Ram Resources identifies rare earths, tantalum and niobium at new Motzfeldt targets

Ram Resources (ASX: RMR) has received final results from reconnaissance exploration work at the Motzfeldt Project in South Greenland, confirming significant mineralisation on two new high priority exploration targets.

The company’s 2011 exploration program has identified two new areas of niobium, tantalum and rare earth element mineralisation, with similarities to the existing Aries prospect, also part of Motzfeldt.

Sampling at the Voskop and Drysdale targets indicates that mineralisation occurs within similar grades and over similar areas to that at the Aries Prospect, which recently returned long, high grade intersections of rare earths and tantalum.

Voskop is of particular interest to Ram, due to an apparent increased level of rare earth element mineralisation compared to other targets and the ease of exploration.

The proximity to the Aries prospect means it could be developed alongside a future mine at Aries and use much of the same infrastructure.

Anomalous high grade mineralisation at Voskop occurs over a distance of 1.2 kilometres by 0.6 kilometres, with best results from rock chip samples of:

- 10,829 parts per million (ppm) total rare earth oxides, 3,032ppm niobium, 403ppm tantalum and 2.97% zirconia;
- 10,295ppm total rare earth oxides, 4,306ppm niobium, 354ppm tantalum and 2.02% zirconia; and
- 10,198ppm total rare earth oxides, 3,190ppm niobium, 269ppm tantalum and 1.35% zirconia.

Heavy rare earth oxides are present at a higher concentration at Voskop compared to other targets, making up an average 18.8% of the total rare earth oxides.

At the Drysdale Prospect, 7.5 kilometres southeast of Aries, high grades were recorded over an area of about 1.4 kilometres by 0.5 kilometres.

Best results included:

-  12,467ppm total rare earth oxides, 16,737ppm niobium, 830ppm tantalum and 1.31% zirconia;
- 12,999ppm total rare earth oxides, 5,064ppm niobium, 379ppm tantalum and 2.42% zirconia; and
- 10,790ppm total rare earth oxides, 4,921ppm niobium, 469ppm tantalum and 2.81% zirconia.

Building on initial findings

Preliminary results from Voskop and Drysdale, released in September 2011, were based on field assays using an Innov-x Delta 50 XRF on crushed samples, a method which is not as rigorous or reliable as laboratory testing.
Significantly, the laboratory tests showed good correlation to the field XRF results, but were generally 20% higher for niobium and 25% higher for tantalum.

Motzfeldt Project
The Motzfeldt Project is located 24 kilometres east of the town of Narsaruaq in Greenland, 60 kilometres northwest of Greenland Minerals & Energy’s (ASX: GGG) Kvanefjeld Project.
Kvanefjeld has a total resource of 619 million tonnes with 6.6 million tonnes total rare earth oxides, 350 million pounds of uranium and 3 billion pounds zinc.

Ram Resources currently holds a 51% interest in Motzfeldt, with the option to earn up to 100% through the acquisition of UK company Greenland Resources, which holds the remaining 49%.

An initial inferred JORC resource is planned to be released this month.

Originally published at: http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/23970/ram-resources-identifies-rare-earths-tantalum-and-niobium-at-new-motzfeldt-targets-23970.html