ASX-listed Australian company Lindian Resources (ASX:LIN) reports it is progressing well with its phase one mine development drilling program at the Kangankunde Rare Earths (REE) Project located in Malawi.
The company says 19 holes were drilled for 2,895m of reverse circulation (RC) and 425m of diamond drilling (DD) on 11 December, with first assays due shortly. These holes were drilled to depths between 32m and 300m with all holes bar 2 being successfully completed.
Phase one drilling at Kangankunde consists of 10,000m of RC drilling and 2,500m of diamond drilling on the Kangankunde hill top, and the drill pattern is based on 50m east to west sections. Drilling also consists of radial fans perpendicular to the interpreted carbonatite boundary where topography provides access.
Lindian Resources Alistair Stephens says around 25% of the phase one program is completed and advancing with 3 rigs operating.
“Drilling will continue through the wet season helping advance mine development activities more rapidly. Our $16 million placement and the company’s commitment to deploying significant capital on mine development has greatly increased confidence in-country.
“Our $16 million placement and the company’s commitment to deploying significant capital on mine development has greatly increased confidence in-country”
Of equal importance is our ongoing government and community relations work where we are regularly consulting with groups on Lindian’s mine development. I will be in Malawi later this week to continue our dialogue with both government and community and to ensure activities at Kangankunde remain on-track.”
Lindian reports 2 additional deep drillholes are planned from drill pads near the base of the Kangankunde hill designed to allow drilling to continue during the wet season. These 2 holes are planned to be drilled to 1,000m in length and are designed to test the north to south and east to west axis of the carbonatite between 300m and 800m below the hill top.
The company also states samples from 22KKRC001 have arrived at the ALS geochemistry laboratory in Australia and are in the process of being assayed. Drill samples collected from all other holes are in various stages of sampling, preparation and transportation.
Samples from phase one and two will undergo sample preparation at ALS geochemistry in South Africa with subsamples then shipped to Australia for assay. Testwork will also be undertaken onsite to determine bulk density of the mineralisation and surrounding rock types which will be applicable to future resource modelling and mine planning.
Lindian Resources has ‘world-class’ rare earths and bauxite assets critical to EVs and a range of other industries including electronic infrastructure, solar panels, rechargeable batteries, wind turbines, medical imaging and manufacturing.
The company’s projects include the Kangankunde REE Project in Malawi, as well as Bauxite projects in Guinea and Tanzania.
Images: Lindian Resources Ltd
