Appia Acquires Two New Auger Drills and Launches New Drill Program at Gaia Target Adjacent to Taygeta and Merope, PCH REE Project, Brazil

Core Viewpoint - Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. has initiated Phase 1 of a new auger drilling campaign targeting the Gaia area within the PCH rare-earth element project in Brazil, aiming to evaluate its rare earth potential [1][2][3]. Group 1: Drilling Campaign Details - The company has acquired two auger drill rigs and plans to conduct a total of 241 holes, starting with the first 100 holes [1]. - The Gaia target was selected due to its geological and geophysical similarities to the previously successful Taygeta and Merope zones, which have shown high-grade ionic-adsorption clay mineralization [1][3]. - Drilling is scheduled to commence by August 1, 2025 [1]. Group 2: Geological Context - The PCH property features two distinct styles of critical rare earth element mineralization: Ionic Adsorption Clays (IAC) and high-grade carbonatitic breccia [4]. - The terrain is characterized by gently rolling hills and is conveniently located 15 minutes from a nearby mining town, facilitating infrastructure access [4]. Group 3: Economic Considerations - IAC mineralization is noted for its easier extraction process, resulting in significantly lower operating and capital costs due to the absence of blasting, crushing, and milling [5]. - The extraction process utilizes ammonium sulfate, a cost-effective fertilizer, which eliminates the need for tailings storage facilities [5]. Group 4: Market Demand - The PCH project contains significant amounts of heavy rare earths, which are increasingly in demand for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and other clean energy applications [6].