By Marcel CHIMWALA
ASX-listed Lindian Resources says drilling works, which it is conducting at the Kangankunde Rare Earths Prospect in Balaka in preparation for mine construction, have revealed more high-grade rare earths with the best continuous intersections.
CEO for Lindian Resources Alistair Stephens says that assay results reported from a further 11 Reverse Circulation holes and three core holes show grades of up to 13.89% Total Rare Earth Ore (TREO) with the average grade of rare earths critical metal elements neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) of 20% of TREO.
Stephens explains that the assays returned are some of the best to date, with three holes averaging better than 3% over interval lengths of 150m or more from surface.
He says: “These latest assay results are some of our highest grades to date with three holes averaging better than 3% TREO over continuous intervals of 150m or more from surface.”
“Since the commencement of this drilling program, Kangankunde has consistently delivered assays of +2.5% over extensive lengths with almost all holes ending in mineralisation, the NdPr ratio being over 20% and the material being non-radioactive.”
The results reinforce our firm belief that Kangankunde is rapidly emerging as one of the world’s Tier 1 rare earths deposits.”
“These high-grade results are largely from the northern part of the central carbonatite, an area that is showing considerable promise, and for which further assays are pending. We are yet to define the depth and extremities of the mineralisation and with our Phase 2 program now well underway, we will likely get a better understanding of the extent of the deposit.”
“These latest results, and assays pending from the remaining 49 holes, will form part of the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) due to be reported this quarter. As well as mine development drilling, metallurgical test work is ongoing, and so too is work on the planned Phase 1 processing plant. We look forward to reporting more operational updates as we quickly progress toward mining.”
Significant intersections include:
❖ KGKRC018: 184 metres from 4 metres to end of hole (‘EOH’) averaging 3.55% TREO
❖ KGKRC037: 160 metres from surface to EOH averaging 3.04%
❖ KGKRC039: 150 metres from surface to EOH averaging 3.02% TREO including: o 29 metres @ 4.70% TREO from surface
❖ KGKRCDD09: 317.2 metres from surface averaging 2.70% TREO in including: o 184.2 metres @ 3.07% TREO from 132 metres
❖ KGKDD004: 245.4 metres from surface averaging 2.78% TREO including:
- 53.6 metres @ 3.13% TREO from 65.4 metres
- 63.6 metres @ 3.03% TREO from 127 metres
- 40.1 metres @ 3.34% TREO from 205.3 metres
Stephens states that mineralisation is non-radioactive with low levels of radionuclides thorium and uranium throughout.
Lindian has now concluded the Phase 1 drilling program with over 14,000 metres of drilling completed but assays from 49 holes remain outstanding.
The Company has now commenced Phase 2 orebody extension program of 2x 1,000m holes with RC collars to 150m completed for each; and core drilling underway to test deep extensions to mineralisation.
Stephens says the work programme is on-track to reporting a maiden MRE under Joint Ore Reserve Committee (JORC) 2012 code this quarter.
The Phase 1 program has been completed with 81 RC holes for 12,520 metres and 10 core drill holes, including six core tails to RC holes for 1,642.7 metres. The program was designed to give initial data for resource evaluation and mine planning. Two RC rigs have demobilised from site with the remaining core drilling rig conducting the Phase 2 depth extension drilling.
The Kangankunde drilling programs are planned in separate phases with distinct target outcomes. The Company commenced drilling at Kangankunde in late October 2023 with the intention to undertake a drill program that will culminate in a mineral resources estimate during the upcoming quarter.
PHASE 2 DRILL PROGRAM (DEPTH EXTENSION)
Drilling has commenced on the Phase 2 program with RC precollars competed to a downhole depth of 150 metres at two sites on the western side of the Central Carbonatite. A core drilling rig has commenced drilling the first core from the base of one of the precollars. The two drill holes, each planned to be 1,000 metres in length, are designed to test the E-W axies of the carbonatite between 300 metres and 800 metres below the hill top, approximately 500 metres below the current deepest drilling.
METALLURGY
Preliminary metallurgical testwork has demonstrated a mineral concentrate of ~60% and a recovery of circa of 70% using water-only, low-cost gravity and magnetic beneficiation techniques.
Lindian will continue to refine the use of gravity and magnetic separation techniques, and expects to further improve the REO recovery and REO concentrate grade, with finer grinding a key variable to be tested to improve recovery and concentrate grade.
MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATION
Lindian expects to deliver its maiden MRE during the current quarter incorporating the drilling results from the Phase One Drill program and metallurgical work programs currently in progress. These all culminate in the near term mine development phase under the current mining licence.