Power Minerals Hits 7.85% Rare Earth Grade at Record 186m Depth at Morro do Ferro
Key Takeaways
- MFSR-054 has extended confirmed rare earth mineralisation to a record 186m downhole depth at Morro do Ferro, with the deepest assayed sample returning 7.85% TREO and 2.11% MREO — the strongest grade yet recorded at depth on the project.
- Three structurally distinct REO zones were identified in a single hole: a near-surface zone averaging 6.33% TREO over 88m, a 93m moderate-grade transition interval, and a newly identified deep high-grade zone beginning at 181m.
- A further 67.55m of core from MFSR-054 remains unassayed, and the mineralisation boundary to the northeast is still open — both representing near-term catalysts for additional grade and strike confirmation.
- All four drillholes completed to date have returned high-grade results from surface, with MFSR-054 now the deepest and the first to test the northeastern flank of the deposit.
- Power Minerals is advancing four concurrent workstreams — including 2 active rigs across a 25-hole programme, metallurgical test work sampling, and a gallium analytical review — as it builds toward a maiden Mineral Resource estimate.
MFSR-054 delivers 186m of continuous REO mineralisation to record depth at Morro do Ferro
Drillhole MFSR-054 has extended confirmed rare earth mineralisation to a record downhole depth of 186m at Power Minerals’ (ASX: PNN) Morro do Ferro Project in Brazil, returning three distinct REO zones from surface. The sequence runs from an extremely high-grade near-surface zone (88m @ 6.33% Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO), including 1.19% Magnet Rare Earth Oxides (MREO)), through a moderate-grade transition interval (93m @ 1.06% TREO from 88m), and into a newly identified deep high-grade zone (5m @ 4.32% TREO from 181m, including 2m @ 7.85% TREO / 2.11% MREO from 184m). The deepest assayed sample is the strongest grade returned at depth, with a further 67.55m to end-of-hole (253.55m) still awaiting assay results, and the mineralisation boundary to the northeast remains undefined.
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Three high-grade zones confirm deposit scale and depth potential
Record depth intercept with a new zone emerging
MFSR-054 was strategically positioned to the northeast of the deposit’s centre, specifically to test lateral and depth extensions rather than infill the central resource area. The result confirms three structurally distinct REO zones progressing downhole.
Zone 1, from surface to 88m, delivered an extremely high-grade interval averaging 6.33% TREO, which includes 50m @ 9.0% TREO and a peak sub-interval of 20m @ 12.05% TREO with 2.18% MREO from 18m. Zone 2, from 88m to 181m, returned 93m @ 1.06% TREO with 2,258 ppm MREO, representing a significant moderate-grade transition interval.
Zone 3 is the standout finding. Beginning at 181m, this newly identified deep high-grade zone returned 5m @ 4.32% TREO with 1.13% MREO, including the deepest assayed sample (MFP-0479, 184–186m) at 78,535 ppm TREO (7.85%) and 21,139 ppm MREO (2.11%). That final sample is the last result received from the laboratory, with assays for the remaining 67.55m still pending. Preliminary geological observations suggest the mineralisation may form part of a hydrothermal system, though further drilling and geological interpretation are required to determine its full extent and geometry.
How MFSR-054 compares to previous drillholes
All four holes drilled to date have delivered high-grade results from surface. MFSR-054 now represents the deepest continuous downhole result at the project and is the first to test and extend mineralisation significantly to the northeast.
| Drillhole | Main Interval (m) | TREO % | MREO % | Notable Sub-Interval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MFSR-054 | 0–88m from surface | 6.33% | 1.19% | 20m @ 12.05% TREO / 2.18% MREO from 18m; new deep zone 2m @ 7.85% TREO / 2.11% MREO from 184m |
| MFSR-053 | 0–137m from surface | 4.31% | 0.73% | 53m @ 9.87% TREO from surface; peak sample 2m @ 19.51% TREO / 3.96% MREO |
| MFSR-052 | 0–119.3m from surface | 4.15% | 0.82% | 6.45m @ 9.34% TREO / 2.87% MREO from 69.55m; peak sample 1.45m @ 13.84% TREO / 4.4% MREO |
| MFSR-051 | 0–116m from surface | 4.78% | 0.78% | 31m @ 10% TREO / 1.58% MREO from 14m; peak 2m @ 18.12% TREO / 3.66% MREO |
The deepest assayed sample from MFSR-054 eclipses all previously reported mineralisation on the north-eastern flank of the deposit, confirming that REO grade does not diminish with depth in this location.
What are rare earth oxides and why do TREO and MREO grades matter?
TREO stands for Total Rare Earth Oxides. It represents the combined oxide percentage of the full basket of rare earth elements present in a rock sample — essentially a measure of overall rare earth content. When explorers report a TREO grade, they are expressing how much of the rock by weight is made up of all rare earth oxides together.
MREO, or Magnet Rare Earth Oxides, is a more commercially focused subset. It covers specifically neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, and dysprosium. These four elements are the building blocks of the permanent magnets used in electric vehicle motors and wind turbine generators, placing them at the heart of the global clean energy supply chain. Magnet rare earths command significant price premiums over the broader REO basket, which is why investors and geologists track MREO grade as the commercially critical metric rather than TREO alone.
The concept of a “cerium depleted high-grade REO zone” is also relevant here. Cerium is the most abundant rare earth element and carries relatively low economic value. A zone described as cerium depleted contains a higher proportion of the more valuable magnet rare earths relative to the total basket — a positive signal for the commercial quality of the mineralisation.
A maiden Mineral Resource estimate (MRE) is a formally classified resource statement prepared in accordance with the JORC Code. It converts raw drilling data into a structured estimate of tonnes and grade, classified by geological confidence as Inferred, Indicated, or Measured. An MRE is a critical milestone because it underpins project valuation, provides the foundation for future development studies, and is required before any meaningful economic assessment can be completed.
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Building toward a maiden mineral resource estimate
CEO’s assessment of the deposit’s scale potential
Power Minerals Chief Executive Officer Alistair Stephens provided the following assessment of the result and what it means for the project’s development trajectory:
Alistair Stephens, CEO, Power Minerals
“MFSR-054 is an important result for Morro do Ferro as it demonstrates that the rare earth mineralisation extends to depths well beyond the shallow historical drilling. The hole has returned 186 metres of continuous mineralisation, including a new high-grade zone in the deepest assayed interval, while the northeastern strike extent remains open. These results strengthen our geological understanding of the mineralised system and reinforce the scale potential of Morro do Ferro. Our focus now is to complete the remaining assays and drilling, advance metallurgical test work and build the disciplined technical foundation required for a maiden Mineral Resource estimate.”
What’s next for Power Minerals at Morro do Ferro
The company is advancing four concurrent workstreams as it builds toward a maiden MRE:
- Diamond drilling programme: The maiden programme comprises approximately 25 holes / ~4,000m of HQ core, with 2 rigs active and 11 holes completed to date. Drilling is ongoing.
- Pending assays: Results from MFSR-053 onwards are being released in batches as received. SGS Geosol has advised that elevated mineral exploration activity in Brazil is currently affecting laboratory turnaround times.
- Metallurgical test work sampling: Dedicated core intervals for metallurgical test work are planned within the drilling programme.
- Gallium analytical method review: A review of the gallium analytical method is currently in progress with the commercial laboratory.
For investors tracking the news flow, each batch of pending assay results from the remaining drillholes represents a near-term catalyst as the company advances its technical and geological understanding toward a maiden MRE. The open mineralisation boundary to the northeast, and the 67.55m of unassayed core in MFSR-054 alone, underline the exploration upside that remains to be tested.
Ready to Explore the Full Depth Potential at Morro do Ferro?
Power Minerals’ (ASX: PNN) MFSR-054 drillhole has delivered 186m of continuous rare earth mineralisation, with a newly identified deep high-grade zone and 67.55m of unassayed core still to come — all pointing to significant deposit scale potential ahead of a maiden Mineral Resource estimate.
Explore Power Minerals’ project pipeline and latest drilling results by visiting the Power Minerals investor profile on Discovery Alert to stay across every upcoming assay release and exploration milestone.