Major Discovery Marks First Xenotime Vein in Decades
RareX's exploration team has made what could be a transformative discovery at Mt Mansbridge South, where they identified a previously unknown hematitic quartz vein bearing heavy rare earth elements. The vein, which ranges in width from 0.2 to 1 meter and crops out intermittently along a 70-meter strike, represents the first xenotime-mineralized vein located on the project in 40 years.
Initial portable XRF spot analyses have returned values exceeding 1% yttrium, though the company appropriately notes these readings are indicative only, with laboratory assay results expected in 4-6 weeks.
"The RareXploration team made a productive start on the Mt Mansbridge HRE project with the first xenotime mineralised vein located on the Project in 40 years. Heavy Rare Earth elements are at the top of the critical minerals list and… dysprosium and terbium have become bottleneck materials essential for enabling the miniaturization, efficiency gains, and thermal stability required in next-generation technologies." – Managing Director and CEO James Durrant
Strategic Focus on Heavy Rare Earths
RareX has strategically positioned Mt Mansbridge as one of only a few hard rock xenotime exploration projects in Australia. Located just 45km from Northern Minerals' Browns Range Project (which hosts 11.7 Mt at 0.77% TREO with 86% HREE), Mt Mansbridge shares a similar geological setting and demonstrates comparable rare earth fertility.
This focus on heavy rare earths is particularly noteworthy as elements like dysprosium and terbium face increasing supply constraints while demand grows for applications in permanent magnets, electric vehicles, and renewable energy technologies.
Multi-Project Portfolio Optimization
Beyond Mt Mansbridge, RareX is actively advancing a portfolio of critical mineral assets:
Khaleesi Project Consolidation
- New tenement (Mingawal) pegged to cover a prospective magnetic gabbro
- Strategic relinquishment of low-prospectivity tenements
- Awarded drilling grant funding up to $180,000 from the Exploration Incentive Scheme
Cummins Range Development
- Continuation of gallium re-assaying program
- Preparations for updated mineral resource estimate focusing on high-grade rare earths, gallium, and scandium
- Mining and Heritage Protection Agreement with the Jaru progressing toward mining lease grant
Piper Project Advancement
- Ongoing negotiations with the Central Land Council for exploration license grant
- Strategic location along strike from Nolans Bore and Luni projects
Understanding Heavy Rare Earth Elements
Heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) represent the heavier elements within the rare earth family, including dysprosium, terbium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, and yttrium. These elements are particularly crucial for high-performance permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defense applications.
Unlike light rare earths, HREEs are scarcer in economically viable deposits, making new discoveries like Mt Mansbridge potentially significant. Xenotime, the mineral identified at Mt Mansbridge, is one of the few minerals that concentrates HREEs to levels that can be economically extracted.
The global HREE market faces significant supply challenges, with China controlling approximately 85% of production. This makes Australian HREE projects strategically important for diversifying global supply chains of these critical materials.
Exploration Strategy and Timeline
RareX's exploration approach at Mt Mansbridge combines:
- Systematic prospecting around the Sigma Prospect and along the western edge of the Mt Mansbridge unconformity
- Infill soil sampling to verify and enhance interpretation of historical geochemical results
- Geological mapping of structural corridors that may host additional mineralized veins
Over the coming months, the company plans to continue systematic prospecting and apply geochemical vectors to further assess the basement rocks for additional HREE mineralization, with the aim of drill testing targets later in 2025.
Investment Case: Why RareX Deserves Attention
RareX presents a compelling investment case within Australia's critical minerals sector:
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Strategic Asset Portfolio: The company has assembled a portfolio focused on critical minerals essential to clean energy technologies, with multiple projects at different stages of advancement.
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Technical Validation: The discovery at Mt Mansbridge South provides important validation of the company's geological model and exploration approach.
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Market Positioning: With its focus on heavy rare earths, gallium, niobium, and scandium, RareX is targeting materials with structural supply constraints and growing demand profiles.
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Development Pipeline: The company maintains a balanced approach between near-term development opportunities (Cummins Range) and exploration upside (Mt Mansbridge, Khaleesi).
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Government Support: The securing of exploration grants demonstrates external validation of RareX's technical approach and the strategic importance of its projects.
The recent RareX heavy rare earth discovery at Mt Mansbridge represents a potentially significant milestone for RareX, positioning the company at the forefront of Australian heavy rare earth exploration at a time when secure, ethical supply chains for these critical materials are increasingly important to global technology and defense sectors.
With a systematic exploration approach, strategic project portfolio, and focus on materials essential to the energy transition, RareX offers investors exposure to the critical minerals space through a company demonstrating both technical capability and strategic vision.
Ready to Invest in Critical Rare Earth Discoveries?
For investors seeking exposure to the strategic heavy rare earth elements sector, RareX's Mt Mansbridge discovery offers significant potential. This first xenotime-mineralised vein found in 40 years could position RareX at the forefront of supplying critical materials essential for next-generation technologies. To learn more about this discovery and RareX's balanced portfolio of critical mineral assets, visit their announcement page for complete details and stay informed about upcoming exploration results.
