Power Minerals Extends High-Grade Rare Earths at Depth With 39m at 4.42% TREO
Key Takeaways
- Drillhole MFSR-056 returned 39m at 4.42% TREO with 0.95% MREO from 80m downhole, including a peak of 2m at 11.05% TREO from 96m — and the surface-to-80m interval has not yet been assayed.
- The hole was drilled 57 metres northwest of the original baseline on a new section line, confirming the high-grade zone extends laterally to the northeast flank of the MDF deposit.
- The deepest sample at 119m remains mineralised, meaning the hole is open at depth and the full extent of this intercept is not yet known.
- Assays are pending for drillholes MFSR-053 through to MFSR-067, representing a substantial volume of results still to be released progressively from SGS Geosol Laboratory.
- The Morro do Ferro Project is held under a Manifesto de Mina — a perpetual real property right covering 300.72 hectares — removing the licence expiry risk common to earlier-stage explorers.
High-grade rare earth mineralisation extended at depth at Morro do Ferro
Power Minerals Limited (ASX: PNN) has received initial assay results from drillhole MFSR-056 at its Morro do Ferro Project in Brazil, confirming thick, high-grade REE mineralisation at significant depth. The headline intercept returned 39m at 4.42% TREO with 0.95% MREO from 80m downhole, including 6m at 8.91% TREO from 92m and a peak of 2m at 11.05% TREO from 96m.
Critically, these results cover only the interval from 80m to 119m. Assays for the surface-to-80m interval remain pending, and the deepest sample at 119m still shows mineralisation, meaning the hole is open. The full picture from this drillhole is yet to come.
MFSR-056 was positioned 57 metres northwest of the initial drilling baseline, on a new section line designed to test whether the high-grade zone continues laterally and at depth. The results confirm that it does, extending the mineralisation envelope to the northeast flank of the MDF deposit and supporting the Exploration Target model.
Headline intercepts from MFSR-056 to date:
- 39m at 4.42% TREO with 0.95% MREO from 80m downhole
- 6m at 8.91% TREO with 1.89% MREO from 92m
- 2m at 11.05% TREO with 2.27% MREO from 96m
- Results from surface to 80m: pending
- Deepest sample at 119m: still mineralised
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What the MFSR-056 results mean for the MDF deposit
A new section line confirms the deposit continues northwest
MFSR-056 is the first result from a second section line, running parallel to and 57 metres northwest of the original drilling baseline. Its purpose was to test whether the high-grade zone identified in the base section continues along strike.
Previous drillholes in this area returned their most significant high-grade TREO in near-surface intervals. MFSR-056 returns high-grade results below 80m, with near-surface results still to come. These are additive data points, not contradictions. Initial geological assessments suggest the mineralisation may be associated with a hydrothermal system, though further drilling and detailed geological analysis will be required to fully determine its extent and geometry.
Drilling campaign comparison — where MFSR-056 sits in context
The table below summarises significant intercepts across the current drilling programme at Morro do Ferro. Note that MFSR-056’s interval begins at 80m, with surface-to-80m results not yet available.
| Drillhole | Interval (downhole) | Width (m) | TREO % | MREO % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MFSR-056 | 80–119m (surface to 80m pending) | 39 | 4.42 | 0.95 |
| MFSR-054 | 0–88m (from surface) | 88 | 6.33 | 1.19 |
| MFSR-053 | 0–119.3m (from surface) | 108.55 | 4.15 | 0.82 |
| MFSR-052 | 0–137m (from surface) | 137 | 4.31 | 0.73 |
| MFSR-051 | 0–116m (from surface) | 116 | 4.78 | 0.78 |
Reported intervals are downhole widths representing weighted averages of all samples across the reported length, with no cut-off unless otherwise stated. Downhole widths may not represent true thickness.
Understanding rare earth grades — what makes these results stand out
To appreciate what these numbers mean, it helps to understand the two key metrics Power Minerals is reporting.
TREO (Total Rare Earth Oxides) is the combined measure of all rare earth oxides present in the rock, expressed as a percentage of the whole rock. It is the headline grade figure for a rare earth deposit, capturing everything from lanthanum through to yttrium.
MREO (Magnet Rare Earth Oxides) is the commercially critical subset within that total. It covers four specific oxides: neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), terbium (Tb), and dysprosium (Dy). These are the oxides used to manufacture permanent magnets found in electric vehicle motors, wind turbine generators, and defence electronics. They command significant commercial premiums over the broader rare earth basket.
The magnet rare earth profile at Morro do Ferro, dominated by neodymium and praseodymium with meaningful dysprosium and terbium contributions, positions the deposit within the commercially premium segment of the rare earth market rather than the lower-value light rare earth basket.
A peak sample of 2m at 11.05% TREO at nearly 100m depth is an exceptionally high concentration. A two-metre interval exceeding 11% within a broader 39-metre zone averaging 4.42% is a notable combination of high peak grade and meaningful width.
The MREO proportion within the TREO figure also matters. A deposit where a higher share of its total rare earth content sits in the magnet metals commands greater commercial value. At 0.95% MREO across the full 39m interval, and 2.27% MREO at the peak two-metre sample, the magnet rare earth contribution at Morro do Ferro is meaningful.
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Path to maiden resource estimate — what comes next
CEO Alistair Stephens commented on the significance of the latest results:
Alistair Stephens, Chief Executive Officer
“These results extend the area of confirmed high-grade rare earth mineralisation at Morro do Ferro, with MFSR-056 returning 39 metres downhole at 4.42% TREO, including 0.95% magnet rare earth oxides, on a section 57 metres northwest of our initial drilling. With further assays pending, our focus remains on defining the mineralisation, advancing metallurgical testwork and progressing towards a maiden Mineral Resource estimate.”
Assay results remain pending for a substantial number of drillholes. According to Table 2 in the announcement, samples from MFSR-053 through to MFSR-067 have been dispatched to SGS Geosol Laboratory, with results to be progressively released as they are received.
MFSR-054, along the base section, also has further results pending. Results released to date from MFSR-054 include 88m at 6.33% TREO from surface and a separate high-grade zone from 181m, including 5m at 4.32% TREO and a 2m interval at 7.85% TREO from 184m.
The three stated forward priorities for the programme are: defining the boundaries of the mineralisation, advancing metallurgical testwork, and progressing toward a maiden Mineral Resource estimate.
Ongoing planned activities include:
- Progressive release of pending assay results (MFSR-053 to MFSR-067)
- Completion of pending surface-to-80m results for MFSR-056
- Further drilling to define deposit geometry and boundaries
- Advancement of metallurgical testwork
- Progression toward maiden Mineral Resource estimate
The Morro do Ferro Project is held under a unique mining permit known as a Manifesto de Mina, a real property right covering 300.72 hectares with no expiration date, located approximately 13km southeast of Poços de Caldas in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The tenure structure removes a layer of licensing risk that is common at earlier-stage projects.
The Morro do Ferro project acquisition brought Power Minerals a tenure structure that removes a layer of licensing risk common at earlier-stage explorers, with the Manifesto de Mina conferring a perpetual real property right rather than a time-limited exploration permit.
Ready to Explore the Full Potential of the Morro do Ferro REE Project?
Power Minerals’ latest drillhole results confirm thick, high-grade rare earth mineralisation extending at depth, with peak grades of 11.05% TREO and meaningful magnet rare earth contributions — and a substantial volume of pending assay results still to come. The company is actively progressing towards a maiden Mineral Resource estimate, with further drilling and metallurgical testwork underway.
Stay ahead of the next round of results by visiting the Power Minerals investor profile on Discovery Alert to track the Morro do Ferro programme as it advances.