Rare earths developer Pensana has confirmed that it will predominantly focus its exploration efforts next year on the Sulima West carbonatite target, on the Coola exploration licence, in Angola.

The target is located 40 km north of its Longonjo rare earths mine, which is under construction.

Exploration activity on the Coola licence has been focused on three prospective targets – Sulima West, Benge Novo and Coola.

Trench sampling at Sulima West has returned rare earth grades of up to 9.7% total rare earth oxides (TREO), averaging a grade of 3.4% over 68 m at surface.

Pit sampling at the target has reported rare earth grades of up to 5.2% TREO, averaging 4.3% TREO over 6 m at surface.

Moreover, Pensana has found manganese grades in the laterite at Sumila West from 1.5% to 18% manganese oxide, averaging 12% manganese oxide all at surface.

The company has identified a prominent outcrop of supergene apatite occurring together with maghemite and monazite at Sulima West, using geological mapping, which has the potential to host significant phosphate resources.

Pensana says the style of mineralisation at Sulima West is similar to that of the Mt Weld deposit that is currently being mined in Western Australia by Lynas Corporation.

In turn, reconnaissance mapping of the Benga Novo target, immediately to the north of Sulima West, indicates a near 10 km alkaline intrusion, possibly containing bauxite and ionic clay type rare earth element deposits, as well as potassic rock fertilisers.

Pensana exploration manager Grant Hayward says the company is optimistic about the trench and pit analytical results from Sulima West laterised carbonatite, which have reported high rare earth grades over significant widths at surface.

“Together with the presence of abundant apatite and manganese, we regard Sulima West as a significant discovery and it will be the main focus of our exploration activities in 2023,” he confirms.

Pensana will undertake geophysical surveys over all the targets from early 2023, with diamond drilling to start on the Sulima West and Coola targets by mid-2023.