Aldoro Resources Ltd (ASX:ARN) is moving quickly to begin exploration at the newly acquired Kameelburg rare earth carbonatite project in Namibia with the first step being a site visit.
This visit is being planned to help facilitate the forward work program at the 1.4-kilometre diameter carbonatite known to host total rare earth oxides (TREOs) up to 5.56%.
The company’s work plans follow the successful signing and first instalment of a binding Heads of Agreement with the project vendors, Logan Exploration and Investments CC and Okonde Mining and Exploration CC.
READ: Aldoro Resources in "transformational" deal to acquire heavy rare earths project in Namibia
This has enabled Aldoro to acquire an 85% interest in mineral permits EPL 7373, EPL 7372 and EPL 7895, which together make up the Kameelburg Project.
Purpose of site visit
Directors have planned the site visit in order to organise a local entity, meet key stakeholders and cement a relationship with the vendor, Logan Investments.
Following a capital raise of $3.8 million, Aldoro is well-positioned to take advantage of developing the rare earth project in the safe mining jurisdiction of Namibia.
“ARN views this strategic initiative into the rare earths sectors as a well-timed foray into a rapid growth sector that will benefit shareholders and stakeholders,” said Aldoro Resources chairman Troy Flannery.
He previously stated: “We are comfortable with the project’s location in Namibia, which is ranked by the Fraser Institute as the second most favourable jurisdiction (behind Morocco) on the Policy Perception Index across the African continent.”
Exploration plans
The company’s exploration plans at Kameelburg will examine the insitu rocks as well as the soils around the deposit which also contain rare earth oxides.
The forward work program, which Aldoro is funded to execute, involves:
- Conduct a site visit and organise a due diligence sampling program.
- Set up an operating framework for Namibia, including organising a local controlling entity, and visiting local stakeholders.
- Conduct a desktop study, acquire historical datasets over the whole project area.
The project has provided encouraging data with historic rock chip and soil sampling returning up to 2.12% TREO and up to 2.02% TREO respectively.
Kameelburg Project map showing the project's proximity to rail, power, roads, port (Walvis Bay) and service towns (Otjiwarongo). Datum WGS84_33S.
Well located
Kameelburg is about 300 kilometres north of Namibia's capital Windhoek and 60 kilometres southwest of Otiwarongo along well-maintained bitumen roads. Otiwarongo has a population of 28,000.
The industrial port of Walvis Bay is 355 kilometres southwest of the project and is connected by the TransNamib heavy haul freight railway that passes within 2 kilometres of Kameelburg.
Further, the bitumen C33 highway passes within 300 metres of the project and a 220 kV hydropower transmission line passes within 7 kilometres.
Covers carbonatite plug
Kameelburg is in the northern Central Damara Orogenic Belt in Namibia and covers the Cretaceous Kameelburg Carbonatite plug and associated radial dykes intruding precursor syenites in the older host Neoproterozoic marbles and schists.
The plug is about 1.4 kilometres in diameter and rises up to 275 metres above the surrounding peneplain.