Bayan stakes ground near Mountain Pass rare earth mine
Australia-listed Bayan Mining and Minerals has secured a strategic foothold in one of the world’s most prospective rare earth element (REE) corridors, filing staking applications for 72 federal lode claims in California’s eastern Mojave desert.
The newly named Desert Star project spans about 6 km² and lies just 4.5 km from MP Materials’ Mountain Pass REE mine, the only active rare earth mine in the US and one of the richest globally. The project is also situated 4.7 km from Dateline Resources’ Colosseum project.
According to Bayan, the Desert Star claims lie within the same Precambrian terrane that hosts Mountain Pass, featuring favourable potassic alkaline intrusives and radiometric signatures consistent with carbonatite-hosted REE systems. Elevated potassium, thorium, and uranium values – alongside observed barite occurrences and surface radioactivity – add weight to the project's early stage geological promise.
A desktop review is currently under way, with field reconnaissance and rock chip sampling to start shortly. The company aims to define priority targets for future exploration.
Bayan has also secured A$250 000 in funding through a placement at A$0.04 a share, a 14.3% premium to its last closing price, to support initial work programmes. The placement attracted both new and existing sophisticated and professional investors.
The Desert Star project benefits from strong infrastructure links. It lies about 85 km south-west of Las Vegas and is accessible via Interstate 15, with nearby high-voltage transmission infrastructure and a Union Pacific rail line within 25 km.
In addition to REE potential, the region is also considered prospective for gold and antimony, further enhancing its appeal amid surging demand for critical minerals tied to energy security and defence supply chains.
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