NFM finalises HREE, Niobium and Uranium drill targets at Harts Range
New Frontier Minerals Limited (“New Frontier” or “the Company”) (ASX and LSE: NFM) is pleased to announce the geology team has finalised high priority targets for drill-testing at its Harts Range Project, located 140km north-east of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. In addition, NFM aims to shortly select a drilling contractor and secure regulatory approvals to enable an inaugural RC drilling campaign to target Heavy Rare Earths Elements (HREE), Niobium and Uranium mineralisation.
Highlights:
· NFM’s geology teams recent field trip locked-in high-priority targets at the Cusp, Bobs, Paddington and Westminster Prospects to test-drill for Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREE), Niobium and Uranium at the Harts Range Project, NT
· Concurrently, NFM is reviewing quotes from prospective drilling contractors and progressing regulatory approvals to fast-track a 2,000m – 3,000m Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling campaign
· Encouragingly, reflecting government support for the upcoming campaign, NFM received a $59k grant from the NT Geological Survey’s Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations program
· Ongoing exploratory work comprised confirming the “Old Trafford Prospect” (320m west from the Westminster Prospect) and investigating a prominent magnetic feature circa 150-200m in diameter identified during the recent geophysical survey and subsequent interprertation
· An application (for 15.79 km) has been lodged for tenement (EL34147), south of the existing granted tenure (EL32513), to bolster the exploration footprint at the Harts Range Project
Ged Hall, Chairman, commented: “Our geology team had a highly productive field trip to the Harts Range Project, with key HREE, Niobium and Uranium targets identified for drill-testing across the Cusp, Bobs, Paddington, Westminster and the newly identified Old Trafford Prospect. A drilling contractor will be appointed shortly, paving the way for the inaugural drilling campaign to commence once regulatory approvals are in place. This is a critical inflection point in the Harts Range Project’s development which has the potential to create significant value for shareholders.”
High Priority Drill-Test Targets
During the month of June 2025, NFM’s geology team spent several days at the Harts Range Project finalising high-priority targets for drill-testing which now include Cusp, Bobs, Paddington, Westminster and the newly identified Old Trafford and Bank Prospect. The team has commenced regulatory approvals to fast-track a 2,000m – 3,000m RC drilling campaign.
Ongoing Exploration Progress
In addition, the NFM geological team advanced field activities at the Harts Range Project. The primary aim of the field campaign was to expedite exploration over untested areas within the tenure and identify additional radiometric targets and potential extensions to known Uranium, Niobium, and HREE mineralisation.
Field inspection further west of Westminster has identified the Old Trafford Prospect which comprises a plagioclase and quartz rich pegmatite outcrop with minor muscovite intruded into surrounding amphibolite. A quartz cap is present adjacent to the pegmatite unit which is seen to outcrop ~2m wide and ~50m in length and trending E-W. Samarskite is noted to be present as fragments dispersed consistently within the sample area in small clasts (1mm-1cm). Geiger counter readings of up to 6 μSv were recorded with HSR066 sampled from surface to 20cm deep. (Figure 1).
Further inspection at the Westminster Prospect has identified samarskite mineralisation present amongst a highly micaceous section of the outcrop. The discontinuous pegmatite outcrop has a quartz cap and displayed plagioclase and mica rich alteration intruding through amphibolite. Geiger counter readings of up to 8 μSv were recorded and the sample was collected ~5cm below surface (HSR064, Figure 2). The outcrop is trending E-W, shearing trends at NE-SW.
North of Cusp, the Bank Prospect has noted copper mineralisation (malachite) in foliated gneiss with a sugary quartz texture and biotite, pyroxene/amphiboles in foliated bands (HRS055). The outcropping unit is seen to trend N-S and noted to outcrop adjacent to a creek-bed. Fresh rock is white in colour and more clearly exhibits visual malachite mineralisation with an estimated grade is 0.5-3% Cu (Figure 3).
Note to Figure 1, 2 and 3: The nature of the mineral occurrence of samarskite is seen as occasional scattered orthorhombic crystals. The minerals observed are found in small quantities in the host pegmatite rock. The estimated samarskite mineralisation abundance ranges from 0-2% in HRS066, 0-1% in HRS064. The copper mineralisation in HRS055 is estimated to range from 0.5-3% Cu. The anticipated timing for release of assays results related to the visual estimates is 2-3 weeks.
A key area of interest is the southern tenement area where recent geophysical surveys identified a local magnetic anomaly at the Kings Cross Prospect (Figure 4). Preliminary review of the magnetic data by Southern Geoscience Consultants reveals that this feature is not an individual anomaly, rather a combination of a series of smaller features to the west and one relatively larger and prominent feature to the east which appears to be ~150-200m diameter and 150m-200m depth.
Visual estimates of mineral abundance should never be considered a proxy or substitute for laboratory analyses where concentrations or grades are the factor of principal economic interest. Visual estimates also potentially provide no information regarding impurities or deleterious physical properties relevant to valuations.
A key area of interest is the southern tenement area where recent geophysical surveys identified a local magnetic anomaly at the Kings Cross Prospect seen in Figure 4 below.
Field inspection has located the geophysical anomaly to be immediately south and associated with a prominent EW-trending fault that has been identified from the 1:10,000 geophysical interpretation undertaken by Southern Geoscience Consultants. In total, 12 samples (HSR033 – HSR044) were collected along the EW structure and adjacent to the creek-bed, which appears to be associated with the EW structure.
Figure 4: Magnetic feature identified at the Kings Cross Prospect (Source: Southern Geoscience Consultants)
Northern Territory Government Grant
New Frontier Minerals has been awarded a $59,000 grant (inclusive of GST) through the Northern Territory Geological Survey’s Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations program, part of the Resourcing the Territory initiative. This includes a $10,000 Territory Supplier Incentive. The grant will support up to 1,360 meters of Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling at the Harts Range Project, reducing the financial commitment for the Company’s maiden drilling campaign targeting HREE, Niobium, and Uranium. The Company is in the process of finalising land access and environmental licensing to ensure compliance with grant conditions, with a contract submission deadline of August 1, 2025.
Expansion of Footprint
New Frontier Minerals has applied for new tenure (EL34147), south of granted Harts Range tenement (EL32513). This application for (15.79 Km) bolsters the exploration footprint and reflects the Company’s commitment to expanding its exploration footprint and developing high-potential critical mineral resources in the region. Map of the new tenement application can be found in Appendix C.
Strategic Context and Funding
The resumption of field activities aligns with New Frontier’s commitment to utilise the $1.59 million raised and the $59,000 government grant to accelerate exploration at Harts Range. The macro environment remains favourable, with U.S. government policies supporting the diversification of HREE supply chains away from China and the acceleration of nuclear power technologies. These developments enhance the strategic importance of HREE and Uranium, positioning New Frontier to capitalise on growing demand for critical minerals
· Continue field investigations, focusing on identifying priority targets for drilling
· Analyse assay results from the Old Trafford, Westminster and Bank Prospects to prioritise drilling targets
· Prepare for the maiden RC drilling campaign in Q3 FY25 subject to government approvals
New Frontier remains committed to delivering value to shareholders through disciplined exploration and development of its key assets.
New Frontier Minerals Limited is an Australian-based focussed explorer, with a strategy to develop multi-commodity assets that demonstrate future potential as an economic mining operation. Through the application of disciplined and structured exploration, New Frontier has identified assets deemed core and is actively progressing these interests up the value curve. Current focus will be on advancing exploration activity at the Harts Range Niobium, Uranium and Heavy Rare Earths Project which is circa 140km north-east from Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.
Other interests include the NWQ Copper Project, situated in the copper-belt district circa 150km north of Mt Isa in Queensland and the Broken Hill Project in western New South Wales.
New Frontier Minerals is listed on the LSE and ASX under the ticker “NFM”.
Competent Persons Statement
The scientific and technical information in this announcement, which relates to exploration results and the geology of the deposits described, is based on information compiled and approved for release by Mark Biggs. Mark Biggs is a Member of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM Member # 107188) and meets the requirements of a Competent Person as defined by the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code 2012 Edition). Mark Biggs has 35 years of experience relevant to Rare Earth Elements (REE), industrial mineral copper mineralisation types, as well as expertise in the quality and potential mining methods of the deposits under consideration. Additionally, he has 25 years of experience in the estimation, assessment, and evaluation of exploration results and mineral resource estimates, which are the activities for which he accepts responsibility. He also successfully completed an AusIMM Online Course Certificate in 2012 JORC Code Reporting. Mark Biggs is a consultant with ROM Resources and was engaged by New Frontier Minerals Limited to prepare the documentation for several prospects, specifically those within the Harts Range Prospects upon which the Report is based.
Furthermore, the full nature of the relationship between himself and New Frontier Minerals Limited has been disclosed, including any potential conflicts of interest. Mark Biggs is a director of ROM Resources, a company that is a shareholder of New Frontier Minerals Limited, and ROM Resources provides occasional geological consultancy services to New Frontier Minerals Limited.
The Report or excerpts referenced in this statement have been reviewed, ensuring that they are based on and accurately reflect, in both form and context, the supporting documentation relating to exploration results and any mineral resource estimates. The release of the Report and this statement has been consented to by the Directors of New Frontier Minerals Limited.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain information in this document refers to the intentions of New Frontier Minerals Ltd, but these are not intended to be forecasts, forward-looking statements, or statements about future matters for the purposes of the Corporations Act or any other applicable law. The occurrence of events in the future is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause New Frontier Minerals Ltd’s actual results, performance, or achievements to differ from those referred to in this announcement. Accordingly, New Frontier Minerals Ltd, its directors, officers, employees, and agents, do not give any assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events referred to in this announcement will occur as contemplated. The interpretations and conclusions reached in this announcement are based on current geological theory and the best evidence available to the authors at the time of writing. It is the nature of all scientific conclusions that they are founded on an assessment of probabilities and, however high these probabilities might be, they make no claim for complete certainty. Any economic decisions that might be taken based on interpretations or conclusions contained in this announcement will therefore carry an element of risk. The announcement may contain forward-looking statements that involve several risks and uncertainties. These risks include but are not limited to, economic conditions, stock market fluctuations, commodity demand and price movements, access to infrastructure, timing of approvals, regulatory risks, operational risks, reliance on key personnel, Ore Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates, native title, foreign currency fluctuations, exploration risks, mining development, construction, and commissioning risk. These forward-looking statements are expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. These statements reflect current expectations, intentions or strategies regarding the future and assumptions based on currently available information. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary from the expectations, intentions and strategies described in this announcement. No obligation is assumed to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, opinions, and estimates should change or to reflect other future developments.
References
1) ASX Announcement (31 March 2025) Geophysical interpretation identifies 46 HREE-Nb-U priority targets at Harts Range, NT
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