Work Programme Approved for CRP’s Selenium Project
NEWS RELEASE 23- 2 February 6, 2023
WORK PROGRAMME APPROVED FOR CRP’S PACIFIC RARE EARTHS
SELENIUM EXPLORATION PERMIT AT GUNNERSIDE
WELLINGTON New Zealand – Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited (TSXV: “NZP” and NZX:
“Chatham” or the “Company") has moved another step forward with its selenium prospect
EPM 28676 as the Queensland Department of Resources has approved the exploration work
program for this prospect.
Exploration area EPM28606, near Hughenden in northern Queensland, with outcropping beds
of the seleniferous Toolebuc Formation limestones, is one of only two recognised hotspots in
Australia for highly seleniferous soils.
The other hotspot is at Tambo where the Company already holds EPM28606 covering 196 sq
km.
Exploration Licence EMP28676 covers an area of 19.6 sq km in the Richmond-Hughenden
region of North Queensland nominating selenium as the target. The area that is centred on
the local grazing/farming property of “Gunnerside” Station, is transected by the Flinders
Highway and the Townsville – Mt Isa rail line and is well served by local infrastructure in the
town of Hughenden 20km east of the area.
The shallow dipping and outcropping beds of Toolebuc limestone are up to 20m thick.
There is extensive existing geological data to the north and west of our EMP28676, mostly
from current and past vanadium exploration.
The exploration program will commence with soil sampling to identify drill sites.
Selenium minerals are rare, and although selenium-rich ores exist, few are mined exclusively
for the element. Most selenium is obtained as a by-product of copper ore processing.
Selenium is occasionally found in pure form. It occurs in the rare minerals clausthalite and
crooksite.
The inclusion of selenium in the Queensland Government schedule of New Economy Minerals
(NEM) recognises the significance of the mineral to the State. Selenium is to be found in its
inorganic state as in the seleniferous Toolebuc Formation and in the organic state in certain
plants.
The Company has an interest in both forms, both inorganic and organic, since selenium has
application in new technologies as well as in fertilizers and supplements for livestock in
selenium deficient areas of Australia and New Zealand.
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Pacific Rare Earths
Chatham’s wholly-owned Australian subsidiary, Avenir Makatea Pty Ltd, trading as Pacific
Rare Earths, made the application.
Pacific Rare Earths Limited (PRE) is the umbrella company for our existing rare earth elements
projects at Korella North, Korella Central and Korella South in Queensland, the Chatham Rise
project offshore New Zealand and the selenium project at Tambo.
For further information please contact:
Chris Castle
President and Chief Executive Officer
Chatham Rock Phosphate Limited
64 21 55 81 85 or chris@crpl.co.nz
Statements about the Company's future expectations and all other statements in this press release other than
historical facts are "forward looking statements". Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous
assumptions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including risks inherent in
mineral exploration and development, which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the
Company to be materially different from any projected future results, performance, or achievements expressed
or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Neither the Exchange, its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined under the policies of the Exchange),
or NZX Limited has in any way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and associated transactions and has
neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.
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