Mposa Deposit Yields Up to 17.19% THM in Final Sonic Drilling Batch

Final Assays Confirm Enhanced Mineralisation at Mposa

Chilwa Minerals Limited (ASX: CHW) has announced the completion of its sonic drilling program at the Mposa Deposit, part of its broader Lake Chilwa Heavy Mineral Sands Project in Malawi. The final batch of assays from 107 drillholes, totaling 897 metres, has delivered encouraging heavy mineral content (THM) results, with intercepts such as 1.95 metres at 13.94% THM from surface, including a high-grade 1.3 metres at 17.19% THM. These figures notably surpass previous aircore drilling results, which had estimated the deposit at 19.4 million tonnes at 4.3% THM.

Improved Sampling and Analytical Processes

The sonic drilling technique employed by Chilwa has yielded higher sample recoveries and more accurate lithological thicknesses, providing greater confidence in the forthcoming mineral resource estimate update. The assays were processed at South African laboratory LightDeepEarth (LDE), a respected name in the heavy mineral sands industry, with assay turnaround times markedly improved. Chilwa’s recently commissioned sample preparation facility in Zalewa, Malawi, has also contributed to streamlining the analytical workflow.

Expanding Drilling Focus to Northern Shore and Other Deposits

Following the completion of drilling at Mposa, Chilwa has redirected its sonic rigs to the Northern Shore Halalla deposit, which holds an inferred resource of 8.7 million tonnes at 3.7% THM. Drilling continues there for up to two weeks before returning to further work at the Mpyupyu and Bimbi deposits. These deposits, alongside Mposa and Halalla, form the core of the Central Zone prospects targeted for updated mineral resource estimates and scoping studies planned for the first half of 2025.

Advancing Regulatory and Development Milestones

Chilwa is progressing its mining licence application and Mining Development Agreement (MDA) following recent high-level ministerial meetings at the Malawi Mining Investment Forum. These regulatory steps are critical as the company moves from exploration towards feasibility and potential development. The updated mineral resource estimates will underpin mine planning scenarios and scoping studies, setting the stage for future economic extraction assessments.

Outlook and Strategic Positioning

Managing Director Cadell Buss highlighted the company’s rapid progress over the past 12 to 18 months in building a significant mineral sands and rare earth elements exploration portfolio. With ongoing metallurgical testwork and flowsheet optimisation studies underway, Chilwa is positioning itself to crystallise its development plans within the next 6 to 12 months. The combination of robust assay results, improved operational infrastructure, and advancing regulatory approvals paints a promising picture for the Lake Chilwa project’s future.