Defense Metals Corp.’s (TSXV:DEFN) technical team has completed updates to the 3D geological model for Wicheeda Rare Earth Element (REE) Deposit in British Columbia.
The geological model and resource estimation domain update, which incorporates over 10,000m of additional drilling within 47 diamond drill holes completed during 2021 and 2022 following completion of the Wicheeda Deposit preliminary economic assessment (PEA), is preparatory to updating the Wicheeda Deposit mineral resource estimate (MRE) and is an essential input to the planned pre-feasibility study (PFS).
Key Highlights of Updated Geological Model
- Updated geological model and resource estimation domains incorporate over 10,000m of new drilling within 47 holes completed post-PEA.
- New drilling designed to contribute to increase mineral resource confidence from inferred to indicated and measured categories and provide detailed pit-slope geotechnical drilling data for PFS purposes.
- Advanced understanding and confidence in primary lithological and magmatic emplacement controls on mineralization within the Wicheeda REE carbonatite deposit.
- Potential opportunities for mineral resources expansion, and late mine-life grade support within north area of Wicheeda Deposit.
- Coordination of geological model, estimation domains and geometallurgy present positive implications for further REE recovery optimization.
“The updated Wicheeda REE Deposit geologic model incorporating of over 10,000m of new post-PEA drilling represents a significant Project milestone and culmination of two years’ worth of focussed exploration,” Director, Kristopher Raffle, said.
“This drilling has yielded some of the longest and highest-grade drill intercepts to date on the Project and led to the discovery of a new zone of high-grade mineralization at depth that has the potential to positively impact an updated mineral resource estimate.
“We look forward to next steps including final geological model validation before proceeding to an updated mineral resource estimate, which we hope to carry forward into the planned PFS.”
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