Lindian Resources (ASX:LIN) reports it has received further ‘outstanding’ rare earth element (REE) assays from its phase one drilling program at the Kangankunde Rare Earths Project in Malawi.
The company says assays from 4 reverse circulation (RC) holes drilled on the Kangankunde hilltop recorded broad intersections of non-radioactive material with ‘excellent grade’, and a large percentage of critical REE elements of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr).
‘Significant’ intercepts recorded include hole KGKRC003 with 184m @ 2.49% total rare earth oxides (TREO) from surface, including 146m @ 2.74% TREO from surface; and hole KGKRC004 with 97m @ 2.84% TREO from surface, including 41m @ 3.50% TREO from 56m.
The 12,500m drill program continues with 3 drill rigs currently on site. Kangankunde’s exploration licence, environmental licence, and mining licence along with strong government and community are helping to ensure the project can be fast-tracked into development, the company says.
Commenting on the drill results, Lindian Resources Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alistair Stephens adds: “As with our first results, the assays we are reporting today are simply outstanding in terms of consistent grade, the extraordinary continuity of mineralisation over very large intercepts, the high NdPr ratio, and the fact that Kangankunde hosts non-radioactive material.
“As with our first results, the assays we are reporting today are simply outstanding in terms of consistent grade”
All holes commenced and finished in mineralisation and we are yet to encounter the extremities and the depth of the mineralisation. It is exceptionally encouraging to have such continuity and consistency in grade across all holes drilled to date. I am confident that the continuing stream of assays we will report over the coming weeks will deliver more of the same.
Last year I labelled Kangankunde the ‘King’ and the assays we are reporting certainly underpin my confidence that we are in the early stages of rapidly defining what will be one of the world’s most significant non-radioactive rare earth deposits in terms of both scale and grade. Lindian is very well-placed to fast track Kangankunde’s development with exploration, environmental and mining licences in place as well as healthy support from the government and the local community.”
Lindian reports all holes were drilled from the hilltop of the central radial carbonatite pipe. Holes KGKRC003 and KGKRC008 were angle holes drilled from the carbonatite outward towards the interpreted contact of the carbonatite with the surrounding rock wall. The company says neither hole achieved the length to intersect the contact and finished in mineralised carbonatite.
Holes KGKRC004 and KGKRC006 were drilled vertically down the vertical carbonatite pipe. Lindian reports KGKRC004 was terminated at a depth of 97m due to broken ground, and KGKRC006 was drilled to its planned depth of 300m, noting mineralisation grade generally increased with depth.
Furthermore, the company reports hole KGKRC006 assayed 2.55% TREO in the final metre demonstrating mineralisation in the carbonatite continues at depth. It also notes this is the deepest drillhole completed at Kangankunde.
Lindian reports holes KGKRC003 and KGKRC008 will be extended with core drilling, while a deep core phase two drilling program will be conducted below KGKRC006 as a planned follow-up program in the future.
The company also reports the mineralisation intersected is ‘dominated’ by light rare earths including cerium (Ce), lanthanum (La), neodymium (Nd), and praseodymium (Pr). The total of NdPr content in oxide form constitutes on average 20% of the TREO in all holes reported. Furthermore, Lindian says radionuclides including uranium (U), and thorium (Th) continue to be low in all drill assays.
Lindian Resources is an ASX-listed company focused on its portfolio of REE and bauxite projects critical to electric vehicles (EVs) and a range of other industries including electronic infrastructure, solar panels, rechargeable batteries, wind turbines, medical imaging, and manufacturing.
The company’s assets include the Kangankunde REE Project in Malawi, the Lelouma and Gaoual Bauxite projects in Guinea, and the Lushoto and Pare Bauxite projects in Tanzania.
Images: Lindian Resources Ltd
