Connected Minerals (ASX:CML) says preparations are underway for a maiden 6,000m reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling program at the Bailundo Carbonatite Project in Angola.
The company has scheduled drilling to begin this month, subject to mobilisation progressing as planned.
Frontier Group CRM, which holds an indirect 80% interest in Bailundo, has executed the drilling contracts and begun mobilising equipment. Connected completed its acquisition of Frontier on 7 August 2026 after shareholders approved the transaction on 28 July.
The initial resource drilling comprises 99 holes for about 5,500m across two surface-expressed target areas identified within the regolith and weathered carbonatite.
At the 22.5 hectare southern niobium target, Frontier plans 45 holes for about 2,500m on a nominal 100m by 50m pattern. The area is characterised by elevated niobium pentoxide soil anomalies.
A further 54 holes totalling about 3,000m will test the 162-hectare northern rare earth elements target on a broader 150m by 200m pattern. Another 500m of RC scout drilling will investigate targets generated through recent geophysical work.
“Exploration at Bailundo is now moving decisively from planning into execution,” CEO Stephen Wetherall says.
“The upcoming program will be the first systematic drilling and evaluation program of what we believe is one of the world’s largest and most underexplored carbonatite complexes and represents an important step towards defining a maiden JORC mineral resource.”
Bailundo itself covers a carbonatite complex about 7km in diameter, highlighting the project’s potential scale.
Ground penetrating radar and electrical resistivity tomography surveys have been completed, while a high-resolution drone magnetic survey is nearing completion.
Connected says the combined results will help refine drill locations and assess the geometry and thickness of the weathered carbonatite profile.
The company aims to complete drilling before Angola’s wet season begins in November 2026 and is targeting delivery of a maiden mineral resource estimate towards the end of the June 2027 quarter.
Separately, Connected issued 27.3 million new, fully paid ordinary shares on 5 August following shareholder approval at its 28 July general meeting.
Connected Minerals is an Australian critical minerals explorer focused on niobium, rare earths, and uranium, with additional exploration assets in Namibia and Western Australia.
This article was updated on 10 August 2026 at 11:10am.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: Connected Minerals
