Litchfield Minerals has obtained an exploration licence for the Lucy Creek tenement, EL 33568, in Australia for an initial six-year term.

Located around 400km north-east of Alice Springs, the early-stage exploration project covers an area of 791.64km².

The company has identified the project as being prospective for various mineral deposits, including high-grade manganese-iron, rare earth elements (REEs) and potential cobalt mineralisation.

The granted tenement, EL33568, comprises 250 blocks. It is situated along the Plenty road, north-east of Alice Springs, and includes significant geological features such as the Lucy Creek and Halfway Dam Manganese outcrops and alluvials.

Litchfield Minerals managing director Matthew Pustahya said: “The granting of our second exploration licence is great news for Litchfield as it now provides Litchfield with exploration optionality.

“In the short term, we have commenced desk top studies on Lucy Creek, while the company focuses its exploration activities on the Mount Doreen tenement.”

According to historical sample assays, the area is highly prospective for high-grade manganese.

In addition to manganese, the historical assays have indicated the presence of anomalous concentrations of REEs, cobalt, silver, lead, barite and zinc as secondary mineralisation.

In March 2024, Litchfield Minerals commenced the maiden drilling programme at the Silver King prospect, which sits in the Mount Doreen tenement in the Northern Territory.