Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX:LOT) has drilling underway at its recently acquired Livingstonia tenement and other regional prospects in northern Malawi.
The company is looking to convert the historic resource (JORC 2004) into a JORC 2012 resource and test potential high-grade extensions.
Its drilling program will consist of 30 holes for about 4,000 metres, including:
- Six holes within the historical resource boundary as part of the QAQC process align with JORC 2012;
- Fourteen holes that promise extensional opportunities to target resource growth; and
- Ten holes to follow up on anomalies that may be used as future targeting, including four holes to be drilled at the Chilumba prospect 10 kilometres from Livingstonia.
The company plans to turn Livingstonia into a satellite operation from which material could be transported to the Kayelekera uranium facility, in which Lotus owns an 85% stake.
Lotus started work in the region earlier this year – the first uranium exploration in the area in more than a decade. If all goes well, the historic resource will be revived and extended.
A study conducted by the company gave it the confidence that Kayelekera can support a viable long-term operation and has the potential to be one of the first uranium projects to recommence production in the future.
Sizing up greenfield targets
Several nearby greenfield targets are also being sized up, including the Chilumba prospect, where there are significant prospects following the discovery of a major radiometric anomaly.
The Livingstonia uranium exploration tenements are around 90 kilometres southeast of the Kayelekera uranium mine – together with the Chilumba Project, the area stretches across 300 square kilometres.
The project area covers around 300 square kilometres across northern Malawi.
Lotus is waiting for the results of earlier assays for the Kayelekera and Milenje rare earth exploration programs completed in October. Samples have been received at the laboratories in Johannesburg and are being processed.
Expansive resource
“The aim of this exploration program is threefold,” managing director Keith Bowes said.
“Firstly, to convert the historic resource at Livingstonia to a JORC 2012 resource; secondly, to test the multiple extensions around the Livingstonia resource that have been poorly tested; and finally, to test a number of greenfield targets, including the Chilumba prospect, that has a major radiometric anomaly and has never been drill tested.”
The project hosts a current resource of 37.5 million pounds U3O8 and historically produced in the vicinity of 11 million pounds of uranium between 2009 and 2014.
“To be on the ground just over a month after receiving our Livingstonia exploration licences is an excellent result and testament to our team in Malawi,” Bowes continued.
“The prospectivity at Livingstonia, and in the surrounding area, is outstanding and we believe the area has the potential to become a satellite deposit in the future, feeding our Kayelekera processing facility.”
Drilling schedule
It’s early days yet for the Livingstonia Project, with exploration just beginning.
The planned work program consists of a 30-hole reverse circulation drilling program over 4,000 metres.
Of these, six holes exist within the historical resource boundary, 14 holes will examine expansion and resource growth opportunities and 10 holes will follow up on anomalies for future targeting, including four that will be drilled at the Chilumba prospect, 10 kilometres from Livingstonia.