Power Minerals (ASX:PNN) records highest Morro do Ferro rare earth assay
Power Minerals has recorded the highest individual rare earth assay at its Morro do Ferro project in Brazil, with drilling extending mineralisation at depth between section lines northwest of the initial Base Section.
The latest results provide additional geological and grade continuity data as the company progresses towards a potential maiden Mineral Resource estimate.
Highlights
MFSR-057 intersected 111m at 8.25% total rare earth oxides, TREO, and 1.28% magnet rare earth oxides, MREO, from surface.
The intersection included 51m at 15.42% TREO and 2.43% MREO from 24m, including 15m at 20.42% TREO and 3.0% MREO from 42m.
A 1.2m sample from 42m returned 40.5% TREO and 7.73% MREO, while 5 individual samples exceeded 20% TREO.
Drilling remains ongoing, with assays pending for the lower portions of MFSR-053 and MFSR-054.
The analyses cover the entire 170.5m length of MFSR-057, which was positioned between the Base Section and the next major section, NW-01.
The hole was located 5m vertically uphill and 25m horizontally from the Base Section, with the stated purpose of assessing the continuation of previously identified mineralisation.
On section NW-01, the earlier MFSR-38 hole returned 80.3m at 4.33% TREO from surface to the end of the hole.
Before the latest results, the highest individual sample at Morro do Ferro was 2m at 24.13% TREO from 14m in MFSR-44, disclosed in March 2026.
Power samples the full continuous length of its drillholes because the mineralisation is not readily visible, reporting weighted averages across the stated intervals without applying a cut off grade.
Sampling is generally conducted at 2m intervals, with occasional adjustments where possible geological boundaries are observed in the core.
The announcement also addresses the influence of the highest assay on the broader intersection.
Applying a 15% TREO cap to the 1.2m sample grading 40.5% TREO reduces the weighted average across the 51m interval from 15.4% to 14.8% TREO.
All reported intersection lengths are downhole distances and may not represent true widths.
Power Minerals Chief executive Alistair Stephens addressed the continuing programme, saying,
“With drilling continuing and further assays pending, we look forward to reporting the next results.”
Morro do Ferro is hosted within the Poços de Caldas alkaline intrusion, a circular complex with a mean diameter of 33km and an area of approximately 800km².
Local geology comprises hydrothermally altered country rocks beneath deep weathering cover, with a 2023 mineralogical study identifying bastnasite and cerianite as the major rare earth bearing minerals, alongside a minor contribution from monazite.
Previously disclosed assays from MFSR-054 included 88m at 6.33% TREO and 1.19% MREO from surface, followed by 93m at 1.06% TREO from 88m.
A deeper interval returned 5m at 4.32% TREO and 1.13% MREO from 181m, including 2m at 7.85% TREO from 184m in the last sample received from the laboratory.
The company plans further drilling and geological and mineralogical analysis to define the mineralisation’s extent and geometry, alongside sampling of deeper regions and new areas.
Its stated development programme includes resource definition, metallurgical testwork and development studies, with further metallurgical work planned to maximise rare earth recovery and lower processing costs.