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Multi-disciplinary characterisation of the splinter rock clay-hosted REE prospect, Western Australia
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Multi-disciplinary characterisation of the splinter rock clay-hosted REE prospect, Western Australia

Nathan Reid, Robert Thorne, Mario Iglesias-Martínez, Heta Lampinen, Aaron Davis, Tobias G. Bamforth, Catherine Spaggiari, Rong Fan, Nathan A. S. Webster, Tenten Pinchand, …
Ore geology reviews, Vol.86, 106929
2025
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Published27.17 MBDownloadView
CC BY V4.0 Open Access

Abstract

Global efforts to find rare earth elements (REEs – including La to Lu, Y, and Sc) are increasingly focusing on clay-rich layers found in weathered landscapes, especially those formed from alkaline granites. These REEs are vital for modern technologies. In southern Western Australia, the Esperance region is now seen as a promising area for REEs in clay-rich regolith. However, how natural processes and climate have moved REEs into these materials is not fully understood. This study used a multi-disciplinary approach to better understand the Splinter Rock REE project. We combined detailed regolith mapping with airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys to study the regolith and identify different clay layers. We also combined detailed geochemical and spectral mineralogy to analyse the regolith layers and figure out which ones are most important for REE accumulation.

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