** Shares of Australian Rare Earths AR3.AX fall as much as 9.5% to A$0.190, their lowest since December 23
** AR3 down 17.4% this week, on track to hit its worst since late October
** Mineral explorer raises A$6 million ($4.20 million) at an issue price of A$0.185 per share
** Issue price is at a discount of 8.8% to stock's last closing
** Funds from placement to be used to make progress on Koppamurra Rare Earths project
** Near 1.1 million shares change hands, 1.6x the 30-day average volume
** Stock has fallen 7.3% this year, including the day's move
($1 = 1.4286 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Roshan Thomas in Bengaluru)
((Roshan.Thomas@thomsonreuters.com;))