Nolans Bore Deposit
Nolans Bore Deposit, Nolan's Bore (Western Australia)The Nolans Bore rare earth element-phosphorus-uranium-thorium deposit.Deposit type: Magmatic, CarbonatitePrincipal minerals: allanite, monazite, Ore minerals: (U, Th)Gangue minerals: apatite, phosphate Average grade: 0,6 %Host rock types: carbonatiteStatus: OccurrenceCompany: Arafura Resources NL (1999)
130 km N of Alica Springs, 8 km W of Stuart Hwy. In places REE grades excedes 10%.
The deposit contains an estimated 30.3 Mt of rare-earth mineral resources, at an average grade of 2.81%, resulting in an estimated 850 kt of rare-earth oxides present. In addition to the production of rare earths, the project is of interest for co-products of uranium oxide and phosphate, and a gypsum by-product.
The rare earths at Nolans Bore are contained in several minerals, primarily apatite and monazite (both phosphate minerals) and allanite (a rare-earth silicate). Thorium and uranium levels have consistent values.
The Nolans Bore deposit, located in the Aileron Province of south-central Northern Territory. It consists of steeply northwest dipping apatite veins.
References
http://www.techmetalsresearch.com/2011/07/a-visit-to-arafura-resources-nolans-bore-rare-earth-project/
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-03/rare-earth-mine-on-track-for-central-australia/5715100
http://e-sga.org/shop/product-details/?categories_id[0]=31&categories_id[1]=45&products_id=2132&tx_multishop_pi1[page_section]=products_detail
http://mrdata.usgs.gov/ree/show-ree.php?rec_id=66
@ Ph.D. Natalia Petrovskaya
June, 2016
nataliapetrovsky@gmail.com