REG - Focus Xplore PLC - Exploration Update

Focus XploreAnnouncement

02/06/2025 07:00

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RNS Number : 8969K  Focus Xplore PLC  02 June 2025

02 June 2025

 

Focus Xplore PLC

('Focus Xplore' or the 'Company')

 

 Exploration Update

 

Bay Road Rare Earth Element Project

 

Focus Xplore PLC (AIM: FOX), the strategic energy and critical minerals
exploration and development company, is pleased to provide an update on its
ongoing exploration programme at the Company's Bay Road rare earth element
(REE) project.

At Bay Road, a 6 kilometre-long felsic dyke(1) recorded by the Ontario
Geological Survey ("OGS") is interpreted by Focus Xplore's technical team to
be related to nearby lake sediments(2) that are highly anomalous for REE
dysprosium and neodymium.

The Company has leveraged Planetary AI's Xplore system utilising full
resolution LiDAR(3) data to significantly enhance the identification of linear
geological features across the project area. The technical team identified a
selection of these linear features as potential felsic intrusive rocks and
pegmatites matching the trend of the historically mapped felsic dyke.

Geologists in the field have confirmed that multiple pegmatitic features
within felsic intrusive rocks are associated with linear features identified
from the LiDAR data. These have been mapped and sampled as part of the ongoing
field programme.

Patrick Cullen, Chief Executive Officer of Focus Xplore, commented:

"At Bay Road, our research connected a prospective geological target and lake
sediments we know are highly anomalous for some of the key 'magnet metals',
dysprosium and neodymium. I am pleased to report we have made immediate
progress, successfully making the connection between our desktop
interpretations and observations made in the field.

 

Applying Planetary AI's Xplore system has given us an advantage here, enabling
us to detect and enhance target features that were not visible when we first
reviewed the LiDAR data, and giving us the ability to guide the geologists
directly to key areas of interest.

 

The observations are promising. The next step is to gather all the field data
together and perform further analyses of samples back in Thunder Bay. I look
forward to providing further updates on this and the activities at our other
projects."

 

APPLICATION OF LIDAR DATA

Prior to the commencement of field exploration activities at Bay Road, the
Focus Xplore technical team reviewed available pre-processed LiDAR(3) raster
image files in order to identify lineations that may be associated with a
felsic dyke noted on OGS mapping(1). However, while this approach did identify
multiple linear features, significant uncertainty remained regarding their
size and prospectivity, and lineations matching the target trend proved
difficult to identify with confidence.

To overcome this uncertainty, Focus Xplore's technical team, worked with
Planetary AI using their proprietary Xplore system to complete a review of the
raw, full resolution LiDAR data (derived from available .LAZ format files)
over the Bay Road Project, to enhance linear features which are interpreted to
be associated with pegmatites and felsic intrusions matching the trend of the
historically mapped felsic dyke. Two examples of the linear features
interpreted by this method are shown below in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1: Processed LiDAR imagery from Bay Road showing previously
unidentified linear features, field confirmed location of pegmatites and the
location of highly anomalous Dy and Nd in lake sediment results.

Of note in Figure 1 (above) is the linear feature, inferred to be related to
the historically mapped felsic dyke, which passes through the centre of a
small lake. Assays of lake sediment samples located as shown indicate the
presence of highly anomalous(2) dysprosium (Dy) and neodymium (Nd), alongside
other rare earth elements.

Figure 2: Processed LiDAR imagery from Bay Road showing the previously
unidentified linear features, field confirmed location of pegmatites and
regional scale faulting.

In another example, multiple linear features were identified in the east of
the property and inferred by the Focus Xplore technical team to represent
pegmatitic and/or felsic intrusive rocks.

PRELIMINARY FIELDWORK RESULTS

Fladgate Exploration Consulting Corporation ("Fladgate") were commissioned to
conduct prospecting, geological mapping and sampling at the Bay Road Project.
Pre-planning included providing the field team with the locations of the
linear target features discussed above, as well as access routes and a series
of exploratory target areas for investigation.

During the programme, the Fladgate geologists identified multiple occurrences
of felsic intrusive and pegmatitic rocks, including exposures demonstrating
orientations which appear to correlate with the historically mapped felsic
dyke, examples are indicated in Figures 1 and 2 (above). Based on field
observations and sample descriptions, the intrusive units encountered exhibit
mineralogical characteristics consistent with fractionated, fertile granites,
which is a geological setting considered prospective for economic
mineralisation of some critical minerals including REE.

BACKGROUND TO THE BAY ROAD PROJECT

The Bay Road Project covers 425 hectares directly south of the fertile White
Otter Batholith(1) and is prospective for REE. The property is centred around
a 6 kilometre-long felsic dyke(1) mapped by the Ontario Geological Survey.
As shown in Figure 3 below, this intrusive feature has a spatial relationship
with highly anomalous REE(2) in lake sediment assays collected on the
property, as part of regional scale geochemical sampling programmes,
specifically the 'magnet metals' dysprosium and neodymium used in the
manufacture of modern permanent magnets.

Although mapped, the geometry, extent and mineralogy of the felsic intrusive
rock mapped on the property has remained an unknown, but critical aspect, of
the Bay Road Project

 

Figure 3: Location of the mapped felsic dyke on Bay Road and highly anomalous
neodymium (Nd) and dysprosium (Dy) in lake sediment assays.

NEXT STEPS

Samples from the Bay Road Project will be analysed using a portable X-ray
fluorescence (pXRF) analyser prior to submission of samples to an accredited
laboratory for chemical assay. The pXRF will provide preliminary elemental
data, including insights into the presence of key elements and mineral phases.

REFERENCES

1: Santaguida, F., 2001, Ontario Geological Survey, Precambrian Geology
Compilation Series - Quetico Sheet, 2000 Series Map (M2663).

2: Dyer, R.D., 1999, Lake Sediment and Water Geochemistry Data from the
Atikokan-Lumby Lake Area, Northwestern Ontario (MRD043); Jackson, J.E. 2003,
Lake Sediment Geochemical Data from the Ignace Survey Area, Northwestern
Ontario: Operation Treasure Hunt (MRD118); Dyer, R.D., Burke, H.E. 2012, Lake
Sediment and Water Geochemical Data from the Mine Centre Area, Northwestern
Ontario (MRD296).

3: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, accessed 1 May 2025,
Forest Resources Inventory leaf-on LiDAR, Ontario GeoHub
.

QUALIFIED PERSON STATEMENT

The technical information contained in this disclosure has been reviewed and
approved by Mr Nick O'Reilly (MSc, DIC, MIMMM QMR, MAusIMM, FGS), who is a
qualified geologist and acts as the Qualified Person under the AIM Rules -
Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies. Mr O'Reilly is a principal
consultant working for Mining Analyst Consulting Ltd which is providing
independent technical review to Focus Xplore PLC.

GLOSSARY

Batholith - a type of igneous rock that forms when magma rises into the
earth's crust but does not erupt onto the surface.

Critical mineral - while there is no universally accepted definition of a
critical mineral, it is commonly agreed that critical minerals have specific
industrial, technological or strategic applications for which there are few
viable substitutes. These minerals are economically important and can be
subject to supply risk.

Felsic dyke/intrusion - is a dyke or other intrusion of igneous rock that is
predominantly composed of felsic minerals, such as quartz, feldspar, and
muscovite.

.LAZ format - file format is a compressed version of the LAS (LiDAR Aerial
Survey) file format used for storing LiDAR data.

LiDAR - Light Detection and Ranging is a remote sensing method that uses light
in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distances) commonly
used to generate precise, three-dimensional information of the elevation of
the Earth's surface.

Pegmatite - an igneous rock with a very coarse, irregular texture that forms
during the final stage of a magma's crystallisation.

Ppm - a concentration in parts per million

Raster image file - a two-dimensional image file represented as a rectangular
matrix or grid of pixels viewable via a computer display and characterized by
the width and height of the image in pixels and by the number of bits per
pixel.

X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) - A non-destructive analytical technique used to
determine the elemental composition of materials. When a sample is exposed to
high-energy X-rays, its atoms emit secondary (fluorescent) X-rays at
characteristic energies unique to each element. By measuring these energies
and their intensities, XRF instruments can rapidly identify and quantify
major, minor, and trace elements in solids, powders, or liquids. As well as
being a longstanding laboratory tool, portable, hand held "pXRF" analysers are
quickly becoming standard in modern exploration.

 

This announcement contains inside information as stipulated under the Market
Abuse Regulations (EU) no. 596/2014.

**ENDS**

 

Enquiries:

 

 Patrick Cullen                      info@focusXplore.com                Focus Xplore PLC                                                                Chief Executive Officer
 James Biddle                        +44 (0) 207 628 3396                Beaumont Cornish Limited                                                        Nominated Adviser

 Roland Cornish
 Jason Robertson                     +44 (0) 207 374 2212                First Equity Limited                                                            Corporate Broker
 Corporate Website: www.focusXplore.com (http://www.focusXplore.com)     LinkedIn: Focus Xplore PLC (https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-xplore-plc)  X: @focusXplore (https://x.com/focusxplore)

 

 

Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's Nominated
Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish's
responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser, including a
responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under
the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed
solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and
will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections
afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to
the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter
referred to in it.

 

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