Exploration at rare earth and bauxite resources developer Lindian Resources’ Kangankunde rare earths project, in Malawi, has returned long intersections of high-grade, non-radioactive rare earths, with mineralisation found in all holes drilled to date.

In a statement, Lindian states that the assays returned are some of the best to date, with three holes averaging better than 3% over interval lengths of 150 m or more from surface.

Assay results reported from a further 11 reverse circulation and three diamond core holes have returned grades of up to 13.89% total rare earth oxides (TREO), while the average grade of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) is 20% of TREO.

Significant intersections include drillhole KGKRC018 that intersected 184 m of mineralisation, averaging 3.55% TREO.

Drillhole KGKRC037 had 160 m of mineralisation averaging 3.04% and drillhole KGKRC039 150 m averaging 3.02% TREO, including a high-grade zone of 29 m at a grade of 4.7%.

Drillhole KGKRCDD09 revealed a 317.2-m-long mineralised zone averaging 2.7% TREO, including 184.2 m at a grade of 3.07% TREO.

Lindian CEO Alistair Stephens says that, since the start of this drilling programme, Kangankunde has consistently delivered assays of more than 2.5% TREO over extensive lengths, with almost all holes ending in mineralisation and the NdPr ratio being over 20%.

“The results reinforce our firm belief that Kangankunde is rapidly emerging as one of the world’s Tier 1 rare earths deposits,” he adds.

The mineralisation is non-radioactive, with low levels of radionuclides thorium and uranium throughout.

The Phase 1 programme is now complete, with over 14 000 m of drilling undertaken, while assays from 49 holes remain outstanding.

A Phase 2 orebody extension programme of two 1 000 m holes has started, with reverse circulation collars to 150 m completed for each. Diamond drilling here is currently under way.

Lindian says it is on track to report a maiden mineral resource estimate under the Joint Ore Reserves Committee 2012 code before the end of the second quarter.

“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 programme now well under way, we will likely get a better understanding of the extent of the orebody,” says Stephens.

In addition to the development drilling, metallurgical test work is ongoing, as is work on the planned Phase 1 processing plant.