Mount Ridley Mines (ASX:MRD) identifies new gravity targets at Mt Ridley critical minerals project
Mount Ridley Mines has reported results from 3D gravity inversion modelling completed across its Mt Ridley Critical Minerals Project in Western Australia, with the work identifying multiple new targets beyond the existing Mineral Resource footprint and confirming a strong relationship between mineralisation and gravity highs.
The modelling, completed by Core Geophysics across the project northeast of Esperance, confirmed that REE-Sc mineralisation is directly associated with discrete gravity anomalies linked to underlying dense mafic lithologies.
The company said the results validate its geological model and support the interpretation that existing Mineral Resource areas form part of a broader mineralised system.
Highlights
- 3D gravity inversion modelling confirmed a strong relationship between REE-Sc mineralisation and gravity highs.
- A gravity anomaly exceeding 35 mGal defines the core of the mineralised system and remains open to the south and northeast.
- Multiple new targets were identified beyond the established Mineral Resource footprint.
- Results demonstrated continuity beyond current Resource areas within the Grass Patch Complex across Block 1 and Block 2.
- Fresh rock is estimated at approximately 70m to 80m depth.
- Two major mineralised trends were defined, with both remaining open.
The company said Block 1 and Block 2 resources are positioned directly above prominent residual gravity highs interpreted to reflect dense basement lithologies, likely mafic to gabbroic units associated with REE enrichment, with shallower zones within the gravity model also showing a consistent correlation with elevated REE grades.
The model results highlighted two main gravity trends, with the majority of known mineralisation located along the western trend, which remains open along strike, while the eastern trend remains largely untested.
In Block 1, Mount Ridley identified several untested trends displaying similar geophysical signatures to existing resource areas, which the company said represent priority targets for follow up drilling.
In Block 2, higher resolution survey work defined more localised gravity responses and highlighted a parallel eastern trend that aligns with elevated REE results from reconnaissance drilling completed along existing roads and tracks, which the company said warrants further targeted exploration.
The company has reported JORC 2012 inferred resource estimates of 838.7Mt @ 29.3ppm gallium, 367.9Mt @ 57.3ppm scandium and 122.5Mt @ 889ppm TREO containing 44,610t of HREO, while the separate Mia deposit hosts an inferred resource of 168Mt @ 1,201ppm TREO.
Mount Ridley Managing Director and CEO Allister Caird said:
“The 3D gravity inversion results confirm that our existing resources sit within a much larger mineralised system. The strong correlation between mineralisation and gravity highs gives us confidence in the model and a clear framework for targeting future growth.”
The company said multiple high priority walk up drill targets identified through historical drilling, geophysics and recent technical reviews are currently being assessed and prioritised to support future drilling programs planned for 2026.