Kingfisher (LON:KGF) Mining Ltd (ASX:KFM) has expanded the Mick Well carbonatite intrusion centre with the recent discovery of new high-grade rare earth element (REE) mineralisation at the MW14 target.
The company says Mick Well’s mineralisation now extends over a 20-kilometre strike length.
Hints at greater potential
This expansion not only increases the size of the target area but also hints at the potential of the carbonatite intrusion centre, which now extends over an area measuring 10 kilometres by 4 kilometres.
The discovery of new orientations of strongly mineralised ferrocarbonatite dykes, with results showing up to 30.1% total rare earth oxides (TREO) and 6.2% Nd2O3 + Pr6O11 (MWGS3135), points to the potential for additional mineralisation.
Mapping and sampling conducted along the structures radiating from the carbonatite pipe targets have been pivotal in identifying the high-grade REE mineralisation at various locations, including the MW14, MW8 and MW11 targets.
The cumulative length of the high-grade mineralisation at Mick Well has more than doubled in a mere three months, reflecting the effectiveness of the company's refined targeting criteria.
In addition to the established northeast-trending mineralisation, the west-northwest striking ferrocarbonatite dykes considerably enhance the project's potential mineral endowment.
Numerous parallel and lengthy strike lengths of the west-northwest mineralised structures also add considerable upside to the project.
Ongoing exploration in 2024
Kingfisher's ongoing exploration program is set to focus on drill testing of priority surface targets and carbonatite pipe targets throughout 2024.
These endeavours aim to build upon the significant discoveries confirmed along the Chalba target corridor, which have demonstrated the presence of high-grade REE mineralisation.
The exploration model employed by Kingfisher consists of a combination of geophysical responses to carbonatite geology, leveraging tools like Thorium radiometrics, potassium fenites detection, magnetic highs in geophysics and ASTER remote sensing for effective early-stage targeting and project generation.
The company's exploration activities also include ground-based gravity surveys and surface geochemical surveys over various targets, including the large-scale high-priority LK1 target at Arthur River and lithium-bearing pegmatite drill targets at Chalby Chalby.
Kingfisher executive director and CEO James Farrell said: “Mick Well is now confirmed as a significant regional scale carbonatite centre and continues to grow on the back of our successful targeting strategy which is continuing to deliver further high-grade REE discoveries.
“The latest discoveries have significantly increased our understanding of the scale of the Mick Well Prospect.
“The carbonatite mineralisation intrusion centre is now recognised to extend over a strike length of 10 kilometres along the Chalba Shear Zone, with three large carbonatite pipe targets at its centre and more than 20 kilometres of high-grade dyke and vein mineralisation extending away from the pipes.
“The latest results bring to a close our 2023 field season; another very active and successful year for the company where we have seen substantial increases to the mineralisation at Mick Well, the discovery of additional carbonatite intrusive centres and the delineation of an exciting new target area at LK1, 30 kilometres west of Mick Well.
“In addition to our ongoing REE discovery, we have also identified exciting lithium pegmatite targets at Chalby Chalby, with more than 13 kilometres of strike of pegmatites mapped and rock chip results up to 0.6% Li2O.
“Our planning for next year is already well advanced. We will commence the 2024 field season with drilling programs to test the exciting targets we delineated in 2023.
“I’d like to extend a warm thank you to our team and to our shareholders, I’m already looking forward to 2024 which will no doubt be a very exciting year for KFM.”