Yangibana REE Project Update

RNS Number : 1947S

Rare Earth Minerals PLC

16 March 2016

Rare Earth Minerals Plc.

("Rare Earth Minerals", "REM" or "the Company")

Yangibana REE Project Update & Grant of Additional Mining Licenses

Rare Earth Mineral Plc (AIM: REM) advises that Hastings Rare Metals Limited ("Hastings"), REM's 70% joint venture partner in the Yangibana Rare Earths Elements ("REE") Project ("Yangibana") in Western Australia, has announced the grant of additional mining licenses over the Yangibana Project inclusive of licenses owned by the joint venture. The full Hastings news release dated 14 March 2016 is available at: http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20160314/pdf/435t45yy7js94g.pdf. In addition on the 11 March 2016 Hastings released their Interim Financial Report for the period ending 31 December 2015 which contains information in relation to the licenses owned by the joint venture. The full Hastings news release dated 11 March 2016 is available at: http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20160310/pdf/435qmjhd45x36l.pdf The Hastings releases also contains information on areas and licenses which REM has no interest.

HIGHLIGHTS ON JOINT VENTURE ASSETS (30% interest owned by REM)

· Additional Mining Leases ("ML") Granted - covering resources and targets at Bald Hill North and Yangibana prospects (M 09/161 and M 09/163 respectively)

· A total of 3 ML granted under the joint venture which now covers some 31.2 km², all of the MLs are free of Native Title.

· The JORC resource estimated for two of these three MLs (previously announced 06/10/2015):

o Indicated Resources at these assets now stand at 2.7 million tonnes at 1.46% TREO** containing 0.50% Nd₂O₃-Eq*

o Inferred Resources at these assets now stand at 0.6 million tonnes at 1.28% TREO** containing 0.46% Nd₂O₃-Eq*

· Pre-Feasibility Study that commenced in early 2015 is nearing completion. Processing test work is advanced, infrastructure sites selected for all major components.

· Mine designs based on optimised open pits and waste dumps have been designed on ML N/159 (Yangibana North).

Further diagrams of the granted mining licenses and the Yangibana North open pit and waste dump designs are available at: http://www.rareearthmineralsplc.com/files/7314/5804/6456/Yangibana_License_Map_and_Pit_Design.pdf

Details of Ownership:

On 1 December 2011, REM announced that it had acquired a 30% free carried interest to Bankable Feasibility Study ("BFS") of the Yangibana North Rare Earth Deposit. The exploration costs until the commencement of the BFS are therefore borne solely by Hastings Rare Metals Limited (70% owners and operator). The same terms agreed and announced on 1 December 2012 also apply to Gossan, Hook, Kanes Gossan, Lions Ear and Bald Hill North. The gross and net attributable mineral resources to REM are set out below at both a nil cut-off and at a 0.25% Nd₂O₃-Eq.

Table 1- Joint Venture properties, JORC Resource with no cut-off. Operator is Hastings

Gross
Mineral Resource Category	Tonnes	Grade						Contained Metals (metric tonnes)
Indicated	Million tonnes	% TREO	% Nd₂O₃-Eq	ppm Nd₂O₃	ppm Pr₂O₃	ppm Dy₂O₃	ppm Eu₂O₃	TREO	Nd₂O₃-Eq	Nd₂O₃	Pr₂O₃	Dy₂O₃	Eu₂O₃
Yangibana North	2.718	1.46%	0.50%	3,061	910	43	89	39,683	13,590	8,320	2,473	117	242
Sub-Total	2.718	1.46%	0.50%	3,061	910	43	89	39,683	13,590	8,320	2,473	117	242
Inferred
Yangibana North	0.471	1.46%	0.50%	3,061	910	43	89	6,877	2,355	1,442	429	20	42
Gossan	0.221	1.07%	0.34%	2,132	660	22	55	2,365	751	471	146	5	12
Lion's Ear	0.842	1.42%	0.47%	2,844	846	42	81	11,956	3,957	2,395	712	35	68
Hook	0.349	1.09%	0.31%	1,866	611	30	49	3,804	1,082	651	213	10	17
Kanes Gossan	0.578	1.16%	0.41%	2,520	773	42	57	6,705	2,370	1,457	447	24	33
Bald Hill North	0.102	0.43%	0.25%	1,582	327	39	43	439	255	161	33	4	4
Sub-Total	2.563	1.25%	0.42%	2,566	773	39	69	32,145	10,771	6,577	1,980	99	177
Total	5.281	1.36%	0.46%	2,821	843	41	79	71,828	24,361	14,897	4,454	216	419
Net attributable (30%)
Mineral Resource Category	Tonnes	Grade						Contained Metals (metric tonnes)
Indicated	Million tonnes	% TREO	% Nd₂O₃-Eq	ppm Nd₂O₃	ppm Pr₂O₃	ppm Dy₂O₃	ppm Eu₂O₃	TREO	Nd₂O₃-Eq	Nd₂O₃	Pr₂O₃	Dy₂O₃	Eu₂O₃
Yangibana North	0.815	1.46%	0.50%	3,061	910	43	89	11,905	4,077	2,496	742	35	73
Sub-Total	0.815	1.46%	0.50%	3,061	910	43	89	11,905	4,077	2,496	742	35	73
Inferred
Yangibana North	0.141	1.46%	0.50%	3,061	910	43	89	2,063	707	433	129	6	13
Gossan	0.066	1.07%	0.34%	2,132	660	22	55	709	225	141	44	1	4
Lion's Ear	0.253	1.42%	0.47%	2,844	846	42	81	3,587	1,187	718	214	11	20
Hook	0.105	1.09%	0.31%	1,866	611	30	49	1,141	325	195	64	3	5
Kanes Gossan	0.173	1.16%	0.41%	2,520	773	42	57	2,011	711	437	134	7	10
Bald Hill North	0.031	0.43%	0.25%	1,582	327	39	43	132	77	48	10	1	1
Sub-Total	0.769	1.25%	0.42%	2,566	773	39	69	9,644	3,231	1,973	594	30	53
Total	1.584	1.36%	0.46%	2,821	843	41	79	21,548	7,308	4,469	1,336	65	126

Note: All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate and have been used to derive sub-totals, totals and weighted averages. Such calculations inherently involve a degree of rounding and consequently introduce a margin of error. Where these occur, REM does not consider them to be material.

Table 2- Joint Venture properties, JORC Resource at a 0.25%Nd2O3-Eq cut-off. Operator is Hastings

Gross
Mineral Resource Category	Tonnes	Grade						Contained Metals (metric tonnes)
Indicated	Million tonnes	% TREO	% Nd₂O₃-Eq	ppm Nd₂O₃	ppm Pr₂O₃	ppm Dy₂O₃	ppm Eu₂O₃	TREO	Nd₂O₃-Eq	Nd₂O₃	Pr₂O₃		Dy₂O₃		Eu₂O₃
Yangibana North	2.491	1.55%	0.53%	3,235	962	45	94	38,611	13,202	8,058	2,396		112		234
Sub-Total	2.491	1.55%	0.53%	3,235	962	45	94	38,611	13,202	8,058	2,396		112		234
Inferred
Yangibana North	0.425	1.55%	0.53%	3,235	962	45	94	6,588	2,253	1,375	409		19		40
Gossan	0.150	1.34%	0.42%	2,636	824	24	64	2,010	630	395	124		4		10
Lion's Ear	0.789	1.47%	0.48%	2,949	875	44	84	11,598	3,787	2,327	690		35		66
Hook	0.177	1.64%	0.46%	2,783	919	39	69	2,903	814	493	163		7		12
Kanes Gossan	0.494	1.29%	0.45%	2,795	859	46	63	6,373	2,223	1,381	424		23		31
Bald Hill North	0.054	0.57%	0.34%	2,112	437	56	61	308	184	114	24		3		3
Sub-Total	2.089	1.43%	0.47%	2,913	878	43	78	29,779	9,891	6,084	1,833		90		162
Total	4.580	1.49%	0.50%	3,088	924	44	87	68,390	23,093	14,143	4,230		202		397
Net attributable (30%)
Mineral Resource Category	Tonnes	Grade						Contained Metals (metric tonnes)
Indicated	Million tonnes	% TREO	% Nd₂O₃-Eq	ppm Nd₂O₃	ppm Pr₂O₃	ppm Dy₂O₃	ppm Eu₂O₃	TREO	Nd₂O₃-Eq	Nd₂O₃		Pr₂O₃		Dy₂O₃		Eu₂O₃
Yangibana North	0.747	1.55%	0.53%	3,235	962	45	94	11,583	3,961	2,418		719		34		70
Sub-Total	0.747	1.55%	0.53%	3,235	962	45	94	11,583	3,961	2,418		719		34		70
Inferred
Yangibana North	0.128	1.55%	0.53%	3,235	962	45	94	1,976	676	412		123		6		12
Gossan	0.045	1.34%	0.42%	2,636	824	24	64	603	189	119		37		1		3
Lion's Ear	0.237	1.47%	0.48%	2,949	875	44	84	3,479	1,136	698		207		10		20
Hook	0.053	1.64%	0.46%	2,783	919	39	69	871	244	148		49		2		4
Kanes Gossan	0.148	1.29%	0.45%	2,795	859	46	63	1,912	667	414		127		7		9
Bald Hill North	0.016	0.57%	0.34%	2,112	437	56	61	92	55	34		7		1		1
Sub-Total	0.627	1.43%	0.47%	2,913	878	43	78	8,934	2,967	1,825		550		27		49
Total	1.374	1.49%	0.50%	3,088	924	44	87	20,517	6,928	4,243		1,269		61		119

Qualified Person:

Kiran Morzaria B.Eng. (ACSM), MBA, has reviewed and approved the information contained in this announcement. Kiran holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial Geology) from the Camborne School of Mines and an MBA (Finance) from CASS Business School.

Glossary:

Indicated Mineral Resource	That part of a mineral resource for which quantity, grade (or quality), densities, shape and physical characteristics are estimated with sufficient confidence to allow the application of Modifying Factors in sufficient detail to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit.
Inferred Mineral Resource	That part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade (or quality) are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling.
Nd₂O₃-Eq*	The Nd₂O₃ equivalent (Nd₂O₃-Eq) values have been calculated using a mixture of prices for Nd₂O₃, Pr₂O₃, Dy₂O₃ and Eu₂O₃ as laid out in the Hastings release.
TREO**	The sum of the oxides of the heavy rare earth elements (HREO) and the light rare earth elements (LREO).
JORC	Joint Ore Reserves Committee. The Joint Ore Reserves Committee produces the JORC Code: a professional code of practice that sets minimum standards for Public Reporting of minerals Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves.
Nd₂O₃	Neodymium(III) oxide
Pr₂O₃	Praseodymium(III) oxide
Dy₂O₃	Dysprosium(III) oxide
Eu₂O₃	Europium(III) oxide