RAGUSA MINERALS LIMITED Ragusa Minerals Limited announced that it has received initial assay results from the first round of drilling at the Company's 100% owned Burracoppin Project, identifying high-grade rare earth oxide (REO) mineralisation and very high average Al2O3 results, corresponding with very bright to ultra-bright ISO brightness figures in a significant portion of the deposit. Partial assay results have been received for all 147 composite samples submitted, which include complete sizing, x-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) data for elemental composition including rare earth elements (REE). ISO brightness (ISO-B) results have been received for 50 of the 147 samples so far, with x-ray diffraction (XRD) results for kaolinite/halloysite determination still awaited.
Results received to date indicate the Burracoppin Project contains exceptionally high-grade alumina averaging 33.73% Al2O3 with a peak grade of 38.3% Al2O3, corresponding with an ultra-bright ISO-B of 88% and 50% of samples greater than ISO-B 80%. In addition, 40% of the samples returned total rare earth oxide levels (TREO) above a 500ppm cut-off, with an average of 1,493ppm TREO and a peak value of 6,285ppm TREO. Compared to other similar projects, these results are exceptional and often exceed quality metrics for both bright white kaolinite with very high alumina levels, and TREO levels with elevated magnetic rare earth oxide (MREO) components.
Tables 1 and 2 show the Burracoppin Project deposit metrics against similar projects for REO and Kaolinite/Halloysite respectively. In total, 198 composite samples ranging between 6m intervals and 1m intervals representing 553m were selected from the 1,143m of drilling conducted. All composite samples consisted of kaolinized granite and were mainly differentiated on colour changes downhole.
Of the 198 composite samples selected, a subset of 147 composite samples were selected and submitted for laboratory assay testing. These composite samples were chosen based on mineralised thickness and lateral continuity, with the aim to maximise potential resource size at minimal laboratory expense due to high per sample analysis costs. Samples were weighed, dried and screened to -5.6mm before being sized into +180µm, -180 +45µm and -45µm fractions.
The -45µm fraction was then assayed using XRF and ICP analysis for its elemental constituents. Brightness levels were determined using ISO-B protocols. Drill-holes were spaced nominally at 400m intervals in a diamond pattern so each sample of kaolinized granite represents a significant volume of material in any future resource estimation.
The combined kaolinite and rare earth endowment of the Burracoppin Project presents a multi-commodity opportunity in the burgeoning critical minerals sector for Ragusa. The work conducted to date covers only ~5% of the project area, leaving enormous potential for development of a major multi-commodity project servicing the forecast critically short supply of battery and automotive components and future green energy technologies. Once the outstanding laboratory results are received, the Company will proceed with preparing a maiden resource estimate for the project.
