Peak Resources first assays for 2011 extend rare earth mineralisation 390m at Ngualla

Peak Resources (ASX: PEK) first reverse circulation drilling results for 2011 have provided a major boost to the Ngualla project in southern Tanzania, with some very wide near surface intersections.
The impact from these hits is the southern rare earth zone mineralisation has been extended for a further 390 metres to the south west of previous drilling.
All eight holes intersected plus 2% rare earth mineralisation
Highlights from the first batch of results in the 2011 program include:
- 131 metres at 5.23% rare earth oxide from surface;
- 64 metres at 5.26% rare earth oxide from surface; and
- 56 metres at 5.09% rare earth oxide from surface.
Peak said that the highest grade mineralisation occurs from the surface within the ferruginous weathered zone of the Ngualla Carbonatite, where grades consistently average above 5% rare earth oxides.
Importantly - drilling also intersected rare earth oxide mineralisation in the fresh carbonatite beneath the weathered profile, which is significant in terms of additional tonnage potential.
The outcome from these first results in 2011 is that these intersections confirm a major new rare earth discovery on top of the 2010 maiden drilling programs.
Peak has currently completed 65 holes for 8,200 metres, which is a little over a third of the planned 22,000 metre 2011 program.
The directors said that they believe Ngualla continues to demonstrate the potential to be one of the largest and better grade new rare earth discoveries in recent years.
A maiden JORC Resource is forecast by the end of the March quarter 2012.
Peak said some of the mineralisation at Ngualla is similar in style to that at Lynas Corporation's (ASX: LYC) Mt Weld in Western Australia and the Frontier Rare Earths' (TSE: FRO) Zandkopsdrift in South Africa.


Originally published at: http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/18379/peak-resources-first-assays-for-2011-extend-rare-earth-mineralisation-390m-at-ngualla-18379.html