ABx Group starts rare earth drilling program in Tasmania

• ABx Group has launched a new exploration drilling programme targeting rare earth deposits across its northern Tasmanian tenements.
• The initial phase focuses on defining potential mine boundaries within the Deep Leads and Rubble Mound resource areas.
• The company is using a rapid testing technique to optimise daily operations without waiting weeks for assay results.

ABx Group (ASX:ABX) has commenced a rare earth exploration drilling programme across its tenements in northern Tasmania.

The campaign expands upon prior resource definitions at the Deep Leads and Rubble Mound deposits to evaluate the broader regional potential.

The initial phase targets three exploration licences, specifically EL27/2022, EL28/2022, and EL25/2022.

Dr Mark Cooksey, Managing Director and CEO of ABx Group, commented, "We already have a substantial resource at Deep Leads–Rubble Mound and Wind Break, and our focus is increasingly turning to understanding where the highest-quality and most readily extractable mineralisation occurs within that broader resource."

A proprietary rapid testing technique will measure ionic rare earths on-site to adjust drilling locations daily rather than relying on standard multi-week assay turnaround times.

Following the announcement, the ABx Group share price was unchanged at $0.039.

The company focuses on developing material projects including bauxite, rare earth elements, and industrial fluoride materials.

Previous metallurgical testing at the project demonstrated high extraction recoveries of ionic rare earth elements using dilute acid solutions.