Norwest Minerals Limited announced it has received assay results from its December maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at its 100% owned, 840 km Arunta West Project located in Western Australia. The drilling program was designed to test a high priority rare earth element (REE) and copper-gold geochemical anomaly and comprised 20 RC holes for 2,050 metres and tested along a 3-kilometre geologic contact between the Mount Webb Granite and the Bitter Springs Group sediments. All 4 drill holes intersecting the Bitter Springs Group sediments returned REE intervals grading above 1,000 ppm TREO.

The significant REE mineralisation is near surface, flat lying and extends for 1,500m being consistent with clay hosted REE mineralisation. Widespread drilling of 29 holes in 2015 by First Quantum Minerals intersected significant REE mineralisation along much of the 90km strike of Norwest's 100% owned Arunta West tenement package. Recently acquired First Quantum Minerals' 2015 drill data shows the program intersected significant near surface REE mineralisation across wide-spaced drilling of the Bitter Springs Group alongside the Mount Webb and Ininti Granites.

December 2022 RC drilling results The 20-hole, 2,050 metre Arunta West RC drill program confirmed all significant REE mineralisation is hosted in the Bitter Springs Group sediments. Of the 20-hole RC program only four were drilled into the sediments with all returning intersections grading +1,000 ppm TREO. The four REE drill intercepts are near surface depicting a flat lying body and with geology indicative of clay hosted REE mineralisation.

The other 16 RC holes tested a copper-gold anomaly in the Mount Webb Granite with no significant mineralisation detected. Norwest has planned and has heritage clearance for a 22-hole (2200m) follow-up drill program which is designed to infill and extend the clay hosted REE mineralisation for 3,000m along the contact. The drilling is expected to begin as soon as the wet season finishes in April ­ May 2023.

Calculation of a maiden JORC resource estimate will be targeted following the second round of drilling. Metallurgical work will also be undertaken utilising sample material to be collected immediately following the wet season. Regional drilling in 2015 confirms widespread REE mineralisation in Bitter Springs Group Regional widespread drilling of 29 holes in 2015 by First Quantum Minerals intersected REE mineralisation along much of the 90km strike of Norwest's Arunta West tenement package.

Norwest's tenements capture the southeast trending geological contact between the Bitter Springs Group sediments and the Mount Webb and Ininti Granites with the granites located on the north side of the contact. Consistent with Norwest's December 2022 RC drill program, all significant TREO drill intervals in the First Quantum holes occur in Bitter Springs sediments with tenor appearing to increase with decreasing distance to the sediment ­ granite contact. In 2015, First Quantum were drilling for base metals and using a pXRF analyser and geologic logging to select samples for multi-element assay.

This resulted 10 holes not being assayed in the near surface layers where enriched clay hosted REE tend to concentrate. Given the developing REE prospectivity of the area, Norwest has recently applied for a 340km exploration license adjoining its eastern Arunta West tenement package and which captures many of the First Quantum drill holes reporting REE enrichment. Nine of the First Quantum holes were drilled within or very close to Norwest's tenement E80/5031: Norwest's tenement E80/5031 captures 30km of the contact and the 20 holes drilled by Norwest in December.

First Quantum hole KWAC007 returned 13m @ 1430 ppm from the far southeast end of E80/5031 being 25 kms from Norwest's current RC drilling activity. First Quantum drill hole KWAC004 returned 13m @ 1100 ppm from 12m. This hole appears to be drilled into the Mount Webb Granite however it is located within an isolated 4 km x 2 km area of Bitter Springs sediments that is surrounded by the Mount Webb granites.

This area is very prospective given its size, grade potential and close proximity to the access track.