AuKing Mining (ASX:AKN) has intersected carbonatite in 26 of 27 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes at its Tundulu Rare Earth Project in Malawi, with step-out drilling intersecting carbonatite 800m east at Tundulu Hill.
The company has completed more than 3,850m of drilling across 27 holes of its proposed 15,000m combined RC and diamond drilling program. Geological logging has confirmed carbonatite intersections in every drill hole across Kamilala Hill and Tundulu Hill, which the company says indicates continuity across three of six interpreted carbonatite complexes within the broader project area.
Cumulative logged carbonatite exceeds 2,000m across the program, with nine drill holes containing more than 100m of logged carbonatite.
Managing Director Paul Williams says drilling is progressing well.
“We reported recently that one of the striking features from the early drilling at Tundulu is the interpreted carbonatite intersections across almost all of the drill holes to date, and not just those holes in and around Nathace Hill, but also areas to the west and north-east of that main area,” Williams says.
“This interpreted carbonatite continues over to the east of Tundulu Hill, all of which significantly increases the potential carbonatite footprint beyond our initial expectations. Of course, we await the assay results from this drilling before drawing any formal conclusions, but Tundulu clearly has the potential to be a much larger system than was first thought.”
AuKing has completed more than 3,600m of RC drilling across Nathace Hill, Kamilala Hill, and Tundulu Hill, with a further three RC holes planned.
Drill samples are currently being prepared for laboratory analysis to determine the nature and extent of any associated rare earth mineralisation. The company says it will integrate geological logging and laboratory assay results with historical drilling data and airborne magnetic survey interpretations to refine the geological model and guide subsequent diamond drilling.
AuKing’s Tundulu Project lies within exploration licence EL0731/24, which covers approximately 91.5km2 and was granted on 27 May 2024. Three complexes at Makhanga Hill, Namuka Hill, and Chigwakwalu Hill remain untested for rare earth mineralisation.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: AuKing Mining
