During the summer of 2008, Delta crews collected thousands of grab samples of pegmatitic granite from the Kenora property, which extends for 45km between Kenora and Vermilion Bay.
In addition to being assayed for uranium, the first 828 samples were sent for multi-element analysis by neutron activation. Eight of the lanthanide rare earth elements are included in this analytical package.
Samples with anomalous REEs tended to have low uranium and higher thorium contents; hence no follow-up work was done on these mineralized occurrences, the company said.
With the recent interest in rare earths, Delta has re-examined the analytical data and identified thirteen grab samples with estimated TREO contents of 0.1% or more, with a maximum of 0.34%.
Wayne Isaacs, CEO and chairman of Delta, said: “These rare earth discoveries present a completely new and exciting exploration potential for our Kenora assets, and we are going to seize the opportunity and re-evaluate the entire property.
“REEs tend to be associated with thorium, and since we were primarily looking for uranium, we haven’t even touched the most promising targets. REE mineralization is also difficult to spot visually, therefore the property is essentially untouched, for its REE potential and wide open for exploration.”
Delta plans an aggressive campaign of prospecting, mapping and sampling to identify the most favorable REE targets on the Kenora property, which will then be evaluated by diamond drilling.
The main priority of the company however, is to continue its exploration activities on its Wheeler River properties in the Athabasca Basin.
