Mkango releases Songwe results

Mkango Resources Limited, a mining company exploring for rare earths at Songwe Hill in Phalombe, has completed five earth works trending surface channel sampling lines using rock saws.

The company said the objective of this is to constrain the geological model as well as rare earth element (REE) mineralisation for potential incorporation into compliant mineral resource estimate.

“Delineation of the channel sampling lines was dictated by the availability of outcrop along each earth works line, and in the absence of outcrop, the most proximal outcrop to the line was sampled, irrespective of lithology. Each earth work line approximately corresponds to the surface projections of one or more of the stage one or stage two drill hole traces,” said the company in a statement.

The firm, listed on TSX venture exchange in Canada, is currently involved in the second phase drilling which comprises infill drilling and testing depth extensions of mineralisation intersected in the first stage last year, according to its chief executive officer Alexander Lemon.

Stage one demonstrated that the mineralised zones have the potential to extend and remain open laterally within the extents of the Songwe Hill carbonatite complex, he said.

In the statement, the company said the results of the channel sampling are broadly consistent with existing geological mapping, geochemical grab sampling and portable XRF sampling results generated to date and further validates continuity of rare earth mineralisation at surface in carbonatite, carbonatite breccia and fenite lithologies.

Updating on the second phase drilling, Mkango said their drilling contractors, Cartwright Drilling Inc. of Goose Bay, Canada, commenced stage two drilling on January 10 and have made good progress.

“To date, 17 holes [3 149 metres] have been drilled. Drilling continues to intersect broad zones of mineralised carbonatite, carbonatite breccia and fenite. Furthermore, REE [Rare Earth Elements] mineralisation was intersected at a vertical depth of 350m below surface which has significantly extended the known depth extent of REE mineralisation,” said the statement.