Basin Energy Engages Drilling Contractors and Secures Access Agreement for Sybella-Barkly Uranium and Rare Earth Targets
Basin Energy Limited (ASX: BSN) (“Basin” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce strong progress towards its maiden drilling program at the Sybella-Barkly Project in northwest Queensland, with drilling contractors engaged and land access agreements executed ahead of the first exploration campaign targeting high-impact rare earth and uranium systems.
The upcoming program will comprise approximately 3,000 metres of drilling across 80 holes, testing both district-scale sediment-hosted ionic clay rare earth potential and paleochannel roll front uranium systems along trend from the uranium-rich Sybella Granite.
Initial drilling will focus on shallow rare earth mineralisation, supported by $150,000 in Queensland Government funding, before shifting to uranium-focused targets defined by airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys. Drill site preparations are complete and mobilisation is underway, with drilling scheduled to commence within a week.
Managing Director Comment
“We are pleased to be working with the team at United Drilling Services on our maiden program targeting these district-scale rare earth and uranium opportunities at our recently acquired Sybella Barkly project. Our first drill campaign will target shallow clay and sediment hosted rare earth elements. We then intend to move on to fence line drilling designed to assess the paleochannel architecture critical in unpicking the concept for shallow roll front uranium potential. This will be the first pass drilling ever completed on two exciting district scale concepts.
We are also commencing preparation works for a reverse circulation drilling program targeting hard rock REE potential, analogous to the Red Metal Sybella discovery, however this drilling will not commence until Q2 2026.
On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank all those involved in pulling this program together in a professional manner under tight time constraints.”
— Pete Moorhouse, Managing Director
Program Overview
Basin has engaged United Drilling Services to execute the maiden 3,000m campaign, comprising ~45 holes (1,600m) targeting sediment-hosted ionic clay REE mineralisation and ~35 holes (1,400m) targeting paleochannel uranium systems.
The Company has also finalised a Conduct and Compensation Agreement (CCA) with the Australian Cattle and Beef Company for exploration at Barkly Station, with an additional agreement covering Ardmore Station in progress.
All drill sites have been visited and pegged, and equipment is being staged in Mount Isa ahead of mobilisation. The program will utilise existing access tracks to minimise ground disturbance.
Sybella-Barkly Rare Earth and Uranium Potential
The Sybella-Barkly Project lies west of Mount Isa and covers a vast area underlain by the Sybella Batholith, which is known to host Red Metal’s Sybella rare earth discovery. Basin’s recent soil geochemistry has confirmed widespread anomalism exceeding 600 ppm TREO, correlating with a laterally extensive AEM anomaly interpreted to be a granite-derived clay horizon—a prime target for ionic clay REE mineralisation.
Subsequent phases will assess the potential for uranium roll front systems within paleochannels fed by the Sybella Granite, which has been linked by academic research as the source of Paladin Energy’s Valhalla uranium deposits. Despite extensive historical exploration for base metals and phosphates, these uranium and REE targets remain untested by drilling.
Next Steps
With equipment mobilisation imminent, drilling is expected to commence within a week, initially targeting REE-bearing clays before progressing to the uranium-rich paleochannel system.
In parallel, Basin is preparing a reverse circulation (RC) program for Q2 2026 to test hard rock REE potential, analogous to recent regional discoveries.
About us:
About Basin Energy
Basin Energy (ASX: BSN) is a green energy metals exploration and development company with an interest in three highly prospective uranium projects positioned in the southeast corner and margins of the world-renowned Athabasca Basin in Canada, and 100% ownership in significant portfolios of uranium-green energy metals exploration assets located in Scandinavia and uranium-REE assets west of Mount Isa in Queensland, Australia.
Contact details:
Media & Investor Enquiries:
Pete Moorhouse – Managing Director
[email protected] | +61 7 3667 7449
Chloe Hayes – Investor & Media Relations
[email protected] | +61 458 619 317
