Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX:LOT) has drawn promising results from the second stage of preliminary exploration work at the Milenje Project in Malawi, uncovering rare earth element (REE) mineralisation grading up to 25.5% total rare earth oxides (TREO).
This second stage of work at Milenje focused on trench sampling, accompanied by a reverse circulation (RC) drilling program and preliminary mineralogy studies.
The new samples from the trench exploration program revealed elevated levels of critical rare earth minerals, including dysprosium, europium, neodymium, praseodymium, terbium and yttrium.
Results included:
- TREO of up to 25.5%;
- average TREOs of 11.6% from the 11 samples; and
- Critical rare earth oxides of up to 5.6% (Dy, Eu, Nd, Pr, Tb, Y oxides) and average of 2.48% across the 11 samples
The company’s drilling program encountered several anomalous zones of potential mineralisation, but REE levels were lower than samples taken at surface, indicating the geological controls on the mineralisation are more complex than first believed.
More low-cost drilling to come
“This exploration program was carried out to follow up on the promising early trenching work carried out at Milenje by the company in 2020/21,” Lotus Resources managing director Keith Bowes said.
“The new sampling at the existing trenches confirmed the exceptionally high REE assays reported previously.
“Several of the samples from this new program returned TREO grades greater than 15%. The mineralogy work (petrographic and scanning electron microscopy) showed that the rare earths were contained in the mineral allanite.
“The 15-hole RC drill program showed that while drilling did encounter some anomalous zones, the REE grades were lower than expected.
“Following a review of the program, we believe the structures are more complex than originally anticipated, however, the program has provided valuable information on lithologies and structures that can be used to better understand what is controlling the mineralisation.
“Given this, an additional low-cost program at Milenje during 2023 is warranted to validate the updated structural information which from then a decision on a future drilling program can be made.”