20 January 2025
New Frontier Minerals
Limited
("NFM" or the
"Company")
NFM commences leading edge
geophysical survey at Harts Range Project, Northern
Territory
New Frontier Minerals Ltd
(LSE and ASX: NFM) is pleased to announce the high-resolution,
helicopter-borne radiometric and magnetic survey is now underway at
the Harts Range Uranium, Niobium and Heavy Rare Earths Project
(Harts Range Project), located 140km north-east of Alice Springs in
the Northern Territory.
New
Resolution Geophysics[1] (NRG) has commenced
the high-resolution, helicopter-borne radiometric and magnetic
survey at the Harts Range Project. The survey aims to expedite
exploration over untested areas, identify additional targets and
explore extensions of known Uranium, Niobium, and Heavy Rare Earths
mineralisation[2].
Importantly, it will assist the
geology team to delineate and prioritise drilling
targets.
Highlights:
·
NFM has commenced a high-resolution,
helicopter-borne radiometric and magnetic survey at the Harts Range
Project
·
The geophysical survey data will expedite
exploration regionally over untested areas and help identify
extensions of known occurrences of Uranium, Niobium, and Heavy Rare
Earths mineralisation[3]
·
A key focus will be studying pegmatites within the
tenure, identified through the analysis of publicly available
satellite imagery
·
Combining the geophysical survey data with
historical data will enhance confidence for target generation and
planned drilling
Ged
Hall, Chairman, commented:
"The commencement of the helicopter-borne
radiometric and magnetic survey represents an essential first step
at the Harts Range Project as part of an overall methodical and
systematic exploration campaign. Notably, it will deepen our
knowledge of the underlying structures to better define and delineated targets for drill-testing for
Uranium, Niobium and Heavy Rare Earths mineralisation that has the
potential to create significant value for shareholders."
RADIOMETRIC AND MAGNETIC SURVEY COMMENCES
Previous exploration at the Harts Range Project identified
multiple occurrences of high-grade Uranium-Niobium and Heavy Rare
Earths mineralisation associated with radioactive
pegmatites[4].
Utilising open-sourced
satellite imagery, a
preliminary satellite image desktop interpretation has visually
identified numerous pegmatites across the project area (Figure
1).
![](https://dw6uz0omxro53.cloudfront.net/3285168/e66a6176-b336-44b5-97f3-3890e5c78e34.png)
Figure 1: Interpreted
pegmatites at Harts Range Project (Source: NT Geological
Survey[5])
The
desktop interpretation is preliminary and the NFM geological team
plans to verify all geological features identified as pegmatites on
the ground. However, in areas with dense vegetation, some
pegmatites may have been overlooked. By integrating geophysical
data with the interpreted pegmatites, the team will generate
additional targets for ground verification and prioritise them for
drilling.
NEXT STEPS:
· Completion of the Heliborne Geophysical Survey is expected to
occur in January 2025 and the geophysical data interpretation is
scheduled for completion in February 2025,
· Ongoing regional rock chip sampling, mapping and fieldwork at
the Harts Range Project, and
· Planning and formulating the inaugural drilling campaign
through reconciling the geophysical survey results with the desktop
interpretations and further field work.
ENDS
This announcement was approved for
release by the Board of New Frontier Minerals Limited.
For
further information please contact
New
Frontier Minerals Limited
|
+61 8 6558 0886
|
Gerrard Hall (UK),
Chairman
|
|
|
|
SI
Capital Limited (Financial Adviser
and Corporate Broker)
|
+44 (0)1483 413500
|
Nick Emerson
|
|
|
|
Gracechurch Group (Financial
PR)
|
+44 (0)20 4582 3500
|
Harry Chathli, Alexis Gore, Henry
Gamble
|
|
ABOUT NEW FRONTIER MINERALS
New Frontier Minerals Limited is an
Australian-based focussed explorer, with a strategy to develop
multi-commodity assets that demonstrate future potential as an
economic mining operation. Through the application of disciplined
and structured exploration, New Frontier has identified assets
deemed core and is actively progressing these interests up the
value curve. Current focus will be on advancing exploration
activity at the Harts Range Niobium, Uranium and Heavy Rare Earths
Project which is circa 140km north-east from Alice Springs in the
Northern Territory.
Other interests include the NWQ
Copper Project, situated in the copper-belt district circa 150km
north of Mt Isa in Queensland and the Broken Hill Project in
western New South Wales.
New Frontier Minerals is listed on
the LSE and ASX under the ticker "NFM".
Competent Persons Statement
I, Mark Biggs, confirm that I am the
Competent Person for the Competent Person Report from which the
information to be publicly released in this ASX statement (dated
20th January 2025) has been obtained and confirm
that:
• I
have read and understood the requirements of the 2012 Edition of
the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral
Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code, 2012 Edition) and the
relevant sections of Chapter 5 and Guidance Note 31 from the ASX
Listing Rules.
• I am
a Competent Person as defined by the JORC Code 2012 Edition, having
35 years of experience that is relevant to the REE, industrial
mineral, and copper mineralisation types, quality and potential
mining method(s) of the deposit(s) described in the Report.
In addition, I have 21 years of experience in the estimation,
assessment and evaluation of Exploration Results and Mineral
Resource Estimates, the activity for which I am accepting
responsibility.
• I am
a Member of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
(Member # 107188).
• I
have reviewed the Report or Excerpt from the Report to which this
Consent Statement applies.
• I am
a consultant working for ROM Resources and have been engaged by New
Frontier Minerals Lt to prepare the documentation for various
prospects within the Harts Range Prospect area on which the Report
is based.
In addition:
• I
have disclosed to New Frontier Minerals Limited the full nature of
the relationship between myself and the Company, including any
issues that could be perceived by investors as a conflict of
interest. Mr Biggs is a director of ROM Resources, a company
which is a shareholder of New Frontier Minerals Limited. ROM
Resources provides ad-hoc geological consultancy services to New
Frontier Minerals Limited.
• I
verify that the Report is based on and fairly and accurately
reflects in the form and context in which it appears, the
information in my supporting documentation relating to exploration
results and any Mineral Resource Estimates.
• I
consent to the release of the Report and this Consent Statement by
the Directors of New Frontier Minerals Ltd.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain information in this document
refers to the intentions of New Frontier Minerals Ltd, but these
are not intended to be forecasts, forward-looking statements or
statements about future matters for the purposes of the
Corporations Act or any other applicable law. The occurrence of
events in the future is subject to risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause New Frontier Minerals Ltd.'s actual results,
performance or achievements to differ from those referred to in
this announcement. Accordingly, New Frontier Minerals Ltd, its
directors, officers, employees, and agents, do not give any
assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events referred
to in this announcement will occur as contemplated.
The interpretations and conclusions
reached in this announcement are based on current geological theory
and the best evidence available to the authors at the time of
writing. It is the nature of all scientific conclusions that they
are founded on an assessment of probabilities and, however high
these probabilities might be, they make no claim for complete
certainty. Any economic decisions that might be taken based on
interpretations or conclusions contained in this announcement will
therefore carry an element of risk. The announcement may contain
forward-looking statements that involve several risks and
uncertainties. These risks include but are not limited to, economic
conditions, stock market fluctuations, commodity demand and price
movements, access to infrastructure, timing of approvals,
regulatory risks, operational risks, reliance on key personnel, Ore
Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates, native title, foreign
currency fluctuations, exploration risks, mining development,
construction, and commissioning risk. These forward-looking
statements are expressed in good faith and believed to have a
reasonable basis. These statements reflect current expectations,
intentions or strategies regarding the future and assumptions based
on currently available information.
Should one or more of the risks or
uncertainties materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary from the expectations,
intentions and strategies described in this announcement. No
obligation is assumed to update forward-looking statements if these
beliefs, opinions, and estimates should change or to reflect other
future developments.
APPENDIX A: GEOLOGICAL DISCUSSION
Expanded Assay Results Table and Plans
The purpose of fieldwork completed
in mid-November 2024 was to assess historical prospects and areas
of interest that were not visited during the October 2024 due
diligence site visit. A total of thirteen (13) rock chip
samples were collected during the November 2024 Harts Range site
visit by a New Frontier Minerals Limited (NFM) geological team and
have been recently reported publicly (NFM 2024c; see Figure
AA-1). This is in addition to the five (5) samples collected
in early October 2024 (NFM 2024b).
All samples were bagged and
submitted to Intertek Perth (Malaga) Laboratory to test for a broad
multi-element sodium peroxide fusion (FP6) method of
analysis. The sodium peroxide fusion (FP6) method is ideal
for analysing and reporting the HREE's, Nb and U. Additionally, the
Intertek Laboratory is equipped to deal with any highly radioactive
samples.
The assay results continue to
promote highly anomalous U, Nb, W, Pb and various heavy rare earth
elements (particularly Dy, Tb, and Tm). These results also
highlighted four (4) surface samples exceeding 1.5% copper, three
(3) of which are at the Cusp North Prospect.
Previous reporting (NFM 2024c) did
not provide all the sample assay results, and in addition clearer
sample location plans are now included. It should be noted
that four (4) of the samples (HRS008-10; HRS0013) returned slightly
anomalous gold results, which were also not previously commented
upon. These values ranged between 0.07 to 0.098
g/t.
Locations and descriptions of the samples collected are given in Figures
AA-3 to 7, with complete laboratory results given for various
elements in Table AA-1.
Pegmatite Interpretation
The NFM Team inspected the main
accessible prospects and areas of interest on western margins of
the Entia Dome between 18th-22nd November 2024 (See Figure AA-1;
Das 2024, NFM 2024c).
Pegmatite dykes in the area are
reasonably plentiful and intrude into various rock-types of various
ages. There is potential for them to have been derived by partial
melting of underlying geology or younger granites and have been
seen with anomalous enrichment in Uranium, Niobium and HREEs.
There are almost certainly more pegmatites with a similar U-REE
signature in the district. They are not always visible in
airborne imagery. Several previously unmapped pegmatites were
encountered fortuitously along tracks whilst driving
around.
The interpretation given in Figure
AA-2 is preliminary and the NFM geological team intend on ground
truthing all geological features that have been interpreted as
pegmatites. It is also possible that, especially in the more
vegetated areas, pegmatites could have been missed. The
geophysical data combined with the interpreted pegmatites will
provide further targets for ground truthing and prioritisation for
drilling.
![A map of a project Description automatically generated](https://dw6uz0omxro53.cloudfront.net/3285168/8d6e3822-b071-4b9a-a4fa-52d7b2d444da.png)
Figure AA-1: Harts Range
Mineral Prospects
![](https://dw6uz0omxro53.cloudfront.net/3285168/be7343a6-f67f-4e69-9c63-194000102d79.png)
Figure AA-2: Interpreted
pegmatites at Harts Range Project
(Source: NT Geological
Survey "Strike" portal2)
Cusp and Cusp North Prospect
Regarding the results, the Cusp
samples are in line with previously reported Nb-U-HREE
values as expected. As
noted, there are some high-grade (>1.5%) copper, results (north
of Cusp) over a significant strike length. Further fieldwork
is required to fully understand this occurrence.
The Cusp North copper zone is a
foliated felsic unit, with the foliations comprised of biotite,
quartz, and orthoclase. Malachite and azurite are
disseminated within matrix of the unit. Broken pieces up to
30cm below surface indicate the mineralisation was not surface
staining.
Assay results from rock chip samples
from the third field trip returned anomalous silver and copper
(refer to Table AA-1 and see Figure AA-3 as an example).
Figure AA-3: Copper-enriched
hand samples - sample number HRS010
![A close-up of a map Description automatically generated](https://dw6uz0omxro53.cloudfront.net/3285168/8d3a012d-d1ec-42f1-8cdb-8f5cc0467bfb.jpg)
Figure AA-4: Rock Chip
Sample Locations at Cusp and Cusp North Prospect
Notes: Coordinate system is
MGA94-Z53S. Sample Locations show Niobium (pink) and Copper
(light blue); both in ppm.
Bobs and Bobs West Prospect
The new sampling, particularly at
Bob's Prospect returned very high levels of Nb, as high as 7% as
illustrated in Figure AA-5.
![A close-up of a satellite Description automatically generated](https://dw6uz0omxro53.cloudfront.net/3285168/9e669812-cb89-4c56-9726-7fe30637a57f.png)
Figure AA-5: Rock Chip
Sample Locations at Bobs and Bobs West Prospect
Notes: Coordinate system is
MGA94-Z53S. Sample Locations show Niobium (pink) and Copper
(light blue); both in ppm.
Dune Prospect
The new sampling at the Dune
Prospect did not produce any anomalous results of Nb nor Cu, as
illustrated in Figure AA-6.
![A close-up of a surface Description automatically generated](https://dw6uz0omxro53.cloudfront.net/3285168/bd5950dc-dc70-454a-9bc8-33688ac572ca.png)
Figure AA-6: Rock Chip
Sample Locations at Dune Prospect
Notes: Coordinate system is
MGA94-Z53S. Sample Locations show Niobium (pink) and Copper
(black); both in ppm.
Big
Jay Prospect
Several pegmatite outcrops at the
Big Jay Prospect were sampled, and assay testing returned slightly
anomalous niobium results as presented in Figure AA-7. Further
mapping and sampling are warranted in this locality.
![A close-up of a map Description automatically generated](https://dw6uz0omxro53.cloudfront.net/3285168/ab62a7ae-1a75-4bc4-b6a3-56dde2f4a0f9.jpg)
Figure AA-7: Rock Chip
Sample Locations at Big Jay Prospect
Notes: Coordinate system is
MGA94-Z53S. Sample Locations show Niobium (pink) and Copper
(light blue); both in ppm.
References
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Samarskite Mineralisation in the Harts Range Project" (Barfuss
Corporation Pty Ltd): (unpublished report).
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Project Exploration Licence (EL 24552) - (Barfuss Corporation Pty
Ltd)
Castillo Copper Limited, 2024a, ASX
Release "CCZ To Acquire Highly Prospective Niobium, Uranium-Heavy
Rare Earth Project, 14th October 2024, 27pp.
Castillo Copper Limited, 2024b, ASX
Release "High-Grade Assays Up To 29.80% Nb2O5 & 14.04% U3O8
Validate Harts Range Project Potential, 6TH November 2024,
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