Lindian fires up rigs to target high-grade Malawian rare earths

Lindian Resources has kicked off a first-pass diamond drilling campaign at the company’s exciting North Knoll rare earths prospect in Malawi.

The target, which returned rock chip assays of up to 7.15 per cent total rare earths (TREOs) in earlier testing, is one of several high-grade carbonatite-rich lenses identified by the company next to its world-class Kangankunde rare earths project.

Notably, the rock chip samples, when assayed, contained high-grade neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) and exhibited NdPr/TREO ratios of 19.2-28.8 per cent, similar to those of the main Kangankunde rare earths deposit and hinting at continuity of mineralisation.

Field mapping at North Knoll, which sits only 800m north of Kangankunde, defined several carbonatite lenses striking up to 300 metres in length and with widths ranging from 5 to 75 metres. The lenses appear to feature green monazite, which is also typical of the main Kangankunde deposit.

Management says that if the drill bit hits its target, North Knoll, coupled with any additional lenses yet to be discovered, could be a near-mine target and add valuable resources to its existing high-grade inventory at Kangankunde.

Drilling at North Knoll looks to bring high-grade, NdPr-rich mineralisation into the first five years of the Kangankunde mine plan. If we confirm continuity at depth, North Knoll has the potential to provide additional high-grade starter feed, lower unit mining costs and lift early-stage production.

Kangankunde is one of the world’s premier rare earths projects, with an ore reserve of 23.7 million tonnes grading a very impressive 2.9 per cent TREO for 676,000 tonnes of contained TREO. Adding to its appeal, almost 20 per cent of those TREOs are high-value magnet rare-earth elements such as neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr).

The project is regarded as one of the world’s largest and highest-grade undeveloped rare earths deposits outside China.

With a jaw-dropping 45-year mine life locked in, Kangankunde is shaping up as a rare-earths heavyweight in waiting. A 2024 feasibility study put a big green tick against the economics, tipping a robust US$794 million (A$1.2 billion) net present value from an upfront development bill of just US$40 million (A$60 million) – a staggeringly low entry price by global standards.

The plan is to churn out a premium monazite concentrate with a hefty 55 per cent total rare-earth oxides, free of any deleterious elements. Better still, operating costs are forecast to sit comfortably in the lowest cost quartile worldwide, giving the project the kind of margin muscle most miners would salivate over.

Recent metallurgical tests on Kangankunde ore also confirmed just how valuable the deposit is, with its unique monazite-rich ore delivering ultra-high TREO recoveries, including up to 93-97 per cent recovery of NdPr

If drilling at North Knoll confirms the same high-grade, NdPr-rich continuity seen at Lindian’s flagship deposit — with early signs already pointing to identical monazite-rich carbonatite at surface - the upside for Lindian could be substantial.

Sitting right beside the planned Stage 1 mining areas, the prospect could deliver higher-grade feed early, add flexibility to mine scheduling and boost overall project economics. And with more carbonatite lenses likely still hiding in the wings, Kangankunde’s standing as a truly world-class rare earths asset would only grow stronger.

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