Commerce Resources Intersects Strongest Heavy REE Mineralization to Date at Ashram

Commerce Resources (TSXV:CCE) provided an update on the latest drill results at its Ashram rare earth deposit in Quebec, reporting that one hold had intersected the strongest heavy rare earth element mineralization to date at the project.
As quoted in the press release, highlights of drill results included:

• 31.96 m of 1.65% TREO⁽¹⁾ (304 ppm Dy oxide) at 18.5% MH-T⁽²⁾ in EC15-133, including 18.08 m of 1.49% TREO (359 ppm Dy oxide) at 23.5% MH-T
• 77.90 m of 1.68% TREO at 11.8% MH-T (174 ppm Dy oxide) in EC15-134
• 51.34 m of 2.46% TREO in EC15-134

MH-T is the sum of the middle and heavy rare earth oxides, while TREO is the sum of “Ce2O3 + La2O3 + Pr2O3 + Nd2O3 + Sm2O3 + Eu2O3 + Gd2O3 + Tb2O3 + Dy2O3 + Ho2O3 + Er2O3 + Tm2O3 + Yb2O3 + Lu2O3 + Y2O3,” the company notes.
Further discussing the results, the company’s release stated:

The primary goal of the drill program was to increase the resource confidence from the current inferred category to the measured and/or indicated categories with infill drilling, as required for the ongoing Pre-feasibility Study (PFS). A total of 31 drill holes for 4,146 m were completed in the program, with 14 holes for 1,376 m remaining to be reported.
The two drill holes (EC15-133 and 134) targeted the Middle and Heavy Rare Earth Oxide (MHREO) Zone and encountered considerable MHREO mineralization, with drill hole 133 intersecting the strongest mineralization to date, and over the largest interval to date. This mineralization starts at, or near surface (<20 m), and includes 23.5% MH-T  over 18 m at 1.49% TREO (80 ppm Tb oxide, 359 ppm Dy oxide) within a larger interval of 18.5% MH-T over 32 m at 1.65% TREO (68 ppm Tb oxide, 304 ppm Dy oxide) in EC15-133. This MHREO mineralized zone was again intersected ~60 m east in EC15-134 with 11.8% MH-T over 78 m at 1.68% TREO.
The MH-T, Tb oxide, and Dy oxide values reported herein are significantly higher than that noted in the 2012 Ashram MHREO Zone Resource (Indicated: 11.3%, 36 ppm, and 153 ppm respectively). For additional perspective, the approximate average MH-T% for Mountain Pass, Bayan Obo, Weishan, and Maoniuping (collectively from which the vast majority of the world’s REO is produced) is 1.4%, 1.9%, 1.4%, and 2.9% respectively.
The appreciable MHREO enrichment present at the Ashram Deposit is extremely rare and is significantly higher than current producers (as per above), and also compares very favourably with many well-known MHREO enriched granitic deposits under development worldwide.
The strong MHREO mineralization is accompanied by significant enrichment of the magnet feed oxides (Nd-Pr), with several samples over 30% combined Nd-Pr (as a % of TREO). Collectively, the MHREO intersections of EC15-133 and 134 best illustrate the well-balanced REE distribution of the Ashram Deposit, which is unique in the space and is particularly well-suited to magnet end-use (Nd, Pr, Tb, Dy).
In addition, high-grade TREO mineralization continues to be encountered at relatively shallow depths, directly adjacent to the MHREO Zone, and is highlighted by EC15-134 with 51 m of 2.46% TREO.

Click here for the full press release.