Idaho Strategic announces results of 2023 Mineral Hill exploration program

Idaho Strategic Resources announced the results of its 2023 Mineral Hill exploration program, which included mapping, sampling and evaluation for development. These efforts resulted in the discovery of a new pink carbonatite, which yielded 34.1% total rare earth oxides. Bulk sampling along both the known and newly discovered carbonatite trends may contain some of the highest grade REE values ever identified in the Mineral Hill District. The Upper Roberts’ carbonatite trend is made up of multiple-colored, multi-grade carbonatites. Mapping this summer indicated a new parallel exposure of pink carbonatite, immediately adjacent to the main pale-yellow carbonatite discovered last year. This pink unit was continuously traceable along trend of the pale-yellow carbonatite for approximately 200 feet with up to 24-inc thicknesses. One sample from this newly discovered carbonatite went as high as 34.1% TREO which includes greater than4% Neodymium-Praseodymium. The pale-yellow carbonatite, previously reported on July 13, 2023, contains abundant sand-sized monazite crystals, and assayed 23.5% TREE or 28.2% TREO. Mineralogy analysis is still pending, but the rare earth ore mineral is dominantly monazite, although bastnaesite and ancylite were also observed. An additional pale green carbonatite was mapped and noted to contain ilmenite with magnetite crystals, which measure up to 2 inches. REE grades of this pale green carbonatite yield values between 1 and 3% TREO. The carbonatite trend was traced approximately 1/2 mile with variable thicknesses between 2 to 5 feet. Idaho Strategic’s President and CEO, John Swallow added, “I am extremely pleased with the grades discovered at the Upper Roberts occurrence within our Mineral Hill REE Project. To be able to provide samples like this to interested parties looking to advance the U.S.’ rare earth supply chain is invaluable to Idaho Strategic. Our track record of responsible production within the state of Idaho and our ability to advance mineral deposits in-house from exploration to production has provided us a leg up on others in the REE and broader critical minerals industry. Given we operate in our own backyard, we understand firsthand the responsibility of working in someone else’s.”