Cobra Resources (LSE:COBR) has reported further assay results from its Wudinna rare earth project in South Australia, with drilling at the Head Prospect defining a high-grade continuous zone of approximately 5 kilometres that remains open in both directions.
The South Australian rare earth explorer said 74 drillholes totalling around 3,200 metres have been completed across the Boland and Head prospects, designed to support an initial mineral resource estimate for its aquifer-hosted ionic rare earth element mineralisation, which is amenable to low-cost in situ recovery (ISR).
Approximately 80% of drilling results have been received, with the remainder due in coming weeks.
Standout intersections at Head include hole CBSC0071, which returned 5.95 metres at 1,232 parts per million total rare earth oxide (TREO), including 1.45 metres at 4,186ppm TREO from 27.8 metres; and CBSC0067, which hit 1.06 metres at 3,607ppm TREO from 18.6 metres.
A distinctive feature of the project is its natural acid-generation potential: pyrite within the system can oxidise to produce sulphuric acid, the primary reagent in ionic REE extraction, reducing external acid supply requirements and associated costs.
"This is the first REE project of its kind in which a resource will incorporate modelling of key economic factors for permeability and acid generation," Managing Director Rupert Verco said, adding the approach "positions Cobra competitively at the bottom of the cost curve."
A field trial targeting production of mixed rare earth carbonate is planned for early 2027.
