Dual-listed Pensana Rare Earths has completed the last 86 holes of its 8 000 m drill programme at its Longonjo neodymium/praseodymium (NdPr) project, in Angola.
The programme is in support of a bankable feasibility study (BFS), the results of which are expected to be published in mid-October.
The latest results confirm the continuity of the weathered zone mineralisation from surface and also outline a wide area of mineralisation in fresh rock immediately below the current pit design that could add an extra dimension to the project beyond the initial mine life, Pensana said on August 4.
The latest and final results also continue to confirm the continuity of high-grade rare earth mineralisation from surface in the weathered zone, and Pensana expects to upgrade substantial amounts of the inferred mineralisation to higher categories, supporting an extended mine life.
Wide, continuous high-grade intersections grading at between 2% and 4% rare earth oxide have also been returned from the fresh rock immediately below the weathered zone.
Pensana notes that the mineralisation remains open below the 80 m drill depth and to the north and west. The reported grades and potential size of the further mineralisation are very encouraging and, while not currently included in the current BFS, work has started on including this mineralisation in the overall development of the project.
An updated mineral resource estimate will be published in September.
COO and executive director Dave Hammond said these final results “have further highlighted the world-class opportunity at the Longonjo project”.
Further drill testing of the fresh rock zone, which is not in the current mine plan, has also exceeded the company’s expectations.