Power Minerals is set to launch its initial diamond drilling programme at the Morro do Ferro Rare Earths Project (MDF Project) in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
The drilling, set to begin later this month, follows the company's acquisition of the project last month.
The MDF Project is situated in the heart of the Poços de Caldas alkaline complex, a developing centre for rare earth elements (REEs) globally.
Power Minerals’ drilling programme includes 3,000m of diamond core drilling to explore the depth and extensions of high-grade magnetic rare earth oxides (MREO) and total rare earth oxides (TREO).
Additionally, 800m of larger-diameter drilling will be conducted to acquire material for detailed metallurgical testing.
Results from these activities are set to be released progressively, with initial outcomes expected by June 2026.
Diamond drill-hole assays reveal 60.85m at 89,177 parts per million (ppm) (8.92% TREO) from the surface to the end of hole in MFSR35, 70.9m at 79,997ppm (8% TREO) in MFSR44 and 60.6m at 70,217ppm (7.02% TREO) in MFSR20.
Ultra-high-grade MREO samples include 2m at 34,835ppm (3.48% of whole rock) in drill-hole MFSR-47 (9–11m), 2m at 33,569ppm (3.36%) in MFSR-35 (44–46m) and 2m at 31,860ppm (3.19%) in MFSR-35 (38–40m).
The MDF Project benefits from a Manifesto de Mina mining licence, expediting exploration processes by facilitating ground-disturbing activities, pending environmental approvals.
Power Minerals CEO Alistair Stephens said: “We are delighted to announce the commencement of our maiden drilling campaign at the MDF Project, following the completion of the acquisition in the previous month.
“Drilling is planned to begin this month and will include approximately 3,800m of diamond drilling, designed to expand the current mineralised footprint along strike and down-dip and enhance our understanding of the mineralogy at the MDF Project, to help facilitate a swift progression towards a maiden mineral resource estimate [MRE] for the project.
“The campaign is expected to be completed in the following quarter and results are planned to be progressively released as they become available.”
The forthcoming drilling marks the first major step in realising the project's value.
The drilling will evaluate mineralisation in the main deposit, which is still open at depth and along the strike.
This work builds on recent verification sampling and aims to establish a solid technical basis for an initial MRE.
Drilling activities at the Santa Anna Niobium Project have been temporarily halted to focus on this initiative.
