#United States #Rare Earth Elements #San Bernardino #Locksley Resources #Mojave Project

Locksley Resources Expands Rare Earth Exploration in California

Locksley Resources Limited, an Australian explorer focused on critical minerals, has recently announced plans to enhance its exploration initiatives within the North Block of the Mojave Project in California. This expansion comes as the company aims to define high-priority rare earth elements (REE) and antimony target areas through an extensive structural and geological mapping campaign set to commence later this month.

Key Highlights of the Initiative

This new endeavor will include the mapping of four priority areas, with two sites specifically tuned to assess the potential for REE within the North Block of the Mojave Project, and the other two sites focusing on extending mineralization identified at the Desert Antimony Prospect. Furthermore, Locksley has engaged contractors to conduct focused surveys involving magnetic, radiometric, and gravity methods to gather high-resolution data sets that will aid in refining and prioritizing the targets.

The North Block is thought to possess considerable potential for discovering polymetallic deposits across its approximately 20 square kilometers, thus expanding the critical minerals footprint within the Mojave Project. The technical team at Locksley is actively pursuing high-priority targets, building upon the established REE potential evident at the El Campo site.

Strategic Importance of the Project

The announcement underscores the importance of rare earth elements in today’s technological climate, particularly given that El Campo has reported impressively high-grade rock chip results, showing values as high as 12.1% TREO (Total Rare Earth Oxides) and Neodymium/Praseodymium ratios reaching 3.19%. Nathan Lude, chairman of Locksley Resources, pointed out that this program aims to capitalize on the REE potential found near the Mountain Pass Mine, the only operating rare earths mine in the United States, located adjacent to Locksley’s North Block.

The recent strategic investments made by the U.S. Department of Defense and tech giant Apple in MP Materials have further amplified the spotlight on critical minerals, marking a significant recognition by both government and industry of the pressing need for domestic REE resources. This need is partly driven by geopolitical concerns around supply chain diversification away from existing dominance in China—a critical supplier of both REE and antimony worldwide.

Future Outlook

The upcoming field mapping programs represent a strategic move to gather vital data that may unveil new REE targets for further exploration later in the year. Given the increasing demand for rare earth elements and their multifaceted applications in industries ranging from defense systems to electronics, this project stands to play a key role in the broader context of U.S. mineral independence and economic security efforts.

Locksley Resources, with its assets spread across both the U.S. and Australia, is committed to advancing its exploration endeavors. The Mojave Project, consisting of more than 250 claims, is uniquely positioned to align with U.S. strategic objectives concerning critical mineral independence. In addition to REE, the project encompasses the historic Desert Antimony Mine, which has not been operational since 1937. Despite the limited domestic output of antimony in the U.S., the demand remains high due to its essential applications in various high-tech sectors.

In conclusion, as Locksley Resources prepares to start this detailed mapping campaign, the implications of its findings could resonate well beyond the Mojave Desert, potentially influencing national policies surrounding critical mineral resources and international trade dynamics in the years to come.