AuKing Mining Ltd (ASX:AKN) has commenced its maiden drilling program at the Tundulu Rare Earths Project in southern Malawi, to test the scale and continuity of rare earth element (REE) mineralisation across the project.
The company has engaged southern African drilling contractor Thompson Resources to carry out a planned 10,000-metre program of combined reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling across about 50 drill targets.
An RC rig has been mobilised to site and drilling has now started, with a diamond rig expected to arrive later this month.
Commencing drilling on the first Tundulu hole.
Testing larger carbonatite system
The program is designed to test extensions, structural controls and depth continuity of REE mineralisation at Tundulu.
It follows AuKing’s recently completed airborne magnetics and LiDAR survey, which confirmed that historical drilling had tested only a limited portion of a much larger carbonatite intrusive complex.
The survey also identified multiple new drill-ready targets across the project area.
Priority drilling at Nathace Hill
At Nathace Hill, priority holes will test southwest extensions and the continuation of the southern mineralised corridor.
This work will include step-out and infill drilling, as well as three twin holes designed to validate historical drilling results and test extensions to mineralisation along strike and at depth.
RC pre-collar and diamond tail holes of about 300 metres have been designed to intersect interpreted structures, while a deeper diamond hole of about 500 metres will test the vertical extent and core architecture of the system.
Mobilising RC drill rig to drill pad for the first hole at Nathace Hill.
Tundulu Hill and satellite targets
At Tundulu Hill, angled and vertical fence holes from the eastern and western flanks will test interpreted intrusive geometry and potential high-grade REE zones beneath historic high-grade rock chip and shallow drilling intersections.
Additional RC scout drilling will assess satellite targets linked to high-grade surface geochemistry, including historical results of more than 1% total rare earth oxide (TREO) and locally above 3% TREO.
First assays expected after initial sampling
AuKing expects the RC program to progress quickly, with sufficient sample material anticipated for the first batch of assays to be submitted to Intertek’s Perth laboratory in the coming weeks.
The results will help guide follow-up drilling and refine the company’s understanding of the scale, geometry and grade potential of the Tundulu rare earths system.