Catalina Resources (ASX:CTN) zeros in on rare earths prize at Laverton

With drills now spinning less than two kilometres from Lynas Rare Earths globally significant Mt Weld mine, Catalina Resources (ASX:CTN) has positioned itself on the cusp of a potentially transformative discovery in one of the most tightly held rare earth corridors in Australia.

The company has commenced RC drilling at its Laverton Project in Western Australia, targeting a standout intersection of 4 metres at 13,406ppm (1.34%) total rare earth oxides (TREO) from a broader intercept of 9 metres at 7,565ppm TREO.

These assays, including up to 0.3% neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr), mirror the prized mineralisation found at the neighbouring Mt Weld carbonatite, a deposit boasting 54.7 million tonnes at 5.3% TREO.

For mid to high net worth investors eyeing rare earth exposure outside China’s grasp, Catalina’s timing couldn’t be sharper.

Global attention is squarely on securing sustainable rare earth supply chains, particularly following MP Materials’ deal to supply recycled REE magnets to Apple a deal backed by direct equity support from the US Department of Defense.

Highlights

• RC drilling underway at Laverton, just 2km from Mt Weld
• Targeting 4m @ 13,406ppm (1.34%) TREO incl. 0.3% NdPr in LVAC037
• Strong gold potential too, incl. 28m @ 1.09g/t Au from 57m (LVAC049)
• Strategic location in globally recognised Laverton Gold Province
• Exceptional alignment with Australian and US critical minerals policy

Catalina’s Executive Director Ross Cotton said the current drill program was designed to aggressively test the structural and geological similarities between the company’s discovery and the Mt Weld system.

“Our follow-up drilling is targeting extensions to the standout intercept of 4m @ 10,000ppm TREO, located directly adjacent to the Mt Weld mine — one of the world’s premier rare earth operations.”

The program also includes follow-up testing of supergene gold mineralisation discovered in earlier drilling, with LVAC049 returning a notable 28 metres at 1.09g/t gold from 57 metres, including a high-grade hit of 1 metre at 9.69g/t gold.

For investors seeking asymmetric upside in the critical minerals sector, Catalina Resources offers both proximity and prospectivity, two key ingredients often absent in the junior space.

The combination of REE and gold endowment at Laverton, set within the same shear zone architecture that has delivered multiple Tier 1 deposits, gives Catalina a compelling runway.

With assays pending and news flow expected to ramp up over the coming weeks, the company is one to watch for those seeking early-stage exposure to Australia’s next potential REE success story.

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