Lindian Resources Ltd (ASX:LIN, OTC:LINIF) has leveraged a combination of geological mapping and rock chip sampling to identify high-grade carbonatite rare earth element (REE) outcrops north and south of the Kangankunde Project resource in Malawi.
The highest-grade results originated from a ferroan dolomite carbonatite. The peak assays from North Knoll included 7.15% total rare earth oxides (TREO), 5.15% TREO 4.69% TREO.
From South Knoll, the best results were 6.54% TREO, 6.21% TREO, 5.94% TREO and 5.71% TREO, with an overall average neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) ratio from both prospects of 21%, similar to the Kangankunde Central Carbonatite resource.
Focus remains on main resource
“While our main priority is advancing the stage-1 mine development and processing plant, concurrently, we will continue to undertake low-cost exploration activities across the project to define new mineralised areas,” Lindian Resources executive chair Asimwe Kabunga said.
“Our maiden mineral resource estimate, based on Kangankunde’s Central Carbonitite resource area, already establishes the asset as one of the world’s largest undeveloped rare earths projects, underpinned by exceptional grade, a high NDPr ratio and non-radioactive material.
“Today’s results demonstrate that the project has much more exploration upside.
“We’re also pleased to confirm that work on the feasibility study is advancing very well and we look forward to reporting results which will showcase the project’s excellent economics and low-cost start-up capex.”
The Kangankunde Central Carbonatite mineral resource extends over a full kilometre, running north and south – the North Knoll is 800 metres north of the mineral resource boundary, while South Knoll is 500 metres south of the boundary.
The company believes the mineralisation potentially strikes over an area of between 1 kilometre and 2.5 kilometres in length.
Highly encouraging results
“These results are highly encouraging and clearly demonstrate the capability to extend mineralisation north and south of Kangankunde and that the mineralised system across our project is much broader and much deeper than currently defined by Kangankunde’s Central Carbonatite,” Lindian Resources CEO Alistair Stephens said.
“As such, more extensive exploration including low-cost drilling of the North and South Knoll is eventually warranted.”
More assays are pending from infill drilling, which LIN intends to use to define an indicated-category resource for its maiden mineral estimate of 261 million tonnes at 2.19% TREO, potentially upgrading it to a higher confidence category.
The stage-1 plant engineering, project development and feasibility studies for Kangankunde are also advancing at pace, with the current focus on:
- Determination of the preferred provider in relation to the tender of civil works contract(s), inclusive of works for the access road upgrade, bulk earthworks for the plant & associated infrastructure, Tails Storage Facility (TSF) and Return Water Dam (RWD),
- Finalisation of the tender for the supply of process plant and associated infrastructure for Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning,
- Resource model update and detailed mine design and mine schedule,
- Short-listing of power and fuel supply options, and
- Contract terms being finalised for all streams of work.