned 7m at 2,052ppm Y2O3 from 2m below the surface. The interval included 3m at 2,836ppm and a 1m sample at 3,099ppm. Yttrium oxide made up 36% of total rare earth oxides across the 7m, against a median of nearly 10% in the Itarantim drilling database.
Six Block H samples exceeded the ALS leach-solution measurement limit for yttrium. Their extraction percentages are estimates based on measured extraction of other heavy rare earths, rather than direct yttrium assay measurements.
IMC said the two zones contain some of the highest yttrium grades in its database of more than 870 drill holes. It plans infill and step-out drilling at Block H, and diamond and step-out drilling at Block D.
Ammonium sulphate leach testing is planned for all mineralised Block H samples. Representative material will also be sent to ANSTO in Australia for metallurgical testwork, including tests to measure yttrium extraction directly.
The company noted that its technical team supervises drilling. Samples are taken at one-metre intervals and submitted to ALS in Vespasiano, Minas Gerais, for analysis.
