Aim- and TSX-V-listed Mkango Resources has revealed the results of exploration drilling on the first eight holes, totalling 944 m of its targeted 10 000 m diamond drilling programme, at the Songwe Hill rare earths project, in Malawi.
The drilling programme, which is focussed on infill drilling to confirm and upgrade the existing indicated and inferred mineral resource estimates, is a key component of the ongoing feasibility study for Songwe Hill and will be testing the extensions to the mineralisation and geotechnical drilling.
Each of the eight drill holes intersected rare earth mineralisation, with intersections averaging 1% total rare earth oxides (Treo) or mote.
Drill holes PX065, PX062, PX046, PX047, PX042 and PX045b were focused on infill drilling, and intersections of broad zones of mineralisation, as opposed to narrow veins or dykes, continue to support the concept of a bulk tonnage, openpit mining operation with low mining costs.
Drill hole PX036 was focused on testing the southerly extension of mineralisation.
Drill hole PX036 saw more than 42 m of mineralisation intersected at a depth of between 87.3 m and 130.1 m, including 6.7 m grading 2.2% Treo to the end of the hole.
This, Mkango explained on Tuesday, was the first hole in the project's history to be drilled in the area near the summit of Songwe Hill.
Another hole testing the southerly extension of mineralisation, PX037, did not reach the target depth.
As at August 20, a total of 8 466 m of drilling, comprising 70 drill holes, has now been completed.
Meanwhile, Mkango CEO William Dawes pointed out that “these are an excellent first set of results from the current programme”.
Results from the remaining about 75 drill holes will be announced as they become available, he added.