Malawi Rare Earth Discovery
AuKing Reports Wide High-Grade Rare Earth Hits in Malawi Drilling Program
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Key Points
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The third RC hole returned 20 metres at 2.06% TREO from 113 metres, including 12 metres at 3.24%, plus a separate 10-metre interval at 2.86% TREO from 84 metres.
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AuKing completed 4,300 metres of RC drilling across 31 holes to a maximum depth of 150 metres, while 1,100 metres of diamond-core drilling was completed at the Nathace Hill target; additional assays remain pending.
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The first two holes were positioned near historical drill holes because previous explorers had retained neither RC chips nor drill core; the new drilling was intended to validate historical geological interpretations and establish internal lithological markers for resource studies.
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The elevated heavy rare earth element and yttrium results showed a strong association with P2O5 across the first three holes, an additional geological relationship that may help guide ongoing interpretation and resource work.
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AuKing plans to continue diamond drilling through the end of the year as part of a combined 15,000-metre program, while composite diamond-core samples will undergo metallurgical and mineralogical testing to support the resource evaluation.
AuKing Mining reported exceptionally wide rare earth hits from its first three exploration holes at the Tundulu project in southern Malawi, including 91 meters grading 1.51% total rare earth oxides and 80 meters at 1.54%. The results dramatically exceed nearby historical drilling and suggest the deposit is far larger than previously understood. Managing Director Paul Williams stated the findings have "already propelled Tundulu onto a pathway for a maiden mineral resource estimate," with completion targeted for the end of 2026.
First Three Holes Deliver High-Grade Rare Earth Zones
The third reverse-circulation hole returned 20 meters at 2.06% total rare earth oxides from 113 meters depth, with 12 meters grading 3.24% nested inside. A separate 10-meter interval at 2.86% was encountered from 84 meters. These grades far surpassed historical drilling by previous explorers in the same areas. AuKing Mining completed 4,300 meters of RC drilling across 31 holes to depths of 150 meters, plus 1,100 meters of diamond-core drilling at the Nathace Hill target.
The first two holes were deliberately positioned near historical drill holes to validate prior geological interpretations. Previous explorers retained no RC chips or drill core, forcing AuKing to recreate lithological markers from scratch. The company has now approved a 1,000-meter deep diamond hole to test the system at depth and assess how large the mineralized footprint truly extends.
Unusually High Heavy Rare Earth Content Sets Tundulu Apart
Tundulu's most distinctive feature is its heavy rare earth and yttrium content. Across the first three holes, heavy rare earth elements plus yttrium comprise up to 16.09% of total rare earth oxides — far above the 1% to 3% typical of standard carbonatite deposits. This concentration appears strongly linked to phosphorus pentoxide, with grades reaching 14.4% P₂O₅, suggesting apatite carbonatite as the host rock. Bullseye Analytics identified this heavy rare earth distribution as Tundulu's key market differentiator.
Largest Verified Zone Spans 91 Meters at Consistent Grade
Hole 26NH005 intersected 91 meters grading 1.51% total rare earth oxides from 40 meters depth. Nested within that zone are 43 meters at 2.00% from 77 meters, and 15 meters at 3.40% from 90 meters. Hole 26NH029 returned an equally impressive 80 meters at 1.54% total rare earth oxides starting from the surface, including 11 meters grading 4.33% from just 2 meters down. AuKing Mining emphasized these widths substantially expand the known mineralized footprint beyond historical interpretations.
Resource Estimate Timeline and Metallurgical Testing Underway
AuKing plans to complete a maiden mineral resource estimate by the end of 2026. The company is continuing diamond drilling through year-end as part of a combined 15,000-meter program. Composite diamond-core samples will undergo mineralogical and metallurgical testing to determine extraction methods and recovery rates. Assays from 27 additional RC holes remain pending, which should clarify the full extent of mineralization across the 91.5-square-kilometer exploration licence.
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