The Cachoeirinha Project - PCH Project
Background on the PCH Project
The property consists of 17,551.07 ha representing 10 exploration concessions.
The PCH project is located approximately 30 km from Iporá, a medium size city of approximately 31,500 population (2018 census) in the state of Goiás, Brazil. The region around Iporá has significant mineral exploration and mining activity, as well as agricultural activity. Active mines in the area include operations by Dundee Precious Metals and Yamana Gold. Vale and Dundee Precious Metals hold mineral exploration concessions immediately adjacent to the PCH tenements.
Infrastructure is well developed. Prior exploration on the property has included stream sediment sampling, soil sampling, geophysical surveys, auger drilling, diamond drilling and trench sampling programs. Rare earth mineralization has been identified across a significant portion of the tenements.
Sampling data shows enrichment in rare earth minerals down to between 8 m and 20 m depth; typically within the upper 8 m to 10 m. Total rare earth assay values from auger drilling in Target 4 show values up to 16,648 ppm (1.66%) with an average of 1,291 ppm for auger samples. A composite developed from selected auger holes, trenches and diamond holes showed a TREE assayof 5,143 ppm with HREE + Y content of 561 ppm, with average Pr and Nd values of 226.5 ppm and 847.9 ppm, respectively.
Heavy rare earths (HREEs +Y) show maximum values of 1,624 ppm and average values of 145.89 ppm. Terbium (Tb) had average values of 3.87 ppm with a maximum of 58.83, while dysprosium (Dy) had average values of 20.25 ppm and a maximum value of 286.29 ppm in auger samples.
Light rare earths (LREEs) show maximum values of 15,024 ppm (1.54%) with an average of 1,145 ppm. Neodymium (Nd) and praseodymium (Pr), the main magnetic light rare earths, show respective maximum values of 3,131 ppm (Nd) and 885 ppm (Pr) and average values of 216 ppm (Nd) and 61.7 ppm (Pr). The overall HRRE/LREE ratio in auger samples has a maximum of 39.5% and an average value of 16.67%.
The overall assay values of samples obtained to date are considered comparable to other ionic clay type rare earth deposits in Brazil such as Serra Verde and Araxa. Such deposits typically have relatively low rare earth values but typically present more easily processed material with good recoveries and can thus be highly cost competitive against high grade hard rock rare earth projects. The relatively high assay values for Pr, Nd, Tb and Dy, the most valuable magnetic rare earth elements, are positive for potential economic development of the project.
The available data indicates significant exploration potential in both the more explored western portion of the property and in the underexplored eastern portion of the property. The overall property is considered highly favourable for development of additional resources at potentially economic grades of rare earth mineralization, plus potential for recovery of niobium and scandium.
Appia announced its intention to acquire a 70% interest in the Cachoeirinha Rare Earths Ionic Clay Project (PCH Project) in Brazil on June 9, 2023. After extensive due diligence and sample testing, Appia announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire a 70% interest in the 17,551 hectare property on June 9, 2023. View the press release here.